Placards

Placards are approximately 10.75-inch diamond-shaped markings and are generally placed or printed near the content names. Tags or cards are attached if a placard cannot be applied to the packaging. Additionally, under most normal situations placards are placed on all four sides of the transport vehicle or container. Intermediate bulk containers may be placarded at on at least two opposing sides.

Placards may be displayed for a hazardous material (as long as the material in any quantity is present), even when not required, except for radioactive materials and when using the dangerous placard.

Red diamond placard with a horizontal white stripe in the center with the word dangerous in black text within that white stripe.

Identification Number Display

Identification number markings on orange panels or appropriate placards must be displayed on transport vehicles and freight containers containing 4,000 kg (8,820 lbs.) in non-bulk packages of a single hazardous material that has the same proper shipping name and identification number since loaded at a facility and containing no other material including the following:

Tank cars, cargo tanks, portable tanks, and bulk packages
Transport vehicles and freight containers containing 1,000 kg (2,205 lbs.) of non-bulk packages of materials that are poisonous by inhalation in Hazard Zone A or B
Square white background required for placard for highway route controlled quantity radioactive material and for rail shipment of certain explosives and poisons; and for flammable gas in a DOT113 tank car

Dangerous

This placard is used when two or more Hazard Classes from Table 2 of 49 CFR 172.500 are shipped together in non-bulk quantities with a total weight greater than 1001 pounds.. However, when 2205 pounds or more of one material is loaded at one facility, the Dangerous placard cannot be used for that chemical and the appropriate placard for that Hazard Class must be used.