How to handle hazardous goods shipments

For general information about how hazardous goods are handled by Carrier Connect go to:

• Understanding and enabling hazardous goods handling with Carrier Connect [German version]
• Marking hazardous goods packages and creating new hazardous goods items in Carrier Connect [German version]

Hazardous goods handling has to be enabled in the carrier configuration:

Hazardous goods shipment items can only be added on the shipment item level so far. For EDIs, the carriers need to receive the data about hazardous goods on the package level. Therefore, in Carrier Connect, shipment items which include hazardous goods items have to packed in packages. Only then the package knows which hazardous goods are included and the correct data according to the EDI specification is sent to the carrier. For more information about how to pack items see Packing Items.

Package level

On package level each package containing hazardous goods need a hazardous goods type indication:

{
  "shipment": {
    "packages": [
      {
        "packageNumber": "1",
        "hazardousGoodsData": {
          "hazardousGoodsType": "NORMAL"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

<shipment>
    <packages>
        <packageNumber>1</packageNumber>
        <hazardousGoodsData>
            <hazardousGoodsType>NORMAL</hazardousGoodsType>
        </hazardousGoodsData>
    </packages>
</shipment>

Available hazardous goods types are:

• NONE (no hazardous goods)
• NORMAL (hazardous goods)
• EQ (excepted quantities)
• LQ (limited quantities)
• SPECIAL_SUBSTANCE (special substance)
• ORMD (other regulated materials for domestic transport only) - Since 2021 this code is not used anymore
• US_SMALL_QUANTITY (small quantity regulated materials) - only relevant for US

Item level

The item level of the API call contains multiple fields for hazardous goods data. Refer to the comprehensive documentation for the createShipment to view all available fields.

The required fields vary based on the specific hazardous goods scenario and the carrier you use. Consult your carrier contact to determine the exact fields required for transmission.

Here is an example of the structure of the API call:

{
  "shipment": {
    "items": [
      {
        "hazardousGoodsItems": [
          {
            "unNumber": 1845,
            "hazardRegulation": "IATA",
            "technicalName": "Dry Ice",
            "hazardClass": 2,
            "tunnelCode": "1A1",
            "hazardWeight": {
              "value": 20,
              "unit": "kg"
            },
            "numberOfPackages": 1,
            "packageTypeIdentCode": "CARTON",
            "specialSubstanceType": "DRY_ICE"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

<shipment>
    <items>
        <hazardousGoodsItems>
            <unNumber>1845</unNumber>
            <hazardRegulation>IATA</hazardRegulation>
            <technicalName>Dry Ice</technicalName>
            <hazardClass>2</hazardClass>
            <tunnelCode>1A1</tunnelCode>
            <hazardWeight>
                <value>20</value>
                <unit>kg</unit>
            </hazardWeight>
            <numberOfPackages>1</numberOfPackages>
            <packageTypeIdentCode>CARTON</packageTypeIdentCode>
            <specialSubstanceType>DRY_ICE</specialSubstanceType>
        </hazardousGoodsItems>
    </items>
</shipment>