When traveling on highways or watching container ships load or unload at a port, it is possible to notice the various labels on each shipping container. Each country has regulations that govern the labeling of shipping containers, and failure to comply puts you on the wrong side of the law. Ramifications for not adhering to the regulations include:
Delays in delivery because improperly labeled containers may be returned to their origin or sent on the wrong route.
Penalties and fines per the local regulations and, in extreme cases, suspension or revoking of shipping license.
Increase in shipping costs due to inaccurate or incomplete labeling data.
Compromise to public health and safety as the parties handling the shipping container depend on the labels to determine the correct way to handle it.
Damage to the goods in the shipping container due to improper handling or going out of date.
Therefore, you must invest your time in studying the shipping container labeling regulations in both the countries of origin and destination. Even though labeling might seem like a minute part of the shipping process, it is crucial in ensuring your container arrives safely and on time.
Labeling shipping containers is all about giving the public and authorities as much information about the container as possible. Shipping containers go through many hands, from packaging to delivery. They must pass through customs, be stored at ports or warehouses, and spend time on cargo ships or the backs of hauling trucks. Each of these actors needs to access critical information about the container easily. Shipping container labels are a necessity for many reasons, among them:
Container Identification: Because shipping containers are standard sizes and sometimes similar colors, labels are the only way to identify your container among the millions that crisscross the planet annually.
Safety: Labels indicate to handlers any hazards associated with a shipping container to ensure proper handling mitigates accidents, spillages, and exposures.
Dimensions Information: Labels provide information on container size and weight, which is essential when handling or moving the container.
Compliance With Regulations: Governments have environmental and safety standards that all shipping containers must meet. Labels are crucial to meeting OSHA's Hazard Communication Standards in the United States.
Container Tracking: Labels contain serial numbers, allowing tracking as the container moves through ports. It helps prevent wrong routing or recovery of the shipping container should it end up at the wrong destination. In cases where a container contains hazardous chemicals or material, labels help companies track how they enter a facility, get put into use, and finally leave.
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What are the Shipping Container Labeling Requirements?
The International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC) determines international shipping safety standards. The main goals of the convention are to maintain high safety levels for human life in the handling and transporting of containers and to provide uniform international safety regulations that apply to all modes of transport that a shipping container may use.
That prevents the proliferation of noncompatible national safety standards, which might compromise safety. Among the labeling requirements is the Safety Approval plate, commonly known as the CSC plate. It is a permanent, noncorrosive, fireproof plate mandatory for all containers participating in international transport. A valid CSC plate shows that a container has successfully undergone testing and meets the standards compiled by the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the Convention for Safe Containers (CSC).
How Do You Label A Container Loaded With Hazardous and Fragile Goods?
The law requires companies to mark hazardous materials using labels that are compliant with DOT and International Maritime Organization (IMO) labeling regulations or requirements. OSHA requires that shipping containers transporting certain hazardous materials have an HCS 2012 label compliant with paragraph 1910.1200(f)(1) on the shipping container exterior or attached to any accompanying shipping papers or bill of lading.
When labeling hazardous goods, you must follow the following guidelines:
Labels must indicate the correct hazard class for the materials contained in the container. The Department of Transportation has nine defined Hazard Class Groups separated by their distinct hazardous properties and shipping requirements. They include explosives, gases, flammable and combustible liquids, flammable solids, Oxidizing Substances, Toxic and Infectious substances, Radioactive materials, Corrosives, and Miscellaneous hazardous materials.
Labels must be durable, on a contrasting background, and written in English. They should be on the exterior and not obscured by other labels or attachments.
Labels must have all the regulation standard signals words, pictograms, and hazard and precautionary statements.
Labels should be diamond-shaped with a solid borderline, and the division or hazard class number must be between 0.25 and 0.5 inches high.
Where Do You Find Shipping Container Labels?
Vital labels are found on different container parts as per international standards. These are;
Door end: This part of the container holds most of the information. Some details include the maximum payload, maximum gross weight tare weight, and height warning for containers exceeding 8 feet 6 inches. In some cases, it may include repair recommendations and company logos.
Front end: The front end includes the identification number, size, and type codes.
Side: Here, you find the identification number containing the serial number and BIC code, as well as the check digit.
Top: The top displays the identification number, size, and type codes.
Labels might also indicate the correct handling guidelines and container contents, especially hazardous ones. In emergencies such as spillages or exposure, labels provide downstream workers and first responders with the information to respond accordingly.
How to label the Less than Truckload (LTL) and Less than Container Load (LCL) Shipments
The two main shipping methods for freight are trucks and ships. It’s not always that your shipment is large or heavy enough to call for a dedicated truck or shipping container. LTL and LCL are necessary in such cases. Less than truckload (LTL) shipment refers to truck shipments in which one client's payload does not fill up the entire trailer space, resulting in one truck carrying several orders from many customers. Similarly, sea freight has Less than Container Load (LCL), which refers to shipments in which a customer's order only takes up a portion of a container.
