How to ship hazardous goods? - LotusTalk

lancer360 · 10-08-2009, 03:20 PM

I need to ship a 5lb halon extinguisher to a friend of mine. Fed Ex won't touch it unless I take a $150 training course on how to ship hazardous cargo. I tried Freightquote.com and the want $160 to ship it from NC to Georgia!!! Anybody have any ideas besides not telling them and shipping it illegally?

serpent · 10-08-2009, 03:26 PM

UPS

btw if your going to ship it illegally just make sure you wrap it up a lot so it wont break. I used to work for UPS when i was in high school and they dont give a **** about your packages. They will kick, throw, step on, smash your packages up...

JWA · 10-08-2009, 03:27 PM

Can you find some one who has done the training class? Maybe one of those Pack-n-ship type places?

lancer360 · 10-08-2009, 03:36 PM

I tried some of the pack and ship places and none of them will handle hazardous cargo. Liability insurance is just too high.

I won't ship it illegally. It is a federal offense and carries jail time punishment.

serpent · 10-08-2009, 03:37 PM

well, did you try UPS? what did they say?

pla_time · 10-08-2009, 04:07 PM

IIRC, I think UPS Ground is the shipper of choice for stuff like cans of butane. You might also try USPS. (Otherwise, perhaps just empty the darn thing first and then send it

)

Cardinal · 10-08-2009, 06:00 PM

You cannot ship hazardous goods unless you are trained/certified to do so. You WILL get killed if you get caught shipping illegally. The shipper, not the carrier, has to sign all of the hazmat documentation on the shipment, which includes proper packaging. Your best bet is to see if you know anyone who ships hazardous goods at their job, and maybe have them do it. Freightquote.com's quote is assuming you have the proper credentials to package and ship hazmat. They won't take it without proper docs. Don't do it yourself because you stand to lose a lot if it doesn't go right.

lancer360 · 10-08-2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cardinal

You cannot ship hazardous goods unless you are trained/certified to do so. You WILL get killed if you get caught shipping illegally. The shipper, not the carrier, has to sign all of the hazmat documentation on the shipment, which includes proper packaging. Your best bet is to see if you know anyone who ships hazardous goods at their job, and maybe have them do it. Freightquote.com's quote is assuming you have the proper credentials to package and ship hazmat. They won't take it without proper docs. Don't do it yourself because you stand to lose a lot if it doesn't go right.

Yea, that is what I pretty much figured out today. Our wonderful government at work for us.

One of the guys on the phone today was a total idiot. I clearly stated that this was a fire extinguisher filled with compressed gas. He then asked me if the gas was flammable!!!!

If I wasn't so frustrated by that point in time I would have busted out laughing at him.

Cardinal · 10-08-2009, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancer360

Yea, that is what I pretty much figured out today. Our wonderful government at work for us.

One of the guys on the phone today was a total idiot. I clearly stated that this was a fire extinguisher filled with compressed gas. He then asked me if the gas was flammable!!!!

If I wasn't so frustrated by that point in time I would have busted out laughing at him.

Be glad you didn't ship with UPS. I used to ship hazmat through UPS. Whenever they lost something, they wouldn't begin to look for it until it was missing for 10 business days. You see, according to UPS, nothing is "lost" unless it can't be located for 10 days.

CosmosMpower · 10-09-2009, 08:27 AM

You can't ship with UPS or FedEx unless you are HAZMAT certified. Your best bet is to find someone that is (maybe a university Chemistry lab) around you and have them ship it for you with the proper packaging. The guidelines to ship Hazmat (transported via ground) or Dangerous Goods (transported via an airplane) are very strict. Even many day to day items like nailpolish are a no no.

