49 CFR § 172.512 - Freight containers and aircraft unit load devices.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s172.512"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 172.512 - Freight containers and aircraft unit load devices."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "172.512"
section_name: "Freight containers and aircraft unit load devices."
chapter_name: "PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS"
part_number: "172"
part_name: "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TABLE, SPECIAL PROVISIONS, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COMMUNICATIONS, EMERGENCY RESPONSE INFORMATION, TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, AND SECURITY PLANS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 5101-5128, 44701; 49 CFR 1.81, 1.96 and 1.97."
regulatory_source: "Amdt. 172-29, 41 FR 15996, Apr. 15, 1976, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "172"
---


# 172.512 Freight containers and aircraft unit load devices.

(a) *Capacity of 640 cubic feet or more.* Each person who offers for transportation, and each person who loads and transports, a hazardous material in a freight container or aircraft unit load device having a capacity of 640 cubic feet or more shall affix to the freight container or aircraft unit load device the placards specified for the material in accordance with § 172.504. However:

(1) The placarding exception provided in § 172.504(c) applies to motor vehicles transporting freight containers and aircraft unit load devices,

(2) The placarding exception provided in § 172.504(c) applies to each freight container and aircraft unit load device being transported for delivery to a consignee immediately following an air or water shipment, and,

(3) Placarding is not required on a freight container or aircraft unit load device if it is only transported by air and is identified as containing a hazardous material in the manner provided in part 7, chapter 2, section 2.8, of the ICAO Technical Instructions (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter).

(b) *Capacity less than 18 m 3 (640 cubic feet).* (1) Each person who offers for transportation by air, and each person who loads and transports by air, a hazardous material in a freight container or aircraft unit load device having a capacity of less than 18 m
<sup>3</sup> (640 cubic feet) shall affix one placard of the type specified by paragraph (a) of this section unless the freight container or aircraft unit load device:

(i) Is labeled in accordance with subpart E of this part, including § 172.406(e);

(ii) Contains radioactive materials requiring the Radioactive Yellow III label and is placarded with one Radioactive placard and is labeled in accordance with subpart E of this part, including § 172.406(e); or,

(iii) Is identified as containing a hazardous material in the manner provided in part 7; chapter 2, section 2.8, of the ICAO Technical Instructions (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter).

(2) When hazardous materials are offered for transportation, not involving air transportation, in a freight container having a capacity of less than 640 cubic feet the freight container need not be placarded. However, if not placarded, it must be labeled in accordance with subpart E of this part.

(c) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, packages containing hazardous materials offered for transportation by air in freight containers are subject to the inspection requirements of § 175.30 of this chapter.

[Amdt. 172-29, 41 FR 15996, Apr. 15, 1976]

For  citations affecting § 172.513, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at