UPS accepts dangerous goods on a contract basis only, servicing Canada and specific locations outside of Canada. Within Canada, UPS accepts non-bulk quantities of dangerous goods for transport by motorway and rail when prepared in accordance with the Canada Transport of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR). UPS also accepts air shipments in accordance with regulations issued by International Civil Aviation Association (ICAO) and published as the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For the purposes of regulatory compliance, Canada service levels include all UPS domestic and Worldwide Express and Expedited Services and UPS 3 Day Select^® service to the US. This UPS Guide for Shipping Ground and Air Dangerous Goods/Hazardous Materials should always be used in conjunction with the most current version of the TDGR, and the most current version of the IATA DGR. Shippers must also comply with the UPS Canada Terms & Conditions.

The shipper may ship dangerous goods identified in the UPS Dangerous Goods Chemical Tables in compliance with all applicable TDGR and/or IATA regulations, as well as the specific UPS Limitations identified within this Guide for Shipping Ground and Air Dangerous Goods/Hazardous Materials.

In some cases, UPS requirements are more restrictive than those of the TDGR and IATA. UPS’s ‘conditions incident to transportation’ may differ from those of other carriers’ systems due to the distinct UPS methods for sorting, handling and moving packages. Accordingly, UPS expects all shipments to be capable of passing the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) Procedure 3A.

UPS Dangerous Goods Contract service is available for customers with a Scheduled pickup account. Scheduled pickup includes various UPS pickup services. The shipper must complete all requirements for a dangerous goods shipment before pickup. For more information, shippers should contact their local UPS Business Development Department.

A dangerous goods service handling charge is applied to all dangerous goods/hazardous materials packages that require a shipping paper or Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods. UPS does not accept dangerous goods/hazardous materials shipments at UPS Customer Centres, The UPS Store, UPS Drop Boxes, Authorized Shipping Outlets, commercial counters or using the shipping application on the UPS.com website.

Time-in-transit guarantees do not apply to hazardous material packages.

View UPS Guide for Shipping with Dangerous Goods

• All dangerous goods shippers must process their shipments using a UPS-compliant shipping solution in conjunction with hazardous materials/dangerous goods shipment preparation software. Shippers may use the current version of UPS-provided WorldShip in order to be compliant with existing regulatory requirements or purchase approved third-party software. Customers who do not comply with regulations or UPS variations may no longer be able to ship dangerous goods packages via UPS.

• UPS accepts both 'Passenger Aircraft' quantities (PAX) of dangerous goods and 'Cargo Aircraft Only' (CAO) quantities offered for transport in UPS Air Service levels. Refer to the most recent copy of the UPS Chemical Tables for additional requirements. CAO shipments of materials outside of Class 9 require a specific, additional contract agreement.

• UPS Worldwide Express Freight (WWEF) service accepts 'Passenger Aircraft' quantities (PAX) and Class 9 commodities prepared under 'Cargo Aircraft Only' (CAO). Refer to the most recent copy of the UPS Chemical Tables for accepted commodities. This service requires a specific, additional contract agreement. Please contact your UPS Business Development representative for support.

• For each dangerous goods package, UPS requires shippers to affix an authorized UPS Shipping Paper or Shipper's Declaration (for IATA shipments, three copies of the dangerous goods declaration are required) to each package, and to complete an entry in the UPS Shipper's Certification of Hazardous Materials (end of day manifest for dangerous goods/hazardous materials). Each UPS driver receiving dangerous goods must also receive a hard copy of the Shipper's Certification representing those dangerous goods shipments. The transfer of electronic data about the dangerous goods shipments does not replace the UPS Shipper’s Certification of Hazardous Materials.

• Fully regulated dangerous goods packages must not exceed 30 kg/70 lb. gross weight. The UPS Chemical Tables may apply lower package limits in some circumstances.

• To conform to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards, the 'Emergency Contact Number' field on a shipping paper is limited to the numeric telephone number, including any applicable country code or international access codes. The only alphabetical characters allowed in this field are 'EXT' when an extension must be included, or 'OPT' when a caller must select an option number. Additional non-alphabetical characters that may be included are: Full stop (.), dash (-), plus sign (+) and conventional parentheses. All other information relevant to the emergency telephone number must be presented in the 'ER Registrant' field.

• For the purposes of regulatory compliance , Canada Air service levels eligible for dangerous goods include all UPS domestic and international Express and Expedited Services, and UPS 3-Day Select service to the US Accordingly, all packages offered at these service levels must comply with applicable air regulations.

• While dangerous goods service (including carriage of PAX quantities and Class 9 in CAO quantities) is offered by contract only, UPS requires a specific additional contract for acceptance of 'cargo aircraft only' shipments outside of Class 9. Refer to the current UPS Chemical Tables for additional detailed requirements.

• Pickup service for dangerous goods is restricted in areas not directly serviced by UPS drivers. Delivery of dangerous goods is also not possible in some remote areas. Delivery of CAO shipments is not possible in some areas of Alaska. Refer to the Approved Countries or Territories List for more detail.

