Why isn't fertilizer listed under 'hazardous cargo'?

[MisterNacho]

It's something bugging me when browsing the freight market. Fertilizer not listed as hazardous cargo, especially when I'm hauling 33,000lbs of it. Last I thought, fertilizer is considered hazardous cargo by US rules.

"An agricultural product means a hazardous material, other than a hazardous waste, whose end use directly supports the production of an agricultural commodity including, but not limited to a fertilizer, pesticide, soil amendment, or fuel. An agricultural product is limited to a material in Class 3, 8, or 9, Division 2.1, 2.2, 5.1, or 6.1, or an ORM-D material." - See more at: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hazardous-materials/how-comply-federal-hazardous-materials-regulations#sthash.CmlP0pDJ.dpuf

"A large bulk quantity of a Division 5.1 material in Packing Groups I and II; perchlorates; or ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate fertilizers, or ammonium nitrate emulsions, suspensions, or gels;"

[norbiq]

It's enough being crappy stuff

:)

[ernest p. worrell]

I imagine the law is talking about chemical fertilizer specifically, like ammonium nitrate. Organic fertilizers like you buy at the garden section of the store to put in with your tomato plants in the back yard are probably not considered hazardous materials though. They contain things like mulch, bonemeal, soy, etc. Maybe that's what the game means for the fertilizer that doesn't require a cert to truck. Glorified potting soil basically.

Also just to be clear about ammonium nitrate, though surely hazardous and can pollute the environment, it's contrary to what some might believe not explosive. It's an ingredient in a common binary explosive though. But by itself, it's completely stable.

[lotw_1]

Originally posted by an actual truck:

I imagine the law is talking about chemical fertilizer specifically, like ammonium nitrate. Organic fertilizers like you buy at the garden section of the store to put in with your tomato plants in the back yard are probably not considered hazardous materials though. They contain things like mulch, bonemeal, soy, etc. Maybe that's what the game means for the fertilizer that doesn't require a cert to truck. Glorified potting soil basically.

Also just to be clear about ammonium nitrate, though surely hazardous and can pollute the environment, it's contrary to what some might believe not explosive. It's an ingredient in a common binary explosive though. But by itself, it's completely stable.

This is correct, compost and natural fertilizers like that are not considered hazardous til you add chemicals...