When I worked for FedEx as an account exec we had to take a week long training session on this stuff. You could maybe try putting it on a greyhound bus or something like that.

luxige · 10-09-2009, 03:21 PM

I think pla_time (in post #6) offered the only reasonable course. Discharge it, and it's no longer hazmat. Your friend can have it recharged (not cheap).

newguy · 10-09-2009, 04:52 PM

World Courier Cold Chain Logistic Management CTM Clinical Trial Supply Storage and Distribution

pla_time · 10-09-2009, 06:37 PM

A new Halon fire extinguisher (2.5lbs of extinguishing agent, 4.9lbs gross weight) is $179.95 from Sporty's Pilot Shop. If it was me, I'd suggest your friend just buy a new one, and keep yours someplace it might be useful someday.

Cthulhu · 10-12-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancer360

Yea, that is what I pretty much figured out today. Our wonderful government at work for us.

One of the guys on the phone today was a total idiot. I clearly stated that this was a fire extinguisher filled with compressed gas. He then asked me if the gas was flammable!!!!

If I wasn't so frustrated by that point in time I would have busted out laughing at him.

I was told once by a Greyhound employee that it was illegal for my to place ice cream packed in dry ice under the bus because dry ice is highly combustable.

And I thought they put CO2 in fire extinguishers

People don't like being laughed at, but sometimes it's well deserved.

TheAntiRiced · 10-12-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancer360

I tried Freightquote.com and the want $160 to ship it from NC to Georgia!!! Anybody have any ideas besides not telling them and shipping it illegally?

If you're just trying to get it from NC to GA, why not take a road trip? even if you're going from extreme ends of the two states, it can't be more than about 500-600 miles. If you take the Lotus (even if you have a lead foot) that should cost about $100. If you choose your routes right there's some great roads you can hit too

jwb4bb · 10-12-2009, 01:47 PM

I was shocked when I read this. I've been working at freightquote.com for 2 years and I am an Elise owner. If you give me a call I would happy to quote you the shipment as low as I can, just to see if you could get a better price from us. I'd love to help out a lotus driver.

My direct # is 800-323-5441x1921, my name is Jay and I am an account manager.

lancer360 · 10-12-2009, 01:49 PM

The point of all this was to do it very cheaply, i.e. $30-40 bucks for shipping, not $100+ dollars for gas etc. This is not a small hand held. This is a 5lb in car Halon system with three discharge nozzles. It doesn't seem like there is any easy way to do this. Thanks for all the suggestions though.

10-08-2009, 03:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
lancer360 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,215	How to ship hazardous goods? I need to ship a 5lb halon extinguisher to a friend of mine. Fed Ex won't touch it unless I take a $150 training course on how to ship hazardous cargo. I tried Freightquote.com and the want $160 to ship it from NC to Georgia!!! Anybody have any ideas besides not telling them and shipping it illegally? __________________ '05 Lotus Elise Saffron Yellow, Touring, Sport, Stainless Brake Lines, Moroso Oil Pan, RTD Brace KBS Mark 7 Formula 500 with a heart transplant in progress '09 600cc GSX-R Due to hit the track in August '09

10-08-2009, 03:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
serpent Driver!! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3,468	UPS btw if your going to ship it illegally just make sure you wrap it up a lot so it wont break. I used to work for UPS when i was in high school and they dont give a ** about your packages. They will kick, throw, step on, smash your packages up... __________________ Studies show 100% of people die. Might as well have some fun.**

10-08-2009, 03:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
lancer360 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,215	I tried some of the pack and ship places and none of them will handle hazardous cargo. Liability insurance is just too high. I won't ship it illegally. It is a federal offense and carries jail time punishment. __________________ '05 Lotus Elise Saffron Yellow, Touring, Sport, Stainless Brake Lines, Moroso Oil Pan, RTD Brace KBS Mark 7 Formula 500 with a heart transplant in progress '09 600cc GSX-R Due to hit the track in August '09

10-08-2009, 03:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
serpent Driver!! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3,468	well, did you try UPS? what did they say? __________________ Studies show 100% of people die. Might as well have some fun.

