How to Ship Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) with USPS?

Shipping hazardous materials (HAZMAT) requires extra care to ensure safety, compliance, and timely delivery. With VESYL, you can manage shipments while adhering to USPS rules for hazardous items.

What Are Hazardous Materials?

Hazardous materials include items that are flammable, corrosive, explosive, or otherwise regulated due to safety concerns. Improper packaging or labeling can result in shipment delays, fines, or refusal by USPS.

Common hazardous items include:

• Aerosols
• Perfume/Cologne
• Lithium-ion batteries (electronics)
• Cleaning agents
• Inks

Prohibited items for USPS include:

• Airbags
• Ammunition
• Explosives
• Gasoline
• Liquid mercury
• Marijuana (medical or otherwise; hemp/CBD products are allowed but restricted)

Shipping Hazardous Materials with USPS

Key Guidelines:

1. Packaging: Use strong, leak-proof, and appropriately labeled containers. Follow USPS Publication 52 for specific instructions.
2. Labeling: Mark packages clearly as hazardous if required. Include any handling instructions.
3. Weight & Quantity Limits: Certain hazardous items may have quantity restrictions per package or per shipment.
4. Domestic vs. International: Verify restricted or prohibited items before shipping internationally, as rules differ from domestic shipments.
   
   

Important Notes:

• USPS does not charge extra for shipping hazardous items, but compliance with packaging and labeling rules is mandatory.
• Check the USPS Prohibited and Restricted Items lists:
  
  • Domestic
  • International

How VESYL Helps with HAZMAT Shipping

VESYL makes managing hazardous shipments easier:

• Pre-check shipments for restricted or prohibited items.
• Provide guidelines for proper packaging and labeling.
• Integrate with USPS for domestic and international compliance.
• Keep hazardous shipments organized in your VESYL dashboard for tracking and reporting.

Best Practices

• Always review Publication 52 before shipping hazardous items.
• Only ship items allowed by USPS. Avoid prohibited items entirely.
• Use VESYL automation rules to flag hazardous products for special handling.
• For lithium-ion batteries, always follow the USPS-specific packaging instructions to prevent damage during transit.
  
  

VESYL helps brands safely and efficiently ship both standard and hazardous products while maintaining compliance and minimizing risk.