In the world of transportation and logistics, efficiency and clarity are paramount. One way these are achieved is through the use of abbreviations and acronyms. This comprehensive guide, tailored for professionals and anyone involved in the movement of goods, deciphers the essential abbreviations used in transportation, ensuring seamless communication and understanding across the industry.
Understanding Key Transportation and Regulatory Bodies
Navigating the regulatory landscape is crucial in transportation. Here’s a breakdown of abbreviated terms for key organizations and regulations:
Administrator: The head of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, responsible for overseeing safety regulations.
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code: A set of standards for the design, manufacturing, and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels, ensuring safety and reliability.
Associate Administrator: Specifically, the Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety within the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Authorized Inspection Agency: Entities recognized to inspect and ensure compliance with safety standards, like jurisdictions adopting ASME codes or licensed insurance companies.
Authorized Inspector: An individual commissioned by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, authorized to conduct inspections for Authorized Inspection Agencies.
Bureau of Explosives (B of E): Formerly the Bureau of Explosives of the Association of American Railroads, focused on safety in the transportation of explosives and other hazardous materials by rail.
Captain of the Port (COTP): A Coast Guard officer responsible for law enforcement and safety within a designated port area.
Competent Authority: A national agency overseeing hazardous materials transportation regulations within its jurisdiction. In the U.S., this is the Associate Administrator.
Department/DOT: Refers to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the federal body governing transportation regulations.
District Commander: A Coast Guard officer in command of a district, with authority over Captains of the Port within their region.
DOD: The U.S. Department of Defense.
EPA: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
FAA: Federal Aviation Administration (though not explicitly defined in the original text, it’s a relevant and commonly used abbreviation in transportation).
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR): The comprehensive set of rules and guidelines for the safe transportation of hazardous materials in the United States, codified in 49 CFR parts 171-180.
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency, focusing on international standards for the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy, including the transport of radioactive materials.
IATA: International Air Transport Association, a trade association of the world’s airlines, setting standards and promoting cooperation in air transport, including guidelines for dangerous goods transport by air.
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization, a UN agency that sets international standards and regulations for civil aviation safety, security, efficiency, and regularity, including the safe transport of dangerous goods by air (Technical Instructions).
IMO: International Maritime Organization, a UN agency responsible for maritime safety and security and the prevention of marine pollution from ships, including the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors: An organization that promotes safety in pressure equipment through certifications and standards.
PHMSA: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, a U.S. Department of Transportation agency responsible for pipeline and hazardous materials safety.
UFC: Uniform Freight Classification, a system used in North America to standardize the classification of commodities for shipping, influencing freight rates.
UN: United Nations, the source of many international standards and recommendations for the transport of dangerous goods, including the UN Model Regulations.
Modes of Transport and Vehicle Types
Abbreviations also streamline communication about different transportation modes and vehicle types:
Aircraft battery: Batteries specifically designed and approved for use in aircraft, meeting stringent airworthiness and safety standards.
Cargo aircraft only: Aircraft dedicated solely to transporting cargo, not passengers. Also referred to as cargo-only aircraft or cargo aircraft.
Carfloat: A specialized vessel acting as a rail line or highway extension over water in port areas, operating on short, irregular routes.
Cargo tank motor vehicle: A motor vehicle equipped with one or more permanently attached cargo tanks.
Cargo vessel: Any vessel primarily designed for carrying cargo, as opposed to passenger vessels.
Container ship: A cargo vessel specifically built to transport portable tanks and freight containers in designed cells, facilitating efficient loading and unloading.
Engine: In rail transport, a locomotive used to propel rail cars.
Ferry vessel: A vessel offering public service for short, frequent routes between two points, primarily for passengers and vehicles, similar to a bridge or tunnel alternative.
High-hazard flammable train (HHFT): A train carrying a significant number of loaded tank cars of Class 3 flammable liquids, posing a higher risk.
High-hazard flammable unit train (HHFUT): A train dedicated to transporting a very large quantity of Class 3 flammable liquids, representing a significant hazard.
Motor vehicle: A broad term encompassing various vehicles powered mechanically and used on highways for transporting passengers or property, excluding rail-based vehicles.
Rail car: A vehicle designed for rail transport of freight or personnel, including various types like box cars, tank cars, and cabooses.
TOFC: Trailer-on-flat-car, a form of intermodal freight transport where truck trailers are transported on railway flatcars.
