Hazardous materials are classified according to their hazards and their state or condition.  For example, class 3 flammable liquids are liquids that present a flammable or combustible hazard.  There are 9 classes of hazardous materials under the Department of Transportation (DOT) classification system. They are:

• Class 1 - Explosives
• Class 2 - Gasses
• Class 3 - Flammable Liquids
• Class 4 - Flammable Solids
• Class 5 - Oxidizers
• Class 6 - Poisons/Toxics
• Class 7 - Radio Active
• Class 8 - Corrosive
• Class 9 - Miscellaneous

Some of these classes are further sub divided into divisions depending on the level of hazard they present.  For example:

Class 1 - Explosives are divided into divisions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6.  It is important to note that divisions 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 are much more hazardous than the other divisions in this class. Only class 1 explosives divisions 1.4 and 1.6 are allowed to be transported in the SST system.

Class 2 - Gases has 3 divisions: 2.1 is flammable gas.  2.2 is non-flammable gas. 2.3 is poisonous gas, including inhalation hazards.  Inhalation hazards are further divided into zones, listed alphabetically.  For example, class 2.3 inhalation hazard zone A material is prohibited in the SST system, however class 2.3 zone B is allowable.

Class 3 - Flammable Liquids has no divisions.

Class 4 - Flammable solids has 3 divisions.  4.1 is flammable solids.  4.2 is spontaneously combustible.  4.3 is dangerous when wet.

Class 5 - Oxidizers has 2 divisions.  5.1 is oxidizers.  5.2 is organic peroxides

Class 6 - Poison has 2 divisions.  6.1 is poisonous materials.  This class can be further divided into zones similar to class 2.3 poison gas.  Zone A inhalation hazards in class 6.1 are also prohibited in the SST system.  6.2 is biohazards.

Class 7 - Radio Active material is divided into 3 divisions indicated by Roman numerals.  Radioactive 7 I and II are acceptable in the SST system, but III is prohibited.

Class 8 - Corrosives has no divisions.

Class 9 - Miscellaneous no divisions.

Placard

The following chart shows the placards for each of the hazard classes.  The DANGEROUS placard may be used in loads that have multiple HazMat shipments in the same load.  There is no placard shown for class 9 Miscellaneous HazMat's because the shipments we carry do not require placarding in quantities over 1,000 lbs.

Knowing and understanding the various classes and divisions of hazardous materials is essential to their safe transportation and storage.  All SST employees are required to have a working knowledge of the hazardous materials that can potentially go through our system.  This training was designed to help our employees gain and maintain that necessary knowledge.

It is recommended that you study both individually and as a group with other co workers to help increase your ability to understand and retain the training.  There will be quizzes after each course which will help you see what areas you are strong in and what areas require more follow up.

Prohibited Hazardous Materials in the SST System

In addition to knowing about the classification of hazardous materials, each SST employee must know which hazardous materials are prohibited in our system. Certain hazardous materials are prohibited for a number of reasons, but primarily because their higher level of danger creates extra cost due to increased insurance premiums and other extra training and monitoring processes. These particular HazMat's also require an additional permit in order to transport them. 

Because we have opted not to carry the extra insurance, obtain the required permit, and install the necessary training and processes for handling and transporting these HazMat's, it is illegal for us to have them in our system. It is therefore, extremely important that we not allow any of the designated prohibited HazMat's to enter our system. 

The chart below illustrates which HazMat's are prohibited.

Click here to print the chart.

To summarize the following are NOT permitted to be carried in the SST system.

• Explosives 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.5
• Inhalation Hazard 2.3 Zone
• Inhalation Hazard 6.1 Zone A
• Gas 2.1 and 2.2 in bulk quantities (3,500 water gallon equivalent capacity)
• Radio Active 7 level III

It is important to note that while inhalation hazards in both class 2.3 and 6.1 zone A are prohibited, zones B, C, and D in both classes are permitted (Zone B becomes prohibited in quantities over 2,205 lbs.).

When one of these prohibited HazMat's enters our system it is critical that its progress be stopped no matter where it is found.  Since we are not permitted to transport these substances we cannot continue to move them if we find them in our system.  We must then contact either the shipper or receiver, which ever will be most judicious, and let them know that the material they shipped with us is prohibited and that we cannot continue the progress of the shipment.  The shipper or receiver will then be asked to come to our terminal or other location where the shipment was discovered to pick it up. The same holds true for interline shipments.

Upon first discovering the prohibited shipment a call must be made to the safety director to assure proper handling of the shipment and to start an investigation into why the shipment made it into our system.

The front line defense to keeping these shipments out of our system is the pick up driver who is picking up freight from our customers or the dock employee who is unloading interline trailers. We need to stop these shipments at the origin.  This prevents problems and inconveniences for both shippers and receivers as well as for ourselves.

Click Here to Take the HazMat Course A Quiz