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USDOT Hazardous Materials Transportation Placards

These pages provide US DOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) definitions for each hazmat placard used in transportation. Title 49 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations (49CFR) also known as the Federal Motor Carriers Safty Regulations (FMCSR) requires the use hazardous materials placards when shipping hazardous materials cargo and dangerous goods in the United States. Canada, Mexico and many other countries have simular regulations that also require the use of these placards.

Four Digit UN Numbers on Placards

Have you ever wondered what those four digit numbers on the placards on the side of trucks and rail cars mean? UN/NA numbers (the four digit number) found on bulk placards refer to specific chemicals or groups of chemicals and are assigned by the United Nations and/or the United States Department of Transportation. Our online USDOT 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook will help you find out what the four digit numbers you see on placards mean.

Clipart CD of Placards Available

CDs containing high-resolution "clipart" versions of each hazmat placard can be purchased from us for $50 U.S. including shipping (via U.S. Mail). This CD now contains the USDOT's hazardous materials transportation training modules as a free bonus. For more information and/or to order the CD, please see our placarding CD ordering page.

Class 1 Explosives - 49CFR 173.50

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.6

Class 2 Compressed Gasses - 49CFR 173.115

2.1

2.2

2.2

2.3

Class 3 Flammable Liquids - 49CFR 173.120

3

3

3

3

Class 4 Flammable Solids - 49CFR 173.124

4.1

4.2

4.3

Class 5 Oxidizers - 49CFR 173.127

5.1

5.2

Class 6 Poisons - 49CFR 173.132

6.1

6.1

6.1

6.1

Class 7 Radioactive Materials- 49CFR Subpart I

7

Class 8 Corrosive Liquids - 49CFR 173.136

8

Class 9 Miscellaneous - 49CFR 173.140

9

9

Other Related Markings

USDOT 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook

Have you ever wondered what those four digit numbers on the placards on the side of trucks and rail cars mean? UN/NA numbers (the four digit number) found on bulk placards refer to specific chemicals or groups of chemicals and are assigned by the United Nations and/or the United States Department of Transportation. Our online USDOT 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook will help you find out what the four digit numbers you see on placards mean.

Copyright Notice

While excerpts from the Code of Federal Regulations Title 49 (49CFR) and the "Emergency Response Guidebook" are in the public domain, the image files on these pages, the design of these pages as well as all other materials on this site and graphics files are copyrighted by this site's creator Kenneth Lea Barbalace. Copyrighted material on this site, including graphics files, MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED in any form without the express permission of this site's creator.

References

• U.S. Code of Federal Regulations - 49CFR 173, United States Department of Transportation
• 2000 North American Emergency Response Guidebook (NAERG), U.S. Department of Transportation, Transport Canada, Secretariat of Transport & Communications, 2000

Disclaimer

WARNING: These pages are for general reference and educational purposes only and MUST NOT be relied upon as a sole source to determine regulatory compliance or where matters of life and health are concerned. This site and the author do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or the sufficiency of the information provided and do not assume any responsibility for its use.

To ensure regulatory compliance when transporting hazardous materials or dangerous goods, one must receive proper training and certification from a qualified instructor and refer to the current year's Code of Federal Regulations Title 49 (49CFR) or your country's shipping regulations. In matters regarding workplace safety, refer to current OSHA regulations (29CFR) and NIOSH guidelines or your own country's health and safety regulations. No one should ever enter into a hazardous environment without proper training from qualified instructors.

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. US DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation Placards. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2009. Accessed on-line: 1/8/2009
http://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/hazmat/placards/
.