Freight containers

Check validity of safety approval plate of freight container Removal of irrelevant placards Follow loading plan when packing CTU Secure and brace packages inside CTU Securely close and seal CTU when loading is complete... 

Do not Handle damaged, leaking or stained packages Load a freight container without valid safety approval plate... 

Check that any freight container has valid safety approval plate Visually check the outside of the CTU for damage, etc. 

Low, S.(ed.) Jane s Freight Containers, Marston and Co., London, published periodically. 

Military explosives may be transported by road or by rail, however, rail transport is normally preferred as road transport has serious limitations. Sometimes use of duly approved freight containers for transport of explosives and ammunition both by rail and road is resorted to. Under special circumstances, explosives and ammunition are also transported by air in Service aircraft... 

Prior to loading a freight container, vehicle, or wagon with explosives, it should be checked to ensure it is free of any residue of previous cargo and to ensure it is structurally serviceable and the interior floor and walls are free from protrusions. 

Transport of drums and cans may be at ambient temperature, though the storage life may benefit from refrigeration. High humidity and wet conditions should be avoided to minimize the risk of corrosion or mold growth on the packaging that would entail an additional cleanup operation. The drums should be stowed away from excessive heat and noxious chemicals. For most journeys, standard freight containers may be used. 

Placarding Requirements These are detailed at 49 C.F.R. 172.500-558. Different requirements are specified for rail and highway transport, and for freight containers and tanks. In general, a placard must be readily visible from the direction it faces securely attached to the transport vehicle, tank, or container located away from obstructions such as ladders, pipes, doors, or tarpaulins and have words horizontally displayed. Illustrations for the required shape and design of placards serving specified purposes are also included. 

A freight container having a volume of 640 cubic feet or more which is subject to Section 172.512 (which establishes a placarding requirement for such a container),... 

Each freight container having a volume of at least 64 cubic feet but less than 640 cubic feet (except when placard in accordance with Section 172.512 (b) with one of each of the appropriate labels being displayed on or near the closure, and... 

General Placarding Requirements Except as specified below, each motor vehicle, rail car, freight container, portable tank, and cargo tank con-... 

A motor vehicle, or a freight container if transported by highway only, containing less than 1,000 poimds (aggregate gross weight) of one or more materials covered by Table 14.3, above, or... 

A freight container, motor vehicle, or rail car, which contains two or more classes of materials requiring different placards as specified in Table 14.3, may be placarded DANGEROUS in place of the separate placarding specified for each of those classes of material specified in Table 14.3. When 5,000 pounds... 

If the motor vehicle, rail car, or freight container contains a materiai classed (described) as —... 

An EXPLOSIVES B placard is not required if the freight container, motor vehicle, or rail car contains class A explosives and is placarded EXPLOSIVES A as required. 

Except for shipments by water, OXIDIZER placards need not be displayed if a freight container, motor vehicle or rail car also contains blasting agents and is placarded BLASTING AGENTS as required. 

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