Shipping paper retention

Scope

Each person who provides the shipping paper (shipper) or each person who receives a shipping paper (carrier) must retain a copy or an electronic image of the shipping paper.

Regulatory citations

• 49 CFR 172.201 — Preparation and retention of shipping papers

Key definitions

• None

Summary of requirements

The shipping paper copy or electronic image must be accessible at or through the person’s principal place of business. The retained shipping papers must be available, upon request, to government officials at reasonable times and locations.

• Hazardous waste manifests must be kept for three years after the material is accepted by the initial carrier.
• Shipping papers must be kept by shippers for two years after the material is accepted by the initial carrier.
• Shipping papers must be kept by carriers for one year after the material is accepted.

Each shipping paper copy must include the date of acceptance by the carrier.

A motor carrier that uses a shipping paper without change for multiple shipments of a single hazardous material (same shipping name and identification number) may retain a single copy for each shipment made, IF the carrier also retains a record of each shipment made. This record must include the materials shipping name, identification number, quantity transported, and date of shipment.