Transport vehicle: A general term for any vehicle used to carry cargo across different modes of transport, such as trucks, rail cars, and trailers.
Trailership: A vessel designed to carry motor vehicles, equipped with securing devices, also known as Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) vessels.
Trainship: A vessel designed to transport railroad vehicles, equipped with securing devices.
Packaging, Containers, and Materials Handling
Efficient handling and safe packaging are critical in transportation. Abbreviations related to these aspects include:
Bag: A flexible packaging made from materials like paper, plastic, or textiles.
Biological substances, Category B: Infectious biological substances classified under Category B for transportation purposes, posing a moderate risk.
Bottle: An inner packaging with a narrow neck and closure, designed to hold contents.
Bottom shell: The lower section of a tank car tank, important for structural integrity and inspection.
Box: A rigid packaging with rectangular or polygonal faces, made of various materials like metal, wood, or plastic.
Bulk packaging: A large packaging without intermediate containment, exceeding specific volume or mass thresholds, suitable for liquids, solids, or gases.
Bundle of cylinders: A unit of multiple UN cylinders fastened together and interconnected for efficient handling and transport.
Combination packaging: Packaging consisting of inner packagings secured within an outer non-bulk packaging.
Composite packaging: Packaging where the inner receptacle and outer packaging form a single, integrated unit.
Consumer commodity: Materials packaged for retail sale to individuals for personal or household use.
Container-on-flat-car (COFC): A method of intermodal freight transport where shipping containers are transported directly on railway flatcars.
Crate: An outer packaging with incomplete surfaces, often used for robust items.
Cylinder: A pressure vessel with a circular cross-section, designed for pressures above 40 psia, but excluding tanks and other bulk packagings.
Display pack: Packaging designed for retail display, allowing direct customer access to the contents when the outer layer is removed.
Drum: A cylindrical packaging with flat or convex ends, made of various materials, including pails and taper-necked packagings, but excluding cylinders and barrels.
Flexible bulk container: A flexible container with a capacity up to 15 cubic meters, including liners and handling equipment.
Freight container: A reusable container with a volume of 64 cubic feet or more, designed for lifting with contents intact and primarily for packaged goods.
Inner packaging: Packaging requiring an outer packaging for transport.
Inner receptacle: A receptacle requiring an outer packaging to perform its containment function.
Intermediate bulk container (IBC): A rigid or flexible portable packaging (excluding cylinders and portable tanks) designed for mechanical handling.
Intermediate packaging: Packaging enclosing inner packagings or articles, which is itself enclosed in an outer packaging.
Intermodal container: A freight container designed for use in multiple modes of transport.
Jerrican: A rectangular or polygonal metal or plastic packaging.
Large packaging: Packaging exceeding 400 kg net mass or 450 liters capacity, designed for mechanical handling.
Large salvage packaging: Special packaging for damaged, leaking, or non-conforming hazardous materials packages, designed for mechanical handling and exceeding standard packaging limits.
Limited quantity: The maximum amount of hazardous material allowed under specific labeling and packaging exceptions.
Multiple-element gas container (MEGC): Assemblies of cylinders, tubes, or bundles within a framework, including service equipment, for transporting gases.
Non-bulk packaging: Packaging below specific volume, mass, or water capacity thresholds, in contrast to bulk packaging.
NRC (non-reusable container): Packaging restricted from reuse.
Open cryogenic receptacle: Thermally insulated receptacle for refrigerated liquefied gases, maintained at atmospheric pressure through continuous venting.
Outer packaging: The outermost layer of composite or combination packaging, including necessary components for protection.
Overpack: An enclosure used by a single consignor to protect or consolidate packages, excluding transport vehicles and freight containers.
Package/Outside Package: Packaging combined with its contents.
Packaging: A receptacle and necessary components ensuring containment according to regulations.
Portable tank: Bulk packaging designed for temporary attachment to transport vehicles or ships, equipped for mechanical handling, excluding cargo tanks and tank cars.
Pressure receptacle: A general term encompassing UN cylinders, drums, and tubes.
Reconditioned packaging: Packaging that has undergone reconditioning processes as per regulations.
Remanufactured packagings: Packaging that has been remanufactured to meet specifications.
Reused packaging: Packaging that has been previously used and is being reused.
Salvage packaging: Special packaging for damaged, leaking, or non-conforming hazardous materials packages.
