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Hidden and Undeclared Dangerous Goods

FedEx Express is a world leader in the transport of dangerous goods and has specialists on staff to assist with dangerous goods questions. The first step is for you to identify whether your shipment contains dangerous goods. This category includes aerosol sprays, airbags, ammunition, butane, car batteries, cologne, dry ice, fireworks, gasoline, jet fuel, lighters, matches, nail polish, nail polish remover, nitrogen-refrigerated liquid, paint, perfume, solvents, some chemicals, and more.
 
Shipments with dangerous goods must be tendered to FedEx Express in accordance with current International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations for air transport and the FedEx Express Terms and Conditions. This is required regardless of the routing and whether the shipment ends up physically moving by air transportation, ground transportation, or any combination of these.

Shipping Information

Within the U.S., accessible dangerous goods may only be shipped using FedEx Priority Overnight® or FedEx 1Day® Freight. Inaccessible dangerous goods may be shipped using FedEx Priority Overnight®, FedEx Standard Overnight®, FedEx 2Day®, FedEx Express Saver®, FedEx 1Day® Freight, FedEx 2Day® Freight and FedEx 3Day® Freight.

Internationally, accessible dangerous goods may only be shipped by FedEx International Priority®, FedEx International Priority® Freight, FedEx International Premium® or FedEx International Express Freight® (IXF). Inaccessible dangerous goods may be shipped by FedEx International Priority®, FedEx International Economy® (to Canada and Puerto Rico only), FedEx International Priority® Freight, FedEx International Premium®, FedEx International Priority DirectDistribution®, FedEx International Priority DirectDistribution® Freight, FedEx International Airport-to-AirportSM (ATA) and IXF. (Call FedEx Express Freight Services at 1.800.332.0807 before you ship via ATA or IXF.) International express dangerous goods can only be shipped using the FedEx® Expanded Service International Air Waybill, not using any other FedEx international air waybill or label from a customer electronic shipping device. FedEx International Premium, IXF and ATA services require the FedEx IATA (023) Air Waybill or IATA Neutral Air Waybill.

Dangerous goods service is not available for FedEx SameDay®, FedEx First Overnight® (except for dry ice), FedEx® International Next Flight, FedEx International First® (except for dry ice) or when using a FedEx stamp.

A special handling fee applies. However, there are some dangerous goods we do not surcharge: dry ice (or carbon dioxide solid), UN 1845, when this is the only dangerous good in the shipment; dangerous goods in Excepted Quantities (IATA 2.7); excepted package radioactive materials (IATA 10.5.9); small quantities under 49 CFR 173.4 (U.S. and Puerto Rico shipments only); Biological Substance, Category B, UN 3373; and shipments containing primary (non-rechargeable) lithium batteries and cells that are prepared under IATA special provision A45 and that require the FedEx Express A45 label (UN 3090).

FedEx is not required to add dry ice to packages. If you have a dry-ice shipment prepared according to IATA regulations, you do not need a Shipper's Declaration. However, you must check the Dry Ice block and enter the dry-ice information on the airbill, air waybill or electonic shipping device. Where dry ice is tendered as a refrigerant with dangerous goods that require a declaration, the Dangerous Goods block and the Dry Ice block on the airbill or air waybill must be checked, and the dry-ice information completed. All dry-ice shipments require package marking and labeling. Call our hotline for assistance: 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 and say "dangerous goods."

FedEx Express prohibits the expediting of dangerous goods, except for shipments in which dry ice is the only dangerous good in the shipment.

The following dangerous goods may be shipped within the U.S. and Puerto Rico in accordance with the current edition of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR), which applies to air transportation:

  • Magnetized material
  • Toxics in exemption packaging
  • ORM-D (Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods required)
  • Small quantities under section 49 CFR 173.4
  • Some U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) exemptions that have been approved for air transportation

Effective Jan. 1, 2007, FedEx Express no longer transports Division 1.3 explosives. Division 1.3 explosives are prohibited for all FedEx Express® services.

Infectious substances affecting humans (UN 2814) and infectious substances affecting animals (UN 2900) are considered dangerous goods. NOTE: Regulated infectious substances must not be shipped in the FedEx® Clinical Pak. IATA regulations apply. Noninfectious blood and urine must meet FedEx standards. In addition, Biological Substance, Category B, must meet the packing and marking standards in IATA Packing Instruction 650. For additional information on FedEx standards for UN 3373 Biological Substance, Category B, download our How to Pack brochure (2.36 Mb PDF), which has guidelines on shipping blood; urine; and Biological Substance, Category B.

Shippers must also comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws governing packing, marking and labeling of shipments of blood and blood products regardless of whether they are infectious. Blood, urine and Biological Substance, Category B (UN 3373), shipments may not be deposited in a FedEx Express® Drop Box. For information, call our hotline: 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 and say "dangerous goods."

