Shipping
Ground Shipping Rules
This webpage provides our understanding of the most current guidelines for dealers and distributors to ship our Portable Outlet series of rechargeable batteries, via GROUND services, from your domestic business to your customers within the 48 contiguous United States. Ignoring these guidelines can result in fines, penalties, and legal repercussions by your shipping company and the federal government.
GROUND SHIPPING: As of January 1, 2025, all Portable Outlet battery models are eligible for Federal Express (FedEx) and United Parcel Service (UPS) ground shipping throughout the 48 contiguous United States as lightly regulated dangerous goods. The United States Postal Service (USPS) will not ship lithium-ion batteries greater than 100 watt hours. Hazardous materials training is required to ship lithium-ion batteries by ground.
Portable Outlet batteries shipped by air or sea are fully regulated dangerous goods shipments. These shipments require your company to have 49 CFR and ICAO/IATA certifications, a shipper’s declaration, correct UN specification packaging, hazmat employee training, emergency response information, and other stringent requirements.
BACKGROUND: Portable Outlet batteries are tested and certified to the UN38.3 standard at the completion of the manufacturing process to ensure that our batteries do not rupture, leak, disassemble, or catch fire.
Even though our batteries have been certified to the UN38.3 standard, they are still subject to safety regulations set by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Our batteries are classified as Class 9 UN3480 lithium-ion batteries.
BEST PRACTICES:
Follow these rules when GROUND SHIPPING packages containing our batteries:
- Must be in strong outer packaging that can withstand a 1.2-meter drop, in any orientation, without damaging the batteries. Packaging must prevent any shifting that could cause battery-to-battery contact or spill the contents.
- Adhere a 4” x 2”, standardized label to the outside of the package that reads: “LITHIUM BATTERIES –FORBIDDEN FOR TRANSPORT ABOARD AIRCRAFT AND VESSEL”. The label should only be on one side of the box and should not be wrapped onto a second side.
- Adhere a 5” x 4.5”, standardized UN3480 lithium battery mark to the outside of the package. The label should only be on one side of the box and should not be wrapped onto a second side.
- The shipping box should not be larger than our case size, 16”x13”x11”, containing six (6) batteries.
- Shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, Catalina Island, and Puerto Rico are fully regulated.