Sharps: Medical sharps waste, requiring specific handling and packaging.
Siftproof packaging: Packaging impermeable to dry contents, including fine solids.
Single packaging: Non-bulk packaging that is not a combination packaging.
Specification packaging: Packaging conforming to specific standards in 49 CFR parts 178 or 179.
Strong outer packaging: Robust outermost packaging providing protection and meeting general packaging requirements but not necessarily specification packaging standards. Also known as strong outside container or strong outside packaging.
Top shell: The upper surface of a tank car tank, excluding heads and bottom shell.
UN cylinder: Cylinders meeting UN standards, with a water capacity up to 150 L.
UN portable tank: Intermodal tanks meeting UN standards, with a capacity exceeding 450 liters.
UN pressure drum: Welded pressure receptacles meeting UN standards, with a water capacity between 150 L and 1,000 L.
UN standard packaging: Packaging conforming to UN Recommendations.
UN tube: Pressure receptacles meeting UN standards, with a water capacity between 150 L and 3,000 L.
Wooden barrel: Packaging made of natural wood with a round cross-section and convex walls.
Hazard Classifications and Material Properties
Understanding the properties and hazards of transported materials is vital. Here are relevant abbreviations:
Adsorbed gas: Gas which when packaged for transport is adsorbed onto a solid porous material.
Aerosol: Non-refillable receptacles containing gas under pressure to expel non-poisonous contents.
Agricultural product: Hazardous materials directly supporting agricultural production, limited to specific hazard classes and divisions.
Asphyxiant gas: Gas that displaces oxygen in the atmosphere, posing a breathing hazard.
Atmospheric gases: Common gases found in the atmosphere, like air, nitrogen, and oxygen.
Biological product: Products derived from living organisms, requiring specific handling and regulations.
Class 1: Explosives.
Class 2: Gases.
Class 3: Flammable Liquids.
Class 4: Flammable Solids; Spontaneously Combustible Materials; and Dangerous When Wet Materials.
Class 5: Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides.
Class 6: Poisonous (toxic) and Infectious Substances.
Class 7: Radioactive Materials.
Class 8: Corrosive Substances.
Class 9: Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods.
Combustible liquid: Liquids with a flash point at or above 38 °C (100 °F) and below 93 °C (200 °F).
Compressed gas: Gas that is compressed under pressure.
Corrosive material: Materials that cause irreversible damage to skin or other materials.
Cryogenic liquid: Refrigerated liquefied gases.
Cultures and stocks: Infectious substances that are cultures and stocks of infectious agents.
Dangerous when wet material: Materials that emit flammable or toxic gases when in contact with water.
Elevated temperature material: Materials transported in bulk at high temperatures (liquid above 100 °C, solid above 240 °C).
Etiologic agent: An infectious substance.
Explosive: Materials or articles that can explode or rapidly deflagrate.
Flammable gas: Gas that is easily ignitable and combustible.
Flammable liquid: Liquid that is easily ignitable.
Flammable solid: Solid that is easily ignitable.
Flash point: The lowest temperature at which a liquid produces enough vapor to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid.
Fumigated lading: Cargo that has been treated with fumigants to eliminate pests.
Gas: Material with high vapor pressure or completely gaseous at specific conditions.
Hazard class: The category of hazard assigned to a hazardous material.
Hazard zone: Levels of hazard assigned to gases and poisonous liquids based on inhalation toxicity.
Hazardous material/Hazmat: Substance posing unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property during transport.
Hazardous substance: Material listed in appendix A to § 172.101 with reportable quantities.
Hazardous waste: Material subject to EPA’s Hazardous Waste Manifest Requirements.
Infectious substance (etiologic agent): A pathogen.
Irritating material: Material causing irritation.
Liquid: Material with a melting point of 20 °C (68 °F) or lower.
Liquid phase: Material meeting the liquid definition at transportation temperatures.
Lithium ion cell or battery: Rechargeable batteries using lithium compounds.
Lithium metal cell or battery: Non-rechargeable batteries using lithium metal or alloys.
Magnetic material: Material that is magnetic.
Marine pollutant: Material listed in appendix B to § 172.101 that poses a threat to the marine environment.
Material of trade: Hazardous materials carried by motor vehicles to support vehicle operation or a principal business other than transportation.
Material poisonous by inhalation/Material toxic by inhalation: Gases or liquids posing severe inhalation hazards.