Dry Shippers/Dry Dewars meeting the note in IATA Packing Instruction 202 must have an indication on the outer package that the shipment is not restricted or nonhazardous.

Within the U.S., Highway Route Controlled Quantity or Fissile Class III radioactive materials will not be accepted for carriage without advance arrangements. Call 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 and say "dangerous goods" for details.

In Alaska, dangerous goods are acceptable in many communities1 in our primary service area. Dangerous goods may be shipped to and from Hawaii with some restrictions. No dry ice or dangerous goods are allowed to ZIP code 96742, Kalaupapa on Molokai.

Internationally, Class 7 radioactives are accepted only between specified locations in the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada, the Caribbean and France (preapproval required). Call 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 and say "dangerous goods" for information. Class 7 substances will not be accepted outside the U.S. without preapproval. Class 1.4 explosives are acceptable as FedEx Express shipments to Canada, France, Germany, Japan, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NOTE: United Arab Emirates only allows Class 1.4 explosives to be shipped via Hold at FedEx Location service to the FedEx Express facility in Dubai.

For dangerous goods shipments picked up on Saturday and destined for any European city, one day will be added to the delivery commitment. Hold at FedEx Location service for dangerous goods shipments is available only at certain FedEx locations in Europe, Canada and Japan. Call our hotline for details. To confirm commodity acceptability, call FedEx International Customer Service at 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 (say "international services").

Shipper's Responsibility

As the shipper, it is your responsibility to identify, classify, package, mark, label and complete documentation for dangerous goods according to all national and international governmental regulations. Failure to do so could create dangerous conditions on the aircraft and result in the shipper being subject to governmental fines and penalties under applicable laws. In addition, FedEx can only accept Shipper's Declarations for Dangerous Goods in typed or computer-generated formats, not hand-written (certain exceptions apply). See sample Shipper's Declaration forms for additional information.

Effective Jan. 19, 2008, FedEx® automated shipping solutions can accept different designations of dangerous goods for individual packages within a multiple-package shipment in the U.S. You must label each package appropriately and provide dangerous goods documentation for the entire shipment.

Ground vs. Air Regulations

Some items may not be regulated as dangerous goods if they travel by ground, but are regulated by IATA if they are offered for transportation via FedEx Express services. One common example is:

  • Dry ice (carbon dioxide solid), UN 1845

If you receive a package with an ORM-D marking but it has no dangerous goods paperwork, it may be that it was shipped via a ground carrier. However, if you then tender that ORM-D shipment to FedEx Express, you must complete the appropriate dangerous-goods paperwork following air regulations. This will include completing the Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods, changing the marking to ORM-D-AIR (in a rectangle) and meeting all other air packaging and marking requirements.

Service Description

  • Packaging
    Dangerous goods cannot be shipped in FedEx Express packaging, except Biological Substance, Category B, UN 3373.
  • Drop-Off Locations
    Many FedEx drop-off locations cannot accept dangerous goods.
  • Limitations
    There are limitations for dangerous-goods shipments to Alaska, Hawaii and many international destinations. For international shipments call 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 (say "international services") to check commodity acceptability. Please identify the destination city and country and the hazard-class name (corrosives, toxics, and so on) when you call.
  • Marking Airbills
    Always mark Yes or No on airbills and air waybills to indicate whether you're offering dangerous goods.
  • International
    Use the FedEx Expanded Service International Air Waybill to ship dangerous goods internationally when using a paper air waybill.
  • Shipper Training
    The federal government requires every dangerous goods shipper to have job-specific dangerous goods training before tendering a dangerous goods shipment to FedEx or another air carrier. FedEx sponsors a number of seminars, for which you can register online.
  • Classifying Your Shipment
    If you are not sure whether your commodity meets the definition of a dangerous good, contact the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) at 1.800.467.4922.

Dangerous Goods Hotline

Call 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 and say "dangerous goods" to reach the Dangerous Goods/Hazardous Materials Hotline if you have questions, or call FedEx Express International Customer Service at 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 (say "international services") for commodity acceptability to international destinations.

1 Anchorage, Anchor Point, Big Lake, Birchwood, Chugiak, Clam Gulch, Cooper Landing, Eagle River, Eileson, Elmendorf, Ester, Fairbanks, Ft. Richardson, Ft. Wainwright, Girdwood, Homer, Houston, Indian, Kasilof, Kenai, Kodiak, Moose Pass, Ninilchik, North Pole, Palmer, Peters Creek, Seward, Soldotna, Sterling, Talkeetna, Trapper Creek, Wasilla and Willow. 
 
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