Description of Hazardous Materials on a Shipping Paper Using Common Industry Names and Abbreviations
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration · Nov 5, 2024 · Reference No. 24-0076
Reggie’s quick take
Someone asked whether common abbreviations can appear on a shipping paper. They asked about "1GCan" and "5GCan" for one- and five-gallon cans, and "Bulk T/T" for a cargo tank motor vehicle. PHMSA said yes to all three. It suggests spelling out cans, such as "1 Gallon Can" or "1-Gal. Can," so shipments aren't held up or misread. For tank trucks, "T/T" alone is acceptable on a shipping paper to show the packaging type, and "Bulk" isn't required. The letter cites the rules on shipping paper descriptions under 49 CFR Parts 171-180.
Written by AI (Claude) on Oct 22, 2026. Robots make mistakes and leave things out, so the letter below is what counts. Not legal advice.
November 5, 2024
Reference No. 24-0076
This letter is in response to your August 29, 2024, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to a description of hazardous materials on a shipping paper. Specifically, you seek clarification and ask questions regarding the use of common industry names and abbreviations used for packages listed on a shipping paper.
We have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:
Q1. You ask whether the use of the abbreviation “1GCan” is permissible on a shipping paper to indicate a one gallon can.
A1. The answer is yes. However, to avoid frustration of shipment and its information, we natively suggest “1 Gallon Can”, “One-Gallon Can”, or “1-Gal. Can” on a shipping paper.
Q2. You ask whether the abbreviation “5GCan” is also permissible on a shipping paper to describe a package.
A2. The answer is yes. See answer A1.
Q3. You ask whether the abbreviation “Bulk T/T” is permissible on a shipping paper when shipping a hazardous material in a cargo tank motor vehicle (CTMV).
A3. The answer is yes. T/T is a commonly recognizable abbreviation for a tank truck. Note however, the term “bulk” does not need to be included before “T/T.” A T/T—or tank truck—is synonymous with a CTMV, which is considered a bulk packaging. Therefore, a person may annotate “T/T” on a shipping paper to indicate the packaging type.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Dirk Der Kinderen
Chief, Standards Development Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division
A letter of interpretation applies the regulations to the facts the requester described. It isn’t a regulation and isn’t legal advice. The agency’s copy.