UN-rated gaylords: what a used box can't be

What the rating means

A UN-rated corrugated gaylord is built and tested to carry dangerous goods under UN packaging rules. The rating belongs to the design and the certification, not to the cardboard. A plain triple wall box that happens to be strong enough is not rated, and a rated box that has been used and modified may not be either. Shipping hazardous waste or dangerous goods in bulk boxes is tightly regulated (source).

What this means for a used box

Do not assume a used gaylord is fit to carry a regulated load. If your load is regulated, start with your safety officer or your carrier and use packaging that comes with its own certification. We cannot promise a used box is UN-rated, and the site does not suggest one is.

What we can do

• Supply or take ordinary gaylords for loads that are not regulated: parts, resin, regrind, yarn, scrap, film and produce.
• Say plainly when a load needs certified packaging instead.
• Look at the empties from a shipment that was ordinary freight, once the box has been cleared of its contents.

Questions to ask yourself first

1. Is the load a dangerous good under the carrier's rules?
2. Does the paperwork require a UN-marked container?
3. Does the box carry the maker's certification mark and was it assembled to the maker's closure instructions?
4. Has the box been used before for something else?

If the answer to the first or second is yes, stop and talk to the person who signs the shipping papers.

Where to go next

The bulk box page covers the ordinary corrugated gaylord and its ratings. The food-grade guide is another caution page: it explains why corrugated is not a food-contact surface. If your question is about plain freight, the FAQ has short answers. Otherwise send the request and describe the load.

Describing a box with no rating

When the stamp is missing or unreadable, describe what you can measure: three dimensions in inches, the number of layers you can count along a cut edge, the bottom style and the condition. Do not guess a rating. A buyer who needs a rated box will say so and pass; a buyer who needs a general container will read your measurements and decide. Mention if the box came from a known supplier, since a purchase record can stand in for a stamp.

Questions from the dock

Is a used gaylord UN-rated?

Not unless it was certified. The rating comes from the design and its testing, so a used box should not be assumed to carry one.

Can I ship hazardous waste in a used gaylord?

Shipping hazardous waste or dangerous goods in bulk boxes is tightly regulated. Check the rules with your carrier or safety officer first.

Who sells UN-rated boxes?

Certified packaging comes from makers and suppliers that test and mark it. We do not claim a certification we do not hold.