When You Might Need DOT Compliant Labels

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has certain labeling requirements for businesses and drivers who transport hazardous materials. These requirements help ensure the safety of everyone involved, from the manufacturer to the driver to the receiver. Today, Label Solutions explains more about D.O.T. labels, when you might need them, and why they are important.

Related Post: Regulatory Compliance for Different Industries

What Are DOT Labels?

Nobody wants a surprise, especially if it involves hazardous materials. D.O.T. hazmat labels give you forewarning of the hazards that are contained inside each package. The labels are diamond-shaped, color-matched, and have pictograms of the hazard and the class that the material belongs in. They also include special handling instructions. Some examples are “flammable gas” labels, “explosive” labels, and “poison” labels, which are all required to meet certain label design specifications.     

When You Might Need DOT Labels

D.O.T. labels must also be durable and weather-resistant since they are exposed to harsh outdoor conditions during transportation. Here is when you might need D.O.T. labels: 

You Are Shipping Hazardous Materials

Safety is the highest priority in the shipping and receiving industries. If you are shipping a package that includes hazardous materials, you will need to comply with D.O.T. label regulations. When labeling a package for hazmat, apply labels for both the primary and subsidiary hazard.

The D.O.T. labels can help you communicate hazards to your employees before the item ships, so they know what they are handling before it gets placed on a truck. This is just one example of how D.O.T. labels identify hazards and make shipping a safer process at every point of transit.

Related Post: How Do Compliant and Non-Compliant Labels Differ?

You Are Transporting Hazardous Materials Over the Road

Whether you are dispatcher, or you have your own company drivers, everyone who is involved should understand D.O.T. requirements. Sometimes carriers need to place hazmat in specific locations on a vehicle, and D.O.T. labels help clarify the separation. 

Placing D.O.T. labels on hazardous materials will ensure your products arrive safely at their destination without hefty fines or rejections. If you are scheduling the transportation of hazardous materials, D.O.T. labels can prevent delays and keep your drivers safe on the road.

Related Post: Label Solutions Explains More About Regulatory Compliance

Contact Label Solutions to Learn More

Label Solutions offers in-house regulatory compliance services relating to DOT, OSHA, and other governing bodies. Our proactive communication, precise knowledge, and attention to detail enable us to help our customers stay in compliance. We encourage you to continue browsing our website or contact a label expert today to learn more!

How Do Compliant and Non-Compliant Labels Differ?

Differences Between Compliant and Non-Compliant Label Providers

Regulatory compliance usually involves the information printed on a product label, not the quality or construction of the label itself. However, if the label is of poor quality and fails or falls off, then it becomes a matter of compliance and could result in a costly fine. Non-compliant label suppliers use the cheapest products to arrive at the lowest price, but that low price could come at the cost of penalties and fines from federal regulators. Today, Label Solutions outlines the major differences between compliant and non-compliant label suppliers.

Label Solutions’ Compliant Labels 

Here is what a regulatory compliant label from Label Solutions entails: 

Durable Substrates 

The substrate is the base material that the ink is printed on. Our durable substrates can withstand long-term usage, abrasion, temperature variation, and both indoor and outdoor applications.

The Right Adhesives 

The underside of the substrate is the adhesive, which sticks to the product surface. The right adhesives can be applied quickly during production, and they hold up to 5 years for long-term applications. You can utilize our adhesives even in manufacturing facilities with high amounts of debris, dust, heat, and cold.

UV Protected Inks

A regulatory compliant label also uses UV protected inks. UV protection reduces the effects of sunlight exposure during storage and transportation, and it protects important compliance messaging and branding. These inks have a slower fade rate for font and graphics, and they support a 5-year timeline for durability. 

Label Solutions Point of Information: For imprint labels, we never use water-based inks.

 

Related Post: When You Might Need DOT Compliant Labels

More About Label Solutions

  • We produce labels to support CGA Industry standards and strict specifications.
  • All materials and inks on every label maintain a 5-year warranty. Cylinder circulation may sometimes average 3-5 years before refilling. 
  • We notify customers of any CGA/DOT/OSHA/FDA changes before they place an order (see more below).
  • We conduct extensive multi-year testing to ensure the durability of our cylinder labels. We make sure the right type of material, inks, and adhesives are used to maintain strength.

Compliance labels need to be updated every so often, and we’ll alert you if your order includes a label that is out of compliance. We’ll let you decide how you’d like to proceed with the order and we will work with you to consider your inventory.  

Non-Compliant Label Providers

On the flip side, here is what a non-compliant label means:  

  • Low Quality: Cheaper materials and adhesives will cause the labels to fail in the field (usually the cheaper labels fail around a 12-18-month period)
  • Unable to withstand all weather conditions and long-term storage
  • Commonly sells as the “Lowest Purchase Price”
  • Results in expensive fines and penalties for not following DOT or OSHA compliance

Related post: 8 Common Product Labeling Mistakes - Part 1: Construction vs. Artwork & Compliance

Order Your Custom Labels Today

Label Solutions, Inc. is a full-service custom labeling company with a variety of printing options. We are committed to excellence and staying in compliance across all the industries we serve. Contact our team online or call (800) 299-9200 to place your order today.