Anyone ever looked into being a HazMat certified shipper?🤔

[Deputy819]

So, a few weeks ago I drove up to Indiana to buy some IMR 8208 XBR from a guy who had it advertised on GunBroker. Yeah, I know…..but before you starting whipping me I bought 20 lbs for $900.00…..you do the math on that and you will understand. Fairly reasonable by today's pricing.
Anyways, upon arrival one of the questions I asked him was how he planned to ship it had someone bought it through Gunbroker. He told me that he was a certified HazMat shipper. Said he paid $200.00 (or so) online and that it involved some online classes and a test at the end and that was it.
Have any of you guys ever looked into this or actually completed the training?

 

[RockyMtnUT]

Yes. I have taken course and paid my fee and am still waiting on approval from FedEx. They assigned me a account manager that is hurting me getting it wrapped up because she said "she doesn't feel right about shipping gunpowder" she said it wasn't legal at first and had to look into it.
Pain in my butt. It been an ongoing 4 months back and forth signing this and that and waiting for approvals. We'll see if it happens. There is a lot involved. Not as cut and dry as one thinks.
Oh and never say "gunpowder", it's smokeless…huge difference to them. Guns are bad.

 

[Muddyboots]

Its not the training but personal financial asset protection during transit. The real problem is separating yourself from your personal assets to insure there is a sufficient legal wall between your personal and hazmat certification. For example, if you ship from your home, its virtually impossible to protect your personal assets from any potential risk. When you ship Hazmat, you the shipper plus the transporter are responsible for any incidents during transit and all the financial risks for damages. Its more than being certified IMO, you need to be aware of potentisl financial risks shipping Hazmat.

I would strongly recommend seeing an attorney specializing in DOT Hazmat to insure steps are taken to protect yourself.

 

[Muddyboots]

Plus as a shipper you need to be aware of certain DOT requirements as a shipper that can be real interesting to comply with.

Example:

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/Enhanced%20Security%20Brochure.pdf

 

[yorke-1]

I was for over 10 years. It's not a big deal, just know and understand the regulations and it's pretty straightforward.

I'll second Muddyboots' comment about separating your personal assets. This is something that should be done through a separate corporation to protect your personal assets as much as possible.

 

[Mrvmax]

Go through UPS, I got certified under my LLC. It's not hard, just takes some research. You can do it all for free.

 

[Deputy819]

You can do it all for free.

Really? You got 'links' to that or anything? I'm seriously considering doing this……if for no other reason than to help a few members here with stuff that might show up in my neck of the woods that they might need.

 

[Mrvmax]

Here is what I posted on another forum for FFL's. It's been a while, hopefully the links work.

Don't use FedEx, they take too long to approve the account and their software costs too much. Both carriers require shipment paperwork to be computer generated, UPS software is free: https://www.ups.com/forms/order/worldsh ... ?loc=en_US You can go into your UPS account and add an account for dangerous goods, I do not recall how I got there but it is somewhere in here: https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-center/p ... ocess.page Here are training and record requirements from 49CFR: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/172.704 I registered here and got the training for free, UPS and FedEx want to charge for it: http://dothazmat.vividlms.com/ If you feel the need to pay for the training I think this place is reasonable: https://www.lion.com/ Once you are done make a training completion and cert form and file it away, UPS will want a copy of it. They will also want to know how often you will ship and what the UN codes are. FYI smokeless powder is UN0509 and primers UN044. Packaging and labeling requirements can be found on their website, they are a bit specific.

 

[Deputy819]

Here is what I posted on another forum for FFL's. It's been a while, hopefully the links work.

You ROCK, Sir! Thank you.

 

[Mrvmax]

You ROCK, Sir! Thank you.

BTW, save your boxes from when you buy powder and primers online, reuse those when you need them since they are already labeled. When you set up a UPS account you can go on their website and order the supplies you need for hazmat. UPS will pick up the package from your business address, you cannot drop it off to them. You select the pickup in the software.

 

[Muddyboots]

Good stuff. The packaging is a big deal since it HAS to conform to DOT for the HAZMAT shipped.

Training is not one time deal with refresher training is every 3 years.

 

[dallen0427]

Unless shipping by air ( as is most stuff going to AK)…. Then it's a two year refresher which has to comply with IATA. But then again, Alaska is just a pain to get hazmat to.