Hazmat Fee

A hazmat fee is assessed by carriers for shipping freight classified as hazardous materials under the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. The charge – typically $50 to $300 or more depending on the material class and carrier – covers the carrier's added costs for regulatory compliance: driver hazmat endorsement, specialized training, proper placarding, insurance coverage, and routing restrictions that may require longer or specific routes to avoid tunnels, populated areas, or restricted zones.

Hazardous materials are classified into nine DOT hazard classes, ranging from explosives (Class 1) to miscellaneous dangerous goods (Class 9). Shippers are responsible for properly classifying their freight, providing accurate UN numbers and proper shipping names, and ensuring all required documentation – including hazmat BOLs, safety data sheets, and emergency response information – accompanies the shipment. Errors in hazmat documentation don't just generate fees; they create regulatory violations that can result in fines, shipment refusal, and liability exposure for both the shipper and carrier.

For food and beverage shippers, hazmat fees most commonly apply to cleaning chemicals, sanitizers, alcohol-based products, and certain aerosols or compressed gases that ship alongside or within the same supply chain. Even shippers who don't consider themselves "hazmat shippers" may have SKUs that fall under hazmat classification and require proper handling, documentation, and carrier notification. Identifying these products in the item master and flagging them during load planning ensures compliance and prevents the costly surprises – refused shipments, fines, or emergency response incidents – that come from undeclared hazardous materials.