Dangerous goods and perishables: what changes in shipment planning

A badly declared dangerous cargo is refused at the terminal, and a badly planned perishable arrives worthless. In both cases the problem starts long before loading.

Dangerous goods

• UN classification: every product has a UN number, a class and a packing group. An up-to-date safety data sheet is the starting point.
• Approved packaging: UN-certified boxes and drums, labelled and marked according to the mode (IMDG for sea, IATA DGR for air).
• Shipper's declaration: signed by trained personnel. In air freight the training is mandatory and audited.
• Lithium batteries: the rules change often and differ depending on whether the battery travels alone, with the equipment or inside it. Check the version in force before every shipment.

Perishables and the cold chain

• Define the temperature range and the maximum time outside it, then choose the equipment accordingly: reefer, active or passive container, thermal packaging.
• Plan pre-cooling, sanitary inspection and the pickup window to reduce time on the ground.
• Use temperature loggers with reporting: besides serving as evidence in a claim, they help improve the process.

TMLOG has a team trained in dangerous goods and partners with cold chain capability on the main routes. Planning starts with the safety data sheet and the product specification, and ends with the cargo released at destination in the right condition.