• UPS Standard Service to the US is available for dangerous goods, utilizing a specially designed cross-border shipping paper for compliance with US DoT requirements.

• UPS Standard Service level for dangerous goods/hazardous materials, including Limited Quantity, combustible materials and Lithium Batteries (Fully and Lightly Regulated), is not available for shipments to the following areas of the US: Alaska; Hawaii; Puerto Rico; Avalon, CA; Catalina Island, CA; Beaver Island, MI; Mackinac Island, MI (winter only); The Bass Islands, OH; Kelley's Island, OH; and San Juan Islands, WA. All non-hazardous UPS Standard service level packages to these locations must be suitable for carriage aboard aircraft.

• Cross-border shipments of many Limited Quantity materials are allowed to most destinations in the US, however, shippers should consult applicable regulations in each country for more details on the applicability of the respective regulations.

• Materials in Division 5.2 (Organic Peroxides) are not accepted in any UPS Air service level.

• UPS Standard service level shipments assigned to Division 6.1 (Toxic Substances), prepared under Limited Quantity provisions, will not be accepted with 'TOXIC' or 'POISON' hazard label.

• UPS Air and UPS Standard service level shipments of Division 6.1 (Toxic Substances), PG III must be labelled in one of the following methods:

  • With the notation 'PG III' appearing on the diamond hazard label; or
  • With the notation 'PG III' appearing immediately adjacent to a 'TOXIC' or 'POISON' label.

• UPS does not accept any shipments of materials described as having an Inhalation Toxicity. See the TDGR for more details about such materials.

• UPS Air service level shipments of UN3090, lithium metal batteries or cells can be accepted only from approved shippers. To apply for approval, visit here. In addition to the approval, UPS requires the Cargo Aircraft Only (CAO) Handling Label on all UPS Air service level shipments of UN3090, lithium Metal Batteries or Cells.

• UPS Air service level shipments of UN3480 (lithium ion batteries) or UN 3090 (lithium metal batteries) must be presented as fully regulated dangerous goods.

• UPS Air service level shipments of UN3171 (Battery-powered vehicle) will only be accepted under the following conditions:

  • Restricted to PAX quantities only, not accepted as CAO.
  • Each package is limited to a maximum gross weight of 30 kg.
  • For a vehicle containing one or more lithium batteries that would separately be classified as UN3480 (lithium-ion battery) or UN 3090 (lithium metal battery), the battery or batteries contained in the vehicle are limited to 5 kg maximum net weight per package.
  • For shipments of UN3171 powered by lithium batteries, UPS requires the additional marking, 'Contains Lithium Batteries'. The marking must meet the requirements as stated in 49 CFR 172.301(a)(1) and be near the proper shipping name.
  • For shipments of UN3171 containing one or more wet, non-spillable batteries that would separately be classified as UN2800 (Battery, wet, non-spillable), the battery or batteries contained in the vehicle are limited to 25 kg maximum net weight per package.

• Damaged, Defective or Recalled (DDR) Lithium Batteries are prohibited from and within Canada for all service levels. This includes batteries shipped alone, packed with the equipment contained in equipment or battery powered vehicles (UN3171).

• UPS requires that all packages, including those containing dangerous goods, be capable of meeting the requirements of the ISTA Procedure 3A testing protocol. Dangerous goods packages must also satisfy applicable specification and performance requirements of Part 5 of the TDGR or IATA regulations Section 5.

• Dangerous goods may not be shipped in UPS-provided packaging, such as Letters, Boxes, Paks and Tubes.

• Packages containing dangerous goods must not be banded, taped or strapped together.

• To avoid confusion about the type of packaging used for fully regulated shipments of Division 4.3 (Dangerous When Wet) or 6.1 (Toxic Substances – P.G. I or II), UPS does not allow these packages to be overpacked.

• Dangerous goods shipments authorized for strong (i.e., non-specification) outer packaging must be in outer packages at the following minimum levels (overpacks are excluded from this requirement):

  • Packages must be in a minimum 90 kg (200 lbs). Burst Strength or 32 Edge Crush Test (ECT) certified box. The box must also be of sufficient strength to protect the contents while in transit; or
  • Any non-specification package that displays the ISTA seal indicating the package has been tested and certified to ISTA Procedure 3A is not subject to the minimum ECT or burst strength requirements.

• Dangerous goods may be offered in authorized single packaging, subject to the following conditions:

  • May be offered for UPS Standard service only within Canada.
  • May be offered for UPS Air service level only as Cargo Aircraft Only (CAO) shipments. (Applies to commodities other than Dry Ice.)
  • Bags and other single packagings constructed of light gauge metal will not be accepted.
  • Orientation arrows not required on single packagings.
  • Additional handling charges may apply.

Note: Cylinders must be overpacked in a container of suitable strength to retain its shape and protect operating mechanisms. Round tubes or overpacks are not accepted.

If you have any questions about shipping dangerous goods with UPS, please contact the UPS Dangerous Goods support centre at cancompliance@ups.com or call 1-800-509-0953.