Industrial chemicals plant with storage tanks, pipes and safety infrastructure
Hazmat Desk · All 9 DOT Classes · CHEMTREC Registered

Chemicals & Hazmat.
Compliance Is
the Product.

All 9 DOT hazmat classes. ISO tanks to IBC totes to single drums. CHEMTREC registered, placarded and endorsed — every load, every time.

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9 / 9
DOT hazard classes handled
100%
Hazmat-endorsed driver network
24/7
Emergency response coverage
0
Placarding violations (last 24 months)
Why chemical freight is different

Chemicals & Hazmat Logistics: Compliance Is the Product

49 CFR DOT HazmatTDG Canada Transport of Dangerous GoodsEPA RCRA waste manifest
Chemical freight is not a commodity play. A single non-compliant shipping paper, an unendorsed driver, or an incorrect placard is not just a fine — it is a potential emergency response event. Moving hazardous materials in North America requires mastery of 49 CFR DOT hazmat regulations in the US and Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG) regulations in Canada, including classification, packaging, labelling, marking, placarding, shipping paper preparation, driver endorsements, and segregation of incompatible materials. Qeep’s chemicals desk operates with hazmat-trained logistics coordinators who verify compliance at booking, not at the scale house.
Chemical tank farm with large cylindrical storage tanks beside water, representing bulk liquid chemical storage
Bulk liquid storage — ISO tanks depart this facility daily
DOT Hazmat Classification System

All 9 hazard classes.
One certified desk.

The DOT divides hazardous materials into 9 primary classes. Most chemical brokers handle 2 or 3. Qeep's hazmat desk is trained, vetted, and carrier-matched for every class — from Class 1 explosives to Class 9 miscellaneous.

1

Explosives

Divisions 1.1–1.6. Mass explosion through minor hazard goods. Prior written approval required for 1.1.

2

Gases

Flammable (2.1), non-flammable / non-toxic (2.2), and toxic gases (2.3). Pressure vessels and cylinders.

3

Flammable Liquids

Flash point below 60 °C. Includes fuels, solvents, lacquers, and adhesives. Most common class in chemical freight.

4

Flammable Solids

Self-reactive, spontaneously combustible, and dangerous-when-wet materials. Three sub-divisions (4.1, 4.2, 4.3).

5

Oxidizers

Oxidizers (5.1) that accelerate combustion, and organic peroxides (5.2) requiring temperature control.

6

Toxic Substances

Toxic materials (6.1) and infectious substances (6.2). Strict driver training and packaging requirements.

7

Radioactive

Excepted, Type A, Type B and Type C packages. Surface contamination and transport index limits apply.

8

Corrosives

Materials that destroy skin or corrode metal. Acids, alkalis, batteries. Three packing groups by severity.

9

Miscellaneous

Elevated temperature materials, environmentally hazardous substances, lithium batteries, dry ice, and more.

The Hard Part

Five challenges that expose
generalist freight brokers.

Classification & Shipping Paper Accuracy

Every hazardous material must be correctly identified by its UN number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group and quantity. An error on the shipping paper — wrong UN number, missing subsidiary hazard, or incorrect packing group — is a federal violation under 49 CFR §172.201, regardless of whether an incident occurs. Classification errors on chemical mixtures are particularly common; the mixture’s properties, not the component names, determine the hazard class.

Placarding Requirements for All 9 Hazard Classes

DOT placarding rules under 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart F require specific placard types based on hazard class, quantity thresholds (Table 1 vs Table 2 materials) and, for some classes, the physical state of the material. A load of 1,001 lb or more of a Table 2 material requires placards; certain Table 1 materials require placards regardless of quantity. Incorrect or missing placards are among the most common hazmat violations cited at roadside inspections.

Driver Hazmat Endorsement & Training

Drivers transporting quantities of hazardous materials that require placards must hold a hazmat endorsement (HME) on their CDL in the US, which requires TSA security threat assessment and background check. In Canada, TDG requires drivers to be trained in TDG regulations relevant to the materials they transport. Assigning a non-endorsed driver to a placarded hazmat load is a carrier compliance failure that Qeep’s vetting process actively prevents.

Segregation of Incompatible Materials

Certain hazard classes cannot be co-loaded on the same vehicle under 49 CFR §177.848. Explosives cannot be co-loaded with oxidizers; poisons cannot be co-loaded with foodstuffs. For less-than-truckload chemical shipments moving through a carrier’s terminal system, segregation compliance relies on the terminal sorting personnel understanding the incompatibility table — an area where errors are common and consequences are severe.

