Dangerous Goods (DG) classification exists to keep everyone along the supply chain — from warehouse staff to the vessel or aircraft crew — informed of what a shipment actually contains and how it needs to be handled. Getting the classification right is not optional paperwork; it is the basis for safe handling decisions made by people who never see the cargo directly.
DG cargo is grouped into classes based on the type of hazard involved — flammable, corrosive, oxidizing, and so on — and each class has specific packaging, labeling, and documentation requirements. The DG declaration has to match the classification exactly, since this is the document customs and carriers rely on.
Requirements also differ by mode. Air freight DG rules, governed by IATA regulations, are generally stricter than ocean freight DG rules, which follow the IMDG Code — so a shipment that qualifies for ocean transport may need repackaging or reclassification to move by air.
This is genuinely one of the areas where experience matters — Transeasy has direct, hands-on experience with DG shipments, oversized cargo, and Out-of-Gauge (OOG) containers. If you are shipping something you suspect might be classified as DG, it is worth confirming that before packaging is finalized, not after.