Miscellaneous hazardous material: Class 9 hazardous materials not fitting into other classes.
Mixture: Material composed of more than one chemical compound or element.
Neutron Radiation Detector: Device detecting neutron radiation, potentially containing gas in a sealed tube.
Nonflammable gas: Gas that does not easily combust.
Organic peroxide: Organic compounds containing the bivalent -O-O- structure, which may be considered derivatives of hydrogen peroxide.
ORM (Other Regulated Material): (Obsolete) Previously designated category for certain hazardous materials with limited hazards during transportation.
Oxidizer: Material that can readily yield oxygen to stimulate the combustion of organic material.
Oxidizing gas: Gas that can contribute to the combustion of other materials more than air.
Oxygen generator (chemical): Device releasing oxygen through chemical reaction.
Poisonous gas: Gas that is toxic.
Poisonous materials: Materials that are toxic.
Pyrophoric liquid: Liquid that ignites spontaneously in air.
Radioactive materials: Materials emitting ionizing radiation.
Regulated medical waste: Medical waste that poses an infection risk.
Residue: Hazardous material remaining in a packaging after unloading.
Self-defense spray: Aerosol or non-pressurized device with irritating or incapacitating effects.
Sharps: Medical sharps waste.
Solid: Material that is not a gas or liquid.
Solution: Homogeneous liquid mixture of compounds or elements.
Spontaneously combustible material: Material that can self-heat and ignite when in contact with air.
Stabilized: Hazardous material in a condition preventing uncontrolled reaction.
Toxin: Poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms.
Undeclared hazardous material: Hazardous material offered for transport without proper declaration or indication.
Unintentional release: Unplanned escape of hazardous material from packaging.
Viscous liquid: Liquid with high viscosity.
Volatility: Rate of evaporation of a material.
Waste material: Hazardous materials destined for disposal or recovery.
Water reactive material: Material that reacts dangerously with water.
Operational and Logistical Abbreviations
Abbreviations also play a crucial role in describing operational and logistical aspects of transportation:
Approval: Written authorization to perform a function requiring prior permission.
Approved: Authorization issued or recognized by the Department of Transportation.
Bar: Unit of pressure (1 BAR = 100 kPa or 14.5 psi).
Break-bulk: Handling packages individually, palletized, or unitized, as opposed to bulk or containerized freight.
Btu: British thermal unit, a unit of heat.
C: Celsius or Centigrade temperature scale.
CC: Closed-cup, referring to a method for determining flash point.
Commerce: Trade or transportation within U.S. jurisdiction or affecting interstate or international trade.
Design Certifying Engineer: Qualified engineer registered with the Department, capable of analyzing cargo tank designs for DOT specification compliance.
Design life: Maximum service life for composite cylinders and tubes.
Designated facility: Hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility specified on the manifest.
Domestic transportation: Transportation within the United States, excluding foreign countries.
Electronic data interchange (EDI): Computer-to-computer exchange of business data in standard formats.
EX number: Number assigned by the Associate Administrator to evaluated items.
F: Degree Fahrenheit.
FC number: Number assigned by a Fireworks Certification Agency to certified Division 1.4G fireworks.
Federal hazardous material transportation law: 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq., the legal basis for hazardous materials transportation regulations.
Filling density: The ratio of the weight of gas in a packaging to the weight of water the packaging would hold.
Gross weight/Gross mass: Weight of packaging plus contents.
Hazmat employee: Person directly affecting hazardous materials transportation safety through their employment.
Hazmat employer: Person employing hazmat employees, involved in hazardous materials transportation activities.
Hermetically sealed: Closed to prevent gas or vapor entry or escape.
Household waste: Waste derived from households, excluding consolidated shipments from collection centers.
IBR (Incorporated by reference): Publications made part of the regulations.
Intermodal portable tank/IM portable tank: Portable tanks designed for international intermodal use.
International transportation: Transportation between the U.S. and foreign countries, through foreign countries, or between foreign countries through the U.S.
Loading incidental to movement: Loading by carrier personnel for transportation purposes, including transloading.
Magazine vessel: Vessel used for storing or dispensing explosives.
Marking: Descriptive names, IDs, instructions, or UN marks on outer packagings.
Maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP): Maximum pressure allowed in DOT specification cargo tanks.
Maximum capacity: Maximum inner volume of receptacles or packagings.
Maximum net mass: Maximum allowable net mass of contents in a packaging.
