lead acid battery

Q&A: May I transport small quantities (car batteries & compressed nitrogen) by highway?

A question from somewhere in the U.S. (October 23, 2017):

Hi my name is <<name>>. I drive a box truck for work. We have two facilities. I transport materials back and forth. I carry minimum hazmat from time to time. What are the requirements for transporting say 6 car batteries. Or a very small bottle of compressed nitrogen?.  Do they need to be boxed up with placard on packaging and the proper emergency contact info on the outside of the box and should I have a b.o.l. for transportation with ads sheets. If you can help me I’d be so grateful. I’ve been back and forth with my concerns to the company and they basically ignore me.

Sincerely

My reply that day:nitrogen gas cylinder

I believe I can answer your question.  Please see below:

  • It sounds like what you are describing is the transport of hazardous materials (HazMat) by a private motor carrier.
  • This type of transport is not subject to full USDOT regulation if transported according to the Materials of Trade Exception.
  • The cylinder of nitrogen is acceptable as long as its weight is no more than 100 kg.
  • Car batteries should be OK as long as each weighs no more than 30 kg.
  • Total HazMat on vehicle no more than 200 kg.
  • If in compliance with the above, only basic precautions need to be taken to secure the load, ID the HazMat, and inform the driver.
  • Also, the batteries alone may be transported under an exception from regulation found at 49 CFR 173.159(e) which is part of this article: Packaging Wet Batteries for Transportation

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I hope this helps.

Please contact me with any other questions.
My FAQs: Packing and Loading Liquid Lead Acid Batteries for Transportation

My FAQs: Packing and Loading Liquid Lead Acid Batteries for Transportation

(July 22, 2015) I received an email from someone who had read an earlier blog article on Packaging Wet Batteries for Transportation:

Is there a certain height maximum that wet batteries (UN2794) can be loaded for highway transportation? I believe there is and I am looking for the specific information. If so can you tell me specifically where I can find this information. I just finished reading your article from November 13 2014 for Packaging Wet Batteries for Transportation and did not see anything regarding loading height limits.

Thank You

My reply July 23, 2015:

Thank you for contacting me.  The answer to any question about packaging for batteries, wet, filled with acid can be found in 49 CFR 173.159 (referenced from column 8 of the Hazardous Materials Table).

Hazardous Materials Table entry for Batteries wet, filled with acid
173.159(d)(1) includes the only reference to packaging height that I can find in the HMR.  It reads in part:  “Electric storage batteries that (sic) are firmly secured to skids or pallets capable of withstanding the shocks normally incident to transportation are authorized for transportation by rail, highway, or vessel. The height of the completed unit must not exceed 1 1⁄2 times the width of the skid or pallet. …”
173.159(e) contains a very good exception from most of the HMR when transporting solely batteries by highway or rail that may interest you.
I hope this helps.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any other questions.
Thanks again for contacting me.
Dan