Dangerous goods orders
This section explains how to manage dangerous goods using the Shippit API. If you ship items classified as dangerous goods, declare them when you create the order. This ensures the order is allocated to a carrier that can safely ship your goods. It also ensures the necessary documentation, such as a dangerous goods declaration, is generated and sent to the carrier.
Dangerous Goods in Limited Quantities do not need to be declared in the order creation payload, but must be labelled appropriately.
Get approval to ship dangerous goods
Get pre-approval from Shippit and the carrier before you ship any dangerous goods.
WARNING: Shipping any class of restricted or dangerous goods must be pre-approved by Shippit and the carrier.
Check whether your carrier accepts the class of dangerous goods you want to ship. You can use the carrier matrix for an overview. For more detailed information about a specific carrier, see the know your carrier collection.
To activate a new dangerous goods carrier, download and complete the Dangerous Goods Request Form. For the form and further instructions, see the shipping prohibited and restricted goods article.
Declare dangerous goods in your order payload
Include the dangerous goods attributes in the parcel_attributes of your /orders payload. This ensures Shippit identifies the shipment correctly and generates the required compliance documentation.
dangerous_goods_code: The dangerous goods code — for instance, the UN codedangerous_goods_class: The dangerous goods classificationdangerous_goods_text: Additional descriptive information required for the goods
To ensure accurate surcharges (which are often weight-based), split your order if it contains both dangerous and non-dangerous goods.
You must also split your order if it contains dangerous goods with more than one dangerous goods code.
Carrier allocation for dangerous goods
When you add a dangerous goods code to your order, it will only be allocated to a carrier that is configured as being able to take dangerous goods.
The class of dangerous goods is not considered during carrier allocation. It is important to check which classes your carrier can ship, before you create your order and confirm that the allocated carrier supports the order’s dangerous goods class.
You can use the courier_allocation field as part of the order creation request to specify the exact carrier.
If you (1) have multiple carriers available that can accept dangerous goods and (2) specify a service level by using courier_type field, the order will be allocated based on your other preferences, such as the cheapest or the fastest. Using the rules engine, you can specify whether certain carriers are considered or excluded from courier allocation.
Contact Shippit support if your chosen carrier isn’t being allocated as expected.
Dangerous goods documentation
When you add a dangerous goods code to your order, Shippit automatically creates a dangerous goods declaration using the information you provide. This document is electronically attached to the order, and sent on to the carrier. You can also view and print the document directly from your Shippit account.
Available dangerous goods classes
Dangerous goods classes are defined by international transport regulations. They are used to identify the hazard class of the dangerous goods you are shipping. Define the class in the dangerous_goods_class field.
These dangerous goods classes are internationally recognised:
| Class | Type of material | examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explosive substances and articles | Fireworks, ammunition |
| 2.1 | Flammable gas | Butane, propane |
| 2.2 | Non-flammable and non-toxic gases | Nitrogen, helium, oxygen |
| 2.3 | Toxic gases | Chlorine, phosgene |
| 3 | Flammable liquids | Petrol, lighter fluid, alcohol |
| 4.1 | Flammable solids, self-reactive substances | Matches, metal powders |
| 4.2 | Substances liable to spontaneous combustion | Phosphorus, activated carbon |
| 4.3 | Substances which emit flammable gases in contact with water | Sodium, calcium carbide |
| 5.1 | Oxidising substances | Hydrogen peroxide, nitrates |
| 5.2 | Organic peroxides | Benzoyl peroxide |
| 6.1 | Toxic substances | Pesticides, certain chemicals |
| 6.2 | Infectious substances | Biological samples, medical waste |
| 7 | Radioactive material | Medical isotopes, nuclear materials |
| 8 | Corrosive substances | Acids, alkalis, batteries |
| 9 | Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles | Lithium batteries, dry ice, magnetised materials |
Note: Class 1 (Explosives) has additional subdivisions identified by division numbers (1.1-1.6) and compatibility groups. You are responsible for correctly classifying dangerous goods according to these international standards.
If you do not specify dangerous_goods_class in the order payload, the dangerous goods declaration code falls back to a standard subsidiary risk number of 9, for miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles.
Prohibited and restricted items
Before you ship, verify that your items are not on the prohibited list and that you comply with all carrier-specific restrictions. Shippit supports various freight types, but some items require special procedures or are completely barred from the network.
For more information about prohibited items and restricted freight, see the shipping prohibited and restricted goods article.