Special cargo: obtain acceptance first

Interactive explainer

How transport connects the journey

01 Pack
Choose packaging suitable for the contents and the transport mode.
02 Consolidate
Bring cargo to the departure facility and confirm the booking and cutoff.
03 Move
The main transport leg connects origin and destination; transfers may follow.
04 Hand over
Complete destination handling, clearance and the agreed final delivery.

What the service covers

Special cargo is a practical screening category, not one universal legal classification. Batteries, liquids, aerosols, magnetic items and other unusual products may have different transport requirements. A product being legal to manufacture or sell does not prove that a particular carrier, aircraft, route or service will accept the shipment.

Follow the shipment

The process begins before booking: describe the product, identify relevant hazards, provide requested evidence and obtain the carrier's assessment. Acceptance may depend on the configuration, quantity, transport mode and destinations involved. Only after the actual shipment is accepted should collection and the required preparation be arranged with qualified people.

Read the quotation

Ask the provider to separate assessment, testing if required, regulated preparation, documentation, special handling and transport charges. Identify any route restrictions or service exclusions in writing. A quotation is not necessarily an approval, and having a carrier account does not automatically authorise every restricted commodity or every battery configuration.

A practical example

Consider a seller shipping an electronic device, a spare battery and a bottle of cleaning fluid together. The device name alone does not describe the whole consignment. Disclose each component and its intended configuration so the provider can assess the actual shipment, rather than assuming approval for one component covers everything.

Avoid common mistakes

An SDS or test document can support the review, but its title does not establish that the product, version and shipment match. Do not label uncertain goods as ordinary cargo to obtain a booking. Equally, not every liquid or magnetic item has the same classification; seek a competent assessment rather than guessing.

Prepare before sending

Obtain written acceptance, the shipment-specific document list and the responsible specialist's contact before dispatch. Follow current instructions through qualified personnel for classification and regulated preparation. If composition, quantity, battery arrangement or route changes, request renewed review. Keep approval and supporting records together with the shipment reference for later checks.

Before you ship

Disclose special characteristics at enquiry.
Prepare manufacturer information for review.
Obtain written acceptance before dispatch.

Official references

General planning guidance. Requirements and charges depend on the goods, destination and service; confirm the applicable rules before shipping.