For both LTL and LCL, each box or pallet should have a clear and visible label containing;
the shipper's name
the consignee's name
destination
freight forwarder's name
booking number from the freight forwarder.
Extreme caution should be taken when labeling fragile goods. It’s recommended that all four sides of the box or pallet have a FRAGILE label.
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What Are The Components of Shipping Container Labels?
For most people, the various components of shipping container labels seem complex and difficult to understand. Below are the common markings found on container labels and their definitions.
1. Maximum Gross Weight
That’s usually a number found on the shipping container's door end. It tells the party packing the container the maximum weight capacity of the container in kilograms and pounds. This weight includes the container's tare weight, which is its weight when empty.
2. Maximum Payload
The maximum payload is the maximum weight of cargo that can be put into the container. This number does not include the tare weight and matches the one on the packing slip. It is found on the back of the container, and the recipient is informed what to expect from the payload inside. It is crucial that this number is accurate to avoid accidents and damages.
3.Height Warning
For shipping containers exceeding 8 feet 6 inches tall, markings are mandatory to warn handlers. These markings are found in the right-hand corner of each side and are typically measurements on a yellow background outlined in lack.
4. Identifications Number
There are three parts to the identification number: the BIC code, serial number, and check digit.
BIC code: It is an owner code issued by the Bureau International des Containers et du Transport Intermodal (BIC) to shippers. The code is unique to each container and identifies the owner of that container. The BIC code forms the first three letters of the identification number, with a fourth letter describing the equipment category.
Serial number: This six-digit number serializes the shipping container and allows for container tracking.
Check digit: The check digit is part of the serial number. Its main use is to check the validity of the identification number on a serialized shipping container.
5. Size and type codes
Often referred to as ISO Codes, they use a globally accepted standardized codification system to tell shippers worldwide the size and type of a container.
6. Other markings
Below are some other markings you may find on a shipping container:
Hazard warnings: These are signs or plates identifying any hazardous materials in the shipment.
Caution stickers: These provide important cautions that have to stand out, such as "Warning High Cube," among other cautions.
Owner name and logo: This shows the company that owns the shipping container.
Conclusion
The labeling of containers is important to guarantee the safety of everyone involved in handling them and ensure they’re delivered on time. Whether you’re expecting a shipping container with goods or you’re returning an empty one, Container Transport is a trustworthy shipping container moving company in the United States. Contact us and speak to one of our experts, who will guide you on the best way to transport your container.
Frequently aSKED questions
To get a quote for moving containers, you can call Container Transport or visit our website. Click the get quote tab, usually at the bottom of the home or about us page. Sometimes, the tab is on the menu section. Give details of what you want to ship, in this case, a container. Next, you need to give information on the final destination of your container. Before you get the quote or estimate, submit your personal information, including your name, phone number, and email, to receive your free quote for moving containers.
Moving containers requires the best trailers that can handle heavy or wide loads. The choice of a suitable trailer depends on the container size, 20 feet or 40 feet, and weight. Our container transport company has numerous types of trailers that handle oversized, heavy, or wide containers. Our logistic agents can recommend lightweight and high-strength chassis trailers because of their outstanding maneuverability, flexibility, and ability to carry 20-foot, 40-foot, and extended containers. We also use flatbed trailers that have adequate strength for container hauling. Another trailer option to hire is the Gooseneck, which can carry light to heavy containers.
Loading a container on a trailer or truck requires specialized equipment or tools. Shipping container movers first ensure the container is in perfect condition, free from damages, holes, or issues that can damage the things inside. Next, the shipping specialists moving the containers ensure the trailer is parked in the best position for proper loading. It should have all the required tie-downs to hold the container securely for safe transportation. Our container transport company uses cargo lifters, such as top pickers, driverless AGVs, forklifts, and cranes, to lift the cargo and properly position it in the trailer for securing and transportation.
Yes, permits are a vital requirement when shipping a container locally or internationally. Some local, state, international, and federal guidelines, regulations, and laws require you to have permits based on the type of goods you are transporting and the final destination of your cargo. As a renowned legitimate transportation company, we navigate the shipping industry and regulations to ensure our clients get all the necessary permits to ship their containers safely without legal issues.
Yes, we have cranes that help us load and offload your container from trailers and other means of transportation. The numerous cranes for loading and unloading include crawler, tower, overhead, floating, and gantry cranes with different applications. Tower cranes are state-of-the-art equipment that can lift containers to and from trailers during intermodal shipping. Overhead cranes help in lifting heavy containers in our shipyards.
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