Lithium Batteries Shipping

DGM California partners with major logistics companies, freight forwarders, trucking companies (LTL and FTL), airlines (PAX and CAO) and vessel lines (LCL and FCL) to handle your Lithium Batteries shipments as well as unregulated goods within the US and internationally, including imports, exports and custom clearances.

Shipping encompasses a complex network involving exporters and importers, freight forwarders, carriers, customs authorities, and regulatory bodies. Lithium batteries and its equipment shipping has additional requirements above and beyond this complexity. Shipments are required by law to be handled by qualified personnel experienced & certified by DOT, IATA and IMO. Logistics firms such as UPS, FedEx and DHL require special software to be used before they will accept a hazardous or dangerous goods shipment. All truck lines, airlines and vessel line operators require the shipper to be pre-authorized or pre-approved before they accept dangerous goods shipments and to provide all the paperwork and placards, along with the cargo. Lithium batteries, when shipped alone, can only be shipped by Cargo Aircraft. This poses severe restrictions as not all international destinations are served by CAO service. We have an extensive network of served destinations that we can ship to from the San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland metropolitan area. Where not possible, we will provide routing through vessel lines. We are also pre-authorized and have negotiated deeply discounted rates with all carriers to be able to transport all your hazmat and regular products quickly and safely. We can ship nationally within the United States as well as internationally. We ship ground via Less-than-Truck-Load (LTL), Full Truck Load (FTL); air via Passenger Airlines and Cargo Airlines; and Ocean via Less-than-Container Load (LCL) and Full Container Load (FCL).

Shipping fully regulated Section I Lithium batteries (UN 3090, UN 3480)

Lithium batteries are classified as fully regulated Section I batteries when they exceed certain thresholds of Lithium content in grams (for UN 3090 Lithium metal batteries) and Watt Hour rating (for UN 3480 Lithium Ion batteries).

Such shipments require a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods, and all labels per the proper sub-classification (Section IA, Section IB). These shipments can only be transported via Cargo Aircraft when mode of transport is air. Similar requirements exist for Ocean and Ground transport as well.

transp

Shipping Section II Lithium batteries (UN 3090, UN 3480)

Lithium batteries are classified as Section II batteries when they exceed certain thresholds of Lithium content in grams (for UN 3090 Lithium metal batteries) and Watt Hour rating (for UN 3480 Lithium Ion batteries).

Such shipments require a Lithium Battery Statement document, and a different set of labels per PI 965 and PI 968. These shipments can only be transported via Passenger and Cargo Aircraft when mode of transport is air. Similar exceptions exist for Ocean under SP 188 and Ground transport as well.

Shipping Lithium Ion or Metal batteries packed with or contained in equipment (UN 3091, UN 3481)

Lithium cells when contained in or packed with equipment are classified as UN 3091 and UN 3481. Regulations surrounding transport of such consumer electronics (laptops,audio visual equipment), personal mobility equipment (such as hoverboards, scooters, ebikes) also have a Section I and Section II classification, that allows different Lithium weight in grams (for Lithium metal batteries) and Watt Hours (for Lithium Ion batteries) to be transported with either a fully regulated Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods or a Lithium battery statement. Packing Instruction Sections 966, 967, 969 and 970 govern the regulations surrounding Lithium batteries packed or contained in equipment.

Go to DG & Hazmat Documentation

Go to DG & Hazmat Packing