Emergency Response Planning & CHEMTREC Registration

DOT requires that every hazmat shipment have an emergency response telephone number on the shipping paper that connects responders to someone with technical knowledge of the hazard (24/7). Most chemical shippers use CHEMTREC as their emergency response information provider. Shippers must have a CHEMTREC contract and their products registered in CHEMTREC’s database before the number can be used on a shipping paper.

How the Chemicals Desk Operates

Five capabilities. Hazmat-trained end to end.

  1. 01

    Hazmat Classification & Shipping Paper Verification

    Before booking any chemical load, Qeep’s hazmat-trained coordinators verify the UN number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group and subsidiary hazards against the 49 CFR hazardous materials table (§172.101) or TDG Schedule 1. We identify classification errors or missing information before the load tenders, not after the carrier refuses it at the dock.

  2. 02

    Hazmat-Endorsed Driver Network

    Every carrier in Qeep’s chemical network is pre-screened for active hazmat endorsements (US) or TDG-trained driver documentation (Canada). We verify endorsements at booking against the FMCSA SAFER database and do not assign non-endorsed drivers to placarded loads. Driver endorsement records are stored in our carrier compliance file and re-verified at every shipment.

  3. 03

    Equipment Matching: ISO Tank, IBC, Drum & Packaged Goods

    We match the transport equipment to the commodity and regulatory requirements: ISO tanks (UN-portable-tank certified, T-code appropriate to the material) for bulk liquid chemicals, IBC tote chassis for intermediate bulk, and enclosed dry-van or flatbed for drummed and packaged goods. For temperature-sensitive chemicals requiring reefer, we confirm the carrier’s unit is rated for chemical loads and the set point is appropriate for the material.

  4. 04

    Placarding, Segregation & Route Compliance

    Qeep prepares placard instructions for every chemical load, specifying required placard type, placement and quantity thresholds. For multi-commodity loads, we apply the incompatibility segregation table under §177.848 before booking and flag any incompatible combination. For loads moving through tunnels or over bridges with hazmat restrictions, we identify restricted routes and provide compliant alternatives.

  5. 05

    24/7 Emergency Response & CHEMTREC Coordination

    Qeep’s chemical desk is staffed 24/7 and maintains direct CHEMTREC contact numbers for every active chemical shipper in our network. In the event of a spill, accident or product release in transit, our coordinator contacts CHEMTREC immediately, relays emergency response guidance to the driver, notifies the appropriate HAZMAT response team, and manages communication between the carrier, the shipper and regulatory authorities until the incident is cleared.

Row of tall stainless steel industrial storage silos at a chemical processing plant

A single wrong placard is not a paperwork error. It is a federal violation and a potential emergency response event.

Regulatory Fluency

The regulations our desk speaks
fluently — by memory.

No teaching a generalist account manager what 49 CFR Part 172 covers. Our hazmat coordinators know these standards cold before they ever touch a chemical load.

49 CFR DOT Hazmat Regulations (Parts 171–180)

US federal regulations covering all aspects of hazardous materials transportation by road: classification and identification (§172.101 table), packaging (§173), marking and labelling (§172.300–400), placarding (§172.500–560), shipping papers (§172.200), emergency response information (§172.600) and driver training (§177.816). All 9 hazard classes are covered. Non-compliance carries civil penalties up to $84,425 per violation per day.

TDG — Transport of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Canada SOR/2001-286)

Canadian regulations mirroring the UN Model Regulations for road transport of dangerous goods. TDG requires safety marks (placards and labels), transport documents, means of containment standards, dangerous goods training certification for all handlers and drivers, and emergency response assistance plans (ERAP) for certain high-consequence materials. Qeep’s cross-border hazmat loads are documented under both 49 CFR and TDG simultaneously.

EPA RCRA Hazardous Waste Manifest (40 CFR Parts 262–263)

Chemical shipments classified as hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act require a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest (EPA Form 8700-22) that tracks the waste from generation point through transport to a licensed treatment, storage and disposal facility (TSDF). The generator, transporter and receiving facility all sign the manifest; transporters must retain copies for three years.

CHEMTREC Emergency Response Registration

Chemical shippers are required by 49 CFR §172.604 to provide a 24-hour emergency response phone number on the shipping paper. CHEMTREC (Chemical Transportation Emergency Center, operated by the American Chemistry Council) provides this service. To use the CHEMTREC number legally, the shipper must have an active CHEMTREC contract and their product data registered in the CHEMTREC database so first responders can receive accurate hazard and response information.