10-08-2009, 04:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
pla_time Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Atl, GA Posts: 1,001 Images: 1	IIRC, I think UPS Ground is the shipper of choice for stuff like cans of butane. You might also try USPS. (Otherwise, perhaps just empty the darn thing first and then send it) __________________ "Statistics means never having to say you're certain.” —Anon.

10-08-2009, 03:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
JWA #33 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 3,737	Can you find some one who has done the training class? Maybe one of those Pack-n-ship type places?

10-08-2009, 06:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cardinal Ex and future Lotus owner Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metro North Boston Posts: 4,037 Images: 8	You cannot ship hazardous goods unless you are trained/certified to do so. You WILL get killed if you get caught shipping illegally. The shipper, not the carrier, has to sign all of the hazmat documentation on the shipment, which includes proper packaging. Your best bet is to see if you know anyone who ships hazardous goods at their job, and maybe have them do it. Freightquote.com's quote is assuming you have the proper credentials to package and ship hazmat. They won't take it without proper docs. Don't do it yourself because you stand to lose a lot if it doesn't go right. __________________ the1sen: why move forward with design when you can recreate a monstrosity from the past?

10-09-2009, 08:27 AM	#10 (permalink)
CosmosMpower Cone Magnet Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 2,029	You can't ship with UPS or FedEx unless you are HAZMAT certified. Your best bet is to find someone that is (maybe a university Chemistry lab) around you and have them ship it for you with the proper packaging. The guidelines to ship Hazmat (transported via ground) or Dangerous Goods (transported via an airplane) are very strict. Even many day to day items like nailpolish are a no no. When I worked for FedEx as an account exec we had to take a week long training session on this stuff. You could maybe try putting it on a greyhound bus or something like that. __________________ 06 Canyon Red Elise LSS, Touring, SS, Stg 2, HID, BWR swaybar 09 Mini Cooper S 6MT 2000 Grand Prix White S2000

10-09-2009, 03:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
luxige luxige Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: MA Posts: 1,187	I think pla_time (in post #6) offered the only reasonable course. Discharge it, and it's no longer hazmat. Your friend can have it recharged (not cheap). __________________ In theory, there is no difference between Theory and Practice. In practice, there is. - Y. Berra

10-09-2009, 04:52 PM	#12 (permalink)
newguy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Long Island Posts: 222	World Courier Cold Chain Logistic Management CTM Clinical Trial Supply Storage and Distribution

10-09-2009, 06:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
pla_time Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Atl, GA Posts: 1,001 Images: 1	A new Halon fire extinguisher (2.5lbs of extinguishing agent, 4.9lbs gross weight) is $179.95 from Sporty's Pilot Shop. If it was me, I'd suggest your friend just buy a new one, and keep yours someplace it might be useful someday. __________________ "Statistics means never having to say you're certain.” —Anon.

10-12-2009, 01:47 PM	#16 (permalink)
jwb4bb Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lenexa KS Posts: 32	I was shocked when I read this. I've been working at freightquote.com for 2 years and I am an Elise owner. If you give me a call I would happy to quote you the shipment as low as I can, just to see if you could get a better price from us. I'd love to help out a lotus driver. My direct # is 800-323-5441x1921, my name is Jay and I am an account manager.

10-12-2009, 01:49 PM	#17 (permalink)
lancer360 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,215	The point of all this was to do it very cheaply, i.e. $30-40 bucks for shipping, not $100+ dollars for gas etc. This is not a small hand held. This is a 5lb in car Halon system with three discharge nozzles. It doesn't seem like there is any easy way to do this. Thanks for all the suggestions though. __________________ '05 Lotus Elise Saffron Yellow, Touring, Sport, Stainless Brake Lines, Moroso Oil Pan, RTD Brace KBS Mark 7 Formula 500 with a heart transplant in progress '09 600cc GSX-R Due to hit the track in August '09

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