Hazardous Materials

Hazmat Evaluation Table

Our Hazmat Evaluation Table outlines the Hazardous Materials Acceptance Guide for Union Pacific Railroad.

Overview

Shipments of Hazardous Materials and hazardous substances are subject to United States Department of Transportation regulations as reprinted in Bureau of Explosives Tariff BOE-6000 series. See Bureau of Explosives publications for more information.

When tendering a Shipment of Hazardous Materials or hazardous substances to UPRR:

  1. The Shipper must properly describe the material in providing in the shipping instructions the description for each hazardous material as required in DOT's hazardous materials regulations, 49 C.F.R., Part 172, Subject C.
  2. If Union Pacific is the first transporting rail carrier, the Shipper must certify that the materials are properly classified, described, packaged, marked and labeled, and are in proper condition for transportation in accordance with DOT regulations.
  3. The Shipper must comply with the AAR Loading Guide.


Union Pacific's Freight Loss and Damage Prevention Services representative must approve any exceptions to the loading and bracing methods prior to movement.

Intermodal Gate Operations

Employees and contractors must comply with these Instructions For Handling Hazardous Materials - Intermodal Gate Operations when handling trailers/containers transporting hazardous materials during intermodal gate operations.

Hazardous Securement Requirements

  1. Minimum 2 x 6 inch lumber required for:
    1. floor blocking
    2. lateral blocking
    3. rear gates
    4. See Floor Blocking Diagram.
  2. Nails and nailing:
    1. minimum 16d nails are required for all floor blocking
    2. stagger nails side to side, not in a straight line; not more than 5 inches apart
    3. drive nails straight at 90 degree angle to floor
  3. Separator between layers on double-stack loads must be 1/2 inch plywood.
  4. Bull boards and "T" braces are acceptable methods of securement:
    1. must use quantity of boards to secure weight of lading
    2. buffer material should be positioned between lading and boards (1/2" plywood)
    3. do not cover outside view of bull boards
    4. See Bull Boards diagram.
  5. Ty-Gard barriers are acceptable for securement of hazardous lading.
    1. sufficient quantity of barriers must be used to secure weight of load
    2. split load into two or three sections and apply two Ty-Gard barriers per section
    3. apply tape to barriers to insure they maintain position against lading
    4. See Ty-Gard diagram
  6. Methods that are not acceptable for securement of hazardous materials are:
    1. disposable inflatable dunnage bags
    2. doors used for securement
    3. unsecured partial double layers