TSA Hazmat Endorsement (HME) — 49 CFR Part 1572

Drivers transporting hazardous materials in quantities requiring placards must hold a hazmat endorsement (HME) on their CDL. Obtaining an HME requires TSA threat assessment, fingerprinting and a background check. HMEs expire and must be renewed every five years. Qeep verifies HME status via FMCSA SAFER at carrier onboarding and re-confirms for every placarded shipment assignment.

49 CFR §177.848 Segregation of Incompatible Hazardous Materials

This regulation prohibits the co-loading of certain hazard classes on the same vehicle. For example, Division 6.1 Poisons (PG I or II) cannot be transported with foodstuffs or feed; Class 1 Explosives have strict co-loading prohibitions with almost every other class. For LTL chemical shipments moving through carrier terminals, Qeep provides explicit segregation instructions to the carrier and confirms terminal compliance at cross-docks.

Close-up of industrial tank surface showing valves, pressure vents and inspection ports on a chemical vessel
Valve & vent inspection — pre-departure checklist
American conventional semi-truck with hazmat placard certification for chemical freight transport on a US highway
Hazmat-endorsed driver — 100% of our chemical network
Recommended Modes

The freight modes chemical shippers depend on.

Full Truckload (FTL)

Dedicated trailer, single shipper, point-to-point — fastest transit and full chain-of-custody.

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Temperature Controlled

Reefer FTL and LTL with continuous temperature logging — frozen, chilled, ambient or multi-temp.

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Intermodal

Door-to-door rail-and-truck with cost savings on long-haul lanes and lower carbon per mile.

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Common Questions

Questions chemical shippers ask us.

Which DOT hazmat classes does Qeep handle?
All nine: Class 1 Explosives (Divisions 1.1–1.6), Class 2 Gases (flammable, non-flammable, toxic), Class 3 Flammable and Combustible Liquids, Class 4 Flammable Solids / Spontaneously Combustible / Dangerous-When-Wet, Class 5 Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides, Class 6 Toxic and Infectious Substances, Class 7 Radioactive Materials, Class 8 Corrosives, and Class 9 Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials. Some extreme-hazard sub-classes (Division 1.1 mass-explosive, certain Division 6.2 infectious substances) require prior written approval; contact our hazmat desk for assessment.
What is the difference between a shipping paper and a manifest for chemical loads?
A shipping paper (bill of lading with hazmat entries) is required under 49 CFR for all hazardous materials transported on public roads. It lists UN number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group and quantity. A hazardous waste manifest (EPA Form 8700-22) is additionally required when the material is classified as hazardous waste under RCRA — it creates a cradle-to-grave tracking record from generator to disposal facility. Qeep prepares both documents when applicable.
Do your drivers have hazmat endorsements?
Yes — every driver assigned to a placarded hazmat load in the Qeep network holds an active hazmat endorsement (HME) on their CDL. We verify this through the FMCSA SAFER database at carrier onboarding and reconfirm at load assignment. For Canada-bound loads, we confirm TDG training certification under SOR/2001-286. Non-endorsed drivers are blocked from assignment to any chemical load regardless of quantity.
What equipment do you use for bulk liquid chemicals?
For bulk liquid chemicals we use ISO tank containers (IM101 or IM102 depending on vapour pressure rating) or DOT-specification tank trucks matched to the T-code in the 49 CFR §173 packaging table for the specific UN number. For intermediate bulk we use IBC totes on flatbed or enclosed trailers. For drummed chemicals (steel, poly or fibre drums) we use enclosed dry-van or flatbed with appropriate blocking. We do not mix chemical packaging types on a single vehicle when segregation rules apply.
What happens if there is a hazmat incident during transit?
Qeep’s 24/7 chemical desk is the first call. Our coordinator immediately contacts CHEMTREC using the shipper’s registered number, provides responders with product SDS and response guidance, contacts the carrier’s safety department, and notifies the appropriate state/provincial HAZMAT response team. We manage regulatory reporting obligations under 49 CFR §171.15 (immediate telephonic notice) and §171.16 (written Incident Report) on behalf of the carrier. The shipper is kept informed in real time.
Can you handle temperature-sensitive chemicals that also require hazmat compliance?
Yes. Many flammable liquids, organic peroxides (Class 5.2) and certain toxics require refrigerated transport to maintain stability and prevent hazard escalation. We have reefer carriers in our network who are hazmat-endorsed and whose temperature-controlled trailers are chemically rated (stainless bulkhead, non-sparking components) for flammable or reactive products. Temperature monitoring documentation is provided alongside all hazmat compliance paperwork.
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