Transporting dangerous goods by air, water and road requires a great deal of knowledge and expertise. You’ll find them at Special Cargo Services, in the US ánd in the Netherlands. At our Houston (Texas, US), Schiphol, Europoort and IJmuiden branches, our Dangerous Goods experts are ready to get your cargo “ready to ship”. That is, ready for (subsequent) transport, according to the applicable regulations. Whether it’s container loading, packaging, labeling or documentation, everything must be done to perfection and one hundred percent safe.
Your cargo safely and compliantly for transport
There are strict international regulations for the transport of dangerous goods: IATA for air transport, ADR (Netherlands) and/or 49CFR (USA) for road transport, and IMDG for maritime transport. All DG experts at Special Cargo Services are trained to handle shipments in full compliance with these regulations. All hazard classes are handled through the same rigorous inspection, packing and documentation process: from radioactive substances for medical applications to lithium batteries for the automotive industry to fragrances and flavorings for the food industry. In addition, Special Cargo Services is ISO 9001:2015-certified and we have AEO status, which is reviewed annually by Customs.
Checking shipment
How does shipping preparation work? A driver reports to our counter. Our people unload the cargo and put it in one of our warehouses. Immediately one of our specialists checks the shipment: is the transport document correct, is the packaging material correct and intact, is the labeling of the inner and outer packaging correct, is segregation (separation of certain hazardous substances) correctly applied? Sometimes the shipment must also be prepared for another modality, such as road to air or sea to road.
Repackaging or re-pouring
If the packaging is not compliant, our specialists will replace it. In the case of packaged dangerous goods, this is called “repackaging”. In the case of liquid dangerous goods, it involves “re-pouring”. The DG expert does this in a specially equipped room and wears the necessary personal protective equipment.
Re-pouring of liquid dangerous goods is done by the DG expert in a specially equipped room with the necessary personal protective equipment
UN packaging
Special Cargo Services has plenty of options in packaging. From a small 4G box for a content of up to 3.5 kg to larger items in our (UN4D) crates, and from jerry cans to ibc’s. If required by legislation, these packaging materials are “UN-approved”: they comply with the international regulations of the United Nations. Then they have passed a drop test, are extremely sturdy and matched to the load inside.
Labeling
An accident can happen in the blink of an eye. In the event of an incident, it is important that emergency services can immediately see what substances are in the shipment. Correct labeling of cargo is therefore crucial. For this, the substances in the shipment must be correctly classified. This is done according to the hazard class and other characteristics, such as flammability or toxicity. It really is a precision job, which our DG specialists excel at performing perfectly. And again, should the wrong labels be applied to the shipment, we have all labels available for replacement.
Documentation
A transport of dangerous goods must always have the proper (transport) documents. They may vary by shipment and by modality. For example, ADR and 49CFR require at a minimum a transport document, IATA requires a Shipper’s Declaration and IMDG requires a Dangerous Goods Declaration, all in a formally established format. Special Cargo has all the necessary documents available.
Container loading
One of the specialties offered by Special Cargo Houston is container loading, which includes blocking, bracing, and placarding. Blocking and bracing ensure that the cargo remains securely in place during transit, minimizing the risk of movement and damage. Proper placarding is essential for identifying hazardous materials, ensuring that all required safety labels and hazard signs are clearly visible. Of course, both in the US and the Netherlands we comply to all relevant international regulations.
E-recognition
To perform all of these activities for air transportation from the Netherlands, a company needs an accreditation from the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. If you don’t have one, no problem: Special Cargo can take this work off your hands. We have a so-called E-recognition. This means that we can assume the legal liability of the consignor and may perform all actions to prepare a shipment for transportation by air.
On-site shipping preparation
We prepare dangerous cargo for shipment at our Houston (Texas, US), Schiphol, IJmuiden and Europoort sites. By arrangement, we can also do this at your location. We can also offer the shipment to the agent or airline. So we ensure safe transportation of all your dangerous goods anytime, anywhere.
Also for professional training
Preparing dangerous goods for shipment requires the necessary knowledge and training. For that, too, you can turn to Special Cargo. Our professional training branch Special Cargo College provides all kinds of courses and training on the transportation of dangerous goods by air, road and sea. Not only do we do this in the Netherlands, we are also glad to visit your company overseas or in the US to deliver (tailor-made) trainings. This way, we make sure your employees meet all training requirements and are up to date on rules and procedures. Everything familiar in one hand: so easy and efficient!
Get in touch
Want to know what we can do for your business? Please get in touch!
