Shipping Ammo via UPS And A Label To Make It Legal

[Dave Berg]

I don't ship ammo often enough to remember all the rules and keep the necessary labels on hand so I have to research it all over again every time. Since just went through the exercise I thought I might be able to save somebody else some time and effort.

Here's the link to the UPS regulations:

https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-cent.../hazardous-materials/shipping-ammunition.page

I have UPS come pick it up as that's only a $4 or so charge vs. a fifty mile round trip to the UPS Customer Center. Staples and The UPS Store won't take it.

Below is a PDF file that prints two "Limited Quantity" labels on letter size paper. I use two-up adhesive labels for UPS and USPS shipping so printing this PDF once gives me two labels. There is a link on the Daily Bulletin that supposedly will take you a website where you can do that but Malwarebytes said "Don't Go There" but I ignored it and it's an empty site that will get you a "Your computer has been blocked by Microsoft", etc. I got to reset my whole system.

Here is the label template:

 

[Texas10]

It's funny, but when I put that label on a box with ammo to ship, the guys a the local UPS customer service don't recognize it. I tell them I got it off their website and am following their procedures, but they look confused. Nevertheless, the shipment always goes through.

 

[spclark]

Thanks for that link.

I had to refuse a package brought in for shipping where I work part time last week. That linked regulation covers what I used as an excuse, that ORM-D - labeled stuff can't be accepted by "...any third party retailer" which covers the store's relationship with UPS. UPS is big on levying fines for infractions over mistakes dealing with hazardous materials.

It's funny, but when I put that label on a box with ammo to ship, the guys a the local UPS customer service don't recognize it.

Is that actually a UPS facility, not a UPS Store or other entity? That might explain why you've never had issues....

 

[Texas10]

Thanks for that link.

I had to refuse a package brought in for shipping where I work part time last week. That linked regulation covers what I used as an excuse, that ORM-D - labeled stuff can't be accepted by "...any third party retailer" which covers the store's relationship with UPS. UPS is big on levying fines for infractions over mistakes dealing with hazardous materials.



Is that actually a UPS facility, not a UPS Store or other entity? That might explain why you've never had issues....

Yes, actual (new) UPS distribution facility with a customer service counter. 10 minutes away! But it's only open from 11 to 3.

 

[hogpatrol]

Thanks Dave. Yes, you can forget a UPS franchise store. Even if they would accept it, they'd charge you five times what a direct UPS depot would charge.

 

[Just Say Moe]

I shipped some ammo at a UPS service center using a box I got ammo in from Midway. It had the white/black diamond label(s) already on it. The gave me grief (but still shipped it) because they were too small, and not on every side.

 

[Fast14riot]

Minimum required size for a Ltd-qty label is 50mmx50mm for boxes smaller than 100mmx100mm. If larger, then a 100mm square label should be used.

I ship LQ goods every day, part of my job, through UPS. We only use the 50mm diamonds and sometimes even use only 1 label. Never a fuss.

If you have a prepaid label and package is ready to go, you can hand it to any UPS driver you see, as well.

 

[long40shot]

Go to a ups hub. Ammo isn't hazmat, it's ORM.

 

[memilanuk]

More than once, I've shipped ammo (thru a UPS hub) with the 'Limited Quantity' diamonds placed appropriately... only to receive it on the other end with the LQ labels cut off and ORM-D stickers put on. WTF?...

 

[spclark]

...only to receive it on the other end with the LQ labels cut off and ORM-D stickers put on. WTF?...

Yah, confusing situation for sure.

That link Dave Berg posted above explicitly states “Alternatively, a black and white limited quantity marking (approximately 4 X 4 inches) may be used.”

Just above where that appears there’s this:

“Is a Hazardous Materials Label or Marking Required?

Yes, (until December 31, 2020) packages that meet the definition of Cartridges, small arms must be marked with the proper shipping name "Cartridges, small arms", and designated as "ORM-D".”

So your guess as to which might be preferred by UPS employees is as good as mine it seems