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Industrial · how to ship

How to ship hazardous materials

The right mode, how to prepare it, what drives the price and the mistakes that cost money. Best modes: LTL, Truckload.

Short answer: Hazmat freight ships LTL or truckload with carriers authorized for its hazard class. You need the UN number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group and an emergency contact on the bill of lading, plus DOT-compliant packaging, labels and placards. Declare it when you quote: undeclared hazmat is refused and fined.

Updated November 3, 2026 · By the GetShippingRates team at Armstrong Transport Group

Step by step

Preparing hazardous materials for shipping

  1. Find the UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group on the SDS.
  2. Package in UN-rated packaging with the right labels.
  3. List hazmat details and a 24-hour emergency phone on the BOL.
  4. Placard the truck when quantity requires it.
  5. Train anyone who prepares hazmat shipments (DOT requirement).
Cost

What drives the price

  • Hazmat surcharge
  • Carrier authorization by class
  • Placarded quantities limit carrier choice
  • Special packaging

For real prices see pallet shipping cost, the freight rate index and reefer shipping cost.

Avoid these

Mistakes that cost money

  • Undeclared hazmat.
  • Missing emergency contact on the BOL.
  • Incompatible classes loaded together.

More industrial guides

Frequently asked questions

Can hazmat ship LTL?

Yes. Most national LTL carriers handle most hazard classes; some classes and quantities are restricted.

What do I need to ship hazmat?

UN number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group, packaging and labels, and a 24-hour emergency phone on the BOL.

Does hazmat cost more?

Yes, a hazmat surcharge applies, and fewer carriers can take some classes.

More shipping cost guides

  • Shipping cost calculator — Billable weight for parcel, LTL, truckload, air and ocean, the mode that fits, and a dated LTL price range.
  • Pallet shipping cost — What 1 to 12 pallets cost to ship by LTL, by distance, from 97,000+ real shipments.
  • Freight shipping rates — How each mode is priced, and LTL price per 100 lb by weight and distance from real shipments.
  • LTL vs truckload — Where LTL stops making sense: pallet counts, weight, linear feet and transit, with real LTL prices.
  • Air freight rates — How air cargo is priced: chargeable weight, weight breaks, surcharges and door-to-door charges.
  • Ocean freight rates — FCL vs LCL, container sizes, revenue tons and every charge on an ocean freight quote.
  • Freight rate index — Median all-in truckload price per mile by equipment, distance and city, from hundreds of priced lanes.
  • Reefer shipping cost — What refrigerated LTL and reefer truckloads cost, from real quotes on 16 lanes.
  • White glove delivery cost — Curbside to white glove with assembly: what the two-person delivery leg costs in 16 US cities.
  • Broker vs. carrier direct — When a direct carrier contract beats a broker, and when it doesn't.
  • Volume LTL vs. partial truckload — The 6-to-18-pallet gray zone: how each is priced and handled.
  • Where to get a freight quote — Carrier sites, marketplaces, brokers and instant-rate platforms compared.
  • How to ship anything — Mode, packaging, freight class and cost drivers for furniture, machinery, produce, hazmat and more.
  • Shipping to Mexico — Cross-border freight: border crossings, the documents each side needs, and the US leg's real cost.
Live quote

Get a quote to ship hazardous materials

Pick the mode, enter the lane and freight, and see live rates in seconds where the mode supports it. Armstrong Transport Group's team handles the rest.

Prefer to talk? Call 877-240-1181 or email info@getshippingrates.com. Shipping several modes? Request a free multimodal shipping review.

LTL quote

  2. 2 Shipment
  3. 3 Contact
1–6 pallets or crates sharing a truck
Lane
Freight
Handling units
Extra services (optional)
At pickup
At delivery
Shipment