Mechanical displacement meter prover: Device for calibrating flow meters in the oilfield service industry.
Metered delivery service: Cargo tank unloading at a controlled, low flow rate.
Movement: Physical transfer of hazardous material from one location to another.
Name of contents: Proper shipping name as per § 172.101.
Navigable waters: Waters of the United States, including territorial seas.
N.O.S.: Not Otherwise Specified, used in shipping descriptions.
N.O.S. description: Shipping description including “n.o.s.”.
NPT: American Standard taper pipe thread.
Occupied caboose: Rail car used to transport non-passenger personnel.
Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection: Coast Guard officer responsible for inspection zones.
Offshore supply vessel: Cargo vessel under 500 gross tons supporting offshore energy resource activities.
Operator: Person controlling an aircraft, vessel, or vehicle.
Outage/ullage: Amount by which packaging is not liquid full, expressed as volume percentage.
Overpack: Enclosure for protection or consolidation of packages.
Person: Individual, company, government entity, etc., involved in offering or transporting hazardous materials.
Person who offers/Offeror: Person performing pre-transportation functions or tendering hazardous materials to a carrier.
Placarded car: Rail car displaying placards according to regulations.
Preferred route/Preferred highway: Designated route for highway route controlled quantities of radioactive materials.
Pre-transportation function: Functions required to ensure safe hazardous materials transport.
Primary hazard: Main hazard class of a material.
Private track/Private siding: Track outside carrier’s right-of-way or leased track with exclusive lessee use.
Proper shipping name: Name of hazardous material in Roman print in § 172.101.
Psi: Pounds per square inch.
Psia: Pounds per square inch absolute.
Psig: Pounds per square inch gauge.
Public vessel: Vessel owned and used in public service by the U.S., excluding commercial or contracted vessels.
Radiation detection system: Apparatus containing radiation detectors.
Railroad: Person engaged in transportation by rail.
Registered Inspector: Qualified inspector registered with the Department, capable of inspecting cargo tanks for DOT specification compliance.
Reportable quantity (RQ): Quantity of hazardous substance triggering reporting requirements.
Research: Investigation or experimentation for new knowledge, not industrial application.
Reverse logistics: Transporting goods from retail back to suppliers for value recovery or other reasons.
SADT (self-accelerated decomposition temperature): Lowest temperature for self-accelerating decomposition.
SAPT (self-accelerated polymerization temperature): Lowest temperature for self-accelerating polymerization.
SCF (standard cubic foot): Cubic foot of gas at 60 °F and 14.7 psia.
Secretary: Secretary of Transportation.
Service life: Permitted service duration for composite cylinders and tubes.
Settled pressure: Pressure in a UN pressure receptacle in equilibrium.
Shipping paper: Shipping document like bill of lading or manifest.
Short circuit: Direct connection between battery terminals with low resistance.
Special permit: Document allowing deviation from regulations under 49 U.S.C. 5117.
State: U.S. state, district, commonwealth, territory, or possession.
State-designated route: Preferred route selected by a state for radioactive materials.
Storage incidental to movement: Temporary storage during transportation, excluding storage at final destination.
Stowage: Act of placing hazardous materials on a vessel.
Subsidiary hazard: Hazard of a material other than the primary hazard.
Table in § 172.101/§ 172.101 table: Hazardous Materials Table in § 172.101.
Technical name: Recognized chemical or microbiological name.
TOFC: Trailer-on-flat-car.
Train: One or more engines coupled with rail cars.
Train consist information: Record of position and contents of hazardous material rail cars.
Transloading: Transferring hazardous material between packagings for continued transport.
Transportation/transport: Movement of property and incidental loading, unloading, or storage.
Ullage/Outage: Amount by which packaging is not liquid full, expressed as volume percentage.
Unloading incidental to movement: Unloading by carrier personnel after delivery, including transloading.
Watt-hour (Wh): Unit of energy for batteries (Watt-hour = ampere-hour × volts).
Working pressure: Settled pressure of compressed gas in UN pressure receptacles at 15 °C (59 °F).
W.T.: Watertight.
Conclusion
Mastering these abbreviated terms is essential for anyone operating within the transportation industry. From regulatory compliance to efficient logistics, understanding these abbreviations ensures clear communication, enhances safety, and streamlines operations in this complex and vital sector. This guide serves as a foundational resource, promoting a shared understanding of the language of transportation.
