Definitions, as published
The definition of each term exactly as its official source words it, with the article or page it comes from.
| Term slug | Definition text | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| epa | means U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| etiologic-agent | See § 173.134 of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| ex-number | means a number preceded by the prefix “EX”, assigned by the Associate Administrator, to an item that has been evaluated under the provisions of § 173.56 of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| explosive | See § 173.50 of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| f | means degree Fahrenheit. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| farmer | means a person engaged in the production or raising of crops, poultry, or livestock. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| fc-number | means a number preceded by the prefix “FC” assigned by a Fireworks Certification Agency to a firework, pyrotechnic device, or fuse that has been certified under the provisions of § 173.65 of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| federal-hazardous-material-transportation-law | means 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| ferry-vessel | means a vessel which is limited in its use to the carriage of deck passengers or vehicles or both, operates on a short run on a frequent schedule between two points over the most direct water route, other than in ocean or coastwise service, and is offered as a public service of a type normally attributed to a bridge or tunnel. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| filling-density | has the following meanings: (1) For compressed gases in cylinders, see § 173.304a(a)(2) table note 1. (2) For compressed gases in tank cars, see § 173.314(c) table note 1. (3) For compressed gases in cargo tanks and portable tanks, see § 173.315(a) table note 1. (4) For cryogenic liquids in cylinders, except hydrogen, see § 173.316(c)(1). (5) For hydrogen, cryogenic liquid in cylinders, see § 173.316(c)(3) table note 1. (6) For cryogenic liquids in cargo tanks, see § 173.318(f)(1). (7) For cryogenic liquids in tank cars, see § 173.319(d)(1). | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| flammable-gas | See § 173.115 of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| flammable-liquid | See § 173.120 of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| flammable-solid | See § 173.124 of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| flexible-bulk-container | means a flexible container with a capacity not exceeding 15 cubic meters and includes liners and attached handling devices and service equipment. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| flash-point | See § 173.120 of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| freight-container | means a reusable container having a volume of 64 cubic feet or more, designed and constructed to permit being lifted with its contents intact and intended primarily for containment of packages (in unit form) during transportation. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| fuel-cell | means an electrochemical device that converts the energy of the chemical reaction between a fuel, such as hydrogen or hydrogen rich gases, alcohols, or hydrocarbons, and an oxidant, such as air or oxygen, to direct current (d.c.) power, heat, and other reaction products. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| fuel-cell-cartridge-or-fuel-cartridge | means an article that stores fuel for discharge into the fuel cell through a valve(s) that controls the discharge of fuel into the fuel cell. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| fuel-cell-system | means a fuel cell with an installed fuel cell cartridge together with wiring, valves, and other attachments that connect the fuel cell or cartridge to the device it powers. The fuel cell or cartridge may be so constructed that it forms an integral part of the device or may be removed and connected manually to the device. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| fuel-tank | means a tank other than a cargo tank, used to transport flammable or combustible liquid, or compressed gas for the purpose of supplying fuel for propulsion of the transport vehicle to which it is attached, or for the operation of other equipment on the transport vehicle. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| fumigated-lading | See §§ 172.302(g) and 173.9. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| fw-number | means a unique identifier number assigned by the Associate Administrator to a Division 1.4G consumer firework device certified in accordance with § 173.64(b) of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| gas | means a material which has a vapor pressure greater than 300 kPa (43.5 psia) at 50 °C (122 °F) or is completely gaseous at 20 °C (68 °F) at a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia). | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| gross-weight-or-gross-mass | means the weight of a packaging plus the weight of its contents. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| hazard-class | means the category of hazard assigned to a hazardous material under the definitional criteria of part 173 of this subchapter and the provisions of the § 172.101 table. A material may meet the defining criteria for more than one hazard class but is assigned to only one hazard class. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| hazard-zone | means one of four levels of hazard (Hazard Zones A through D) assigned to gases, as specified in § 173.116(a) of this subchapter, and one of two levels of hazards (Hazard Zones A and B) assigned to liquids that are poisonous by inhalation, as specified in § 173.133(a) of this subchapter. A hazard zone is based on the LC50 value for acute inhalation toxicity of gases and vapors, as specified in § 173.133(a). | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| hazardous-material | means a substance or material that the Secretary of Transportation has determined is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and has designated as hazardous under section 5103 of Federal hazardous materials transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5103). The term includes hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants, elevated temperature materials, materials designated as hazardous in the Hazardous Materials Table (see 49 CFR 172.101), and materials that meet the defining criteria for hazard classes and divisions in part 173 of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| hazardous-substance | for the purposes of this subchapter, means a material, including its mixtures and solutions, that— (1) Is listed in the appendix A to § 172.101 of this subchapter; (2) Is in a quantity, in one package, which equals or exceeds the reportable quantity (RQ) listed in the appendix A to § 172.101 of this subchapter; and (3) When in a mixture or solution— (i) For radionuclides, conforms to paragraph 7 of the appendix A to § 172.101. (ii) For other than radionuclides, is in a concentration by weight which equals or exceeds the concentration corresponding to the RQ of the material, as shown in the following table: The term does not include petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof which is not otherwise specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance in appendix A to § 172.101 of this subchapter, and the term does not include natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas usable for fuel (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas). | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| hazardous-waste | for the purposes of this chapter, means any material that is subject to the Hazardous Waste Manifest Requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency specified in 40 CFR part 262. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| hazmat | means a hazardous material. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| hazmat-employee | means: (1) A person who is: (i) Employed on a full-time, part time, or temporary basis by a hazmat employer and who in the course of such full time, part time or temporary employment directly affects hazardous materials transportation safety; (ii) Self-employed (including an owner-operator of a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft) transporting hazardous materials in commerce who in the course of such self-employment directly affects hazardous materials transportation safety; (iii) A railroad signalman; or (iv) A railroad maintenance-of-way employee. (2) This term includes an individual, employed on a full time, part time, or temporary basis by a hazmat employer, or who is self-employed, who during the course of employment: (i) Loads, unloads, or handles hazardous materials; (ii) Designs, manufactures, fabricates, inspects, marks, maintains, reconditions, repairs, or tests a package, container or packaging component that is represented, marked, certified, or sold as qualified for use in transporting hazardous material in commerce. (iii) Prepares hazardous materials for transportation; (iv) Is responsible for safety of transporting hazardous materials; (v) Operates a vehicle used to transport hazardous materials. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| hazmat-employer | means: (1) A person who employs or uses at least one hazmat employee on a full-time, part time, or temporary basis; and who: (i) Transports hazardous materials in commerce; (ii) Causes hazardous materials to be transported in commerce; or (iii) Designs, manufactures, fabricates, inspects, marks, maintains, reconditions, repairs or tests a package, container, or packaging component that is represented, marked, certified, or sold by that person as qualified for use in transporting hazardous materials in commerce; (2) A person who is self-employed (including an owner-operator of a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft) transporting materials in commerce; and who: (i) Transports hazardous materials in commerce; (ii) Causes hazardous materials to be transported in commerce; or (iii) Designs, manufactures, fabricates, inspects, marks, maintains, reconditions, repairs or tests a package, container, or packaging component that is represented, marked, certified, or sold by that person as qualified for use in transporting hazardous materials in commerce; or (3) A department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government, or an authority of a State, political subdivision of a State, or an Indian tribe; and who: (i) Transports hazardous materials in commerce; (ii) Causes hazardous materials to be transported in commerce; or (iii) Designs, manufactures, fabricates, inspects, marks, maintains, reconditions, repairs or tests a package, container, or packaging component that is represented, marked, certified, or sold by that person as qualified for use in transporting hazardous materials in commerce. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| hermetically-sealed | means closed by fusion, gasketing, crimping, or equivalent means so that no gas or vapor can enter or escape. High-hazard flammable train (HHFT) means a single train transporting 20 or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid in a continuous block or a single train carrying 35 or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid throughout the train consist. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| high-hazard-flammable-unit-train | means a single train transporting 70 or more loaded tank cars containing Class 3 flammable liquid. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| household-waste | means any solid waste (including garbage, trash, and sanitary waste from septic tanks) derived from households (including single and multiple residences, hotels and motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day-use recreation areas). This term is not applicable to consolidated shipments of household hazardous materials transported from collection centers. A collection center is a central location where household waste is collected. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| hmr | means the Hazardous Materials Regulations, parts 171 through 180 of this chapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| iaea | means International Atomic Energy Agency. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| iata | means International Air Transport Association. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| icao | means International Civil Aviation Organization. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| imo | means International Maritime Organization. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| incorporated-by-reference-or-ibr | means a publication or a portion of a publication that is made a part of the regulations of this subchapter. See § 171.7. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| infectious-substance-etiologic-agent | See § 173.134 of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| inner-packaging | means a packaging for which an outer packaging is required for transport. It does not include the inner receptacle of a composite packaging. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| inner-receptacle | means a receptacle which requires an outer packaging in order to perform its containment function. The inner receptacle may be an inner packaging of a combination packaging or the inner receptacle of a composite packaging. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| intermediate-bulk-container-or-ibc | means a rigid or flexible portable packaging, other than a cylinder or portable tank, which is designed for mechanical handling. Standards for IBCs manufactured in the United States are set forth in subparts N and O of part 178 of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| intermediate-packaging | means a packaging which encloses an inner packaging or article and is itself enclosed in an outer packaging. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| intermodal-container | means a freight container designed and constructed to permit it to be used interchangeably in two or more modes of transport. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| intermodal-portable-tank-or-im-portable-tank | means a specific class of portable tanks designed primarily for international intermodal use. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| international-transportation | means transportation— (1) Between any place in the United States and any place in a foreign country; (2) Between places in the United States through a foreign country; or (3) Between places in one or more foreign countries through the United States. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
| irritating-material | See § 173.132(a)(2) of this subchapter. | 49 CFR 171.8 |
Sources
- Glossary for Transport Statistics — 6th edition (2026) — Eurostat, UNECE ve ITF-OECD · Reusable with attribution
- UNCTADstat maritime/transport metadata — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) / UNCTADstat · Reusable with attribution
- IMO conventions and maritime definitions — official definition clauses and terminology pages — International Maritime Organization (IMO) · Reusable with attribution
- U.S. federal air cargo/security definitions associated with ICAO scope — International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); auxiliary U.S. federal regulatory sources · Public domain
- United States federal transport and customs definitions — GPO / Office of Federal Register / PHMSA-DOT / FMCSA-DOT / FMC / CBP-DHS / U.S. Congress · Public domain
- European Union transport and customs definitions — European Parliament and Council instruments; Publications Office of the EU / EUR-Lex · Reusable with attribution
- Hague–Visby Article I via UK legislation.gov.uk — UN Treaty Collection/UN, UNCITRAL, UNECE, ICAO, OTIF ve UK legislation.gov.uk · Reusable with attribution
- BTS/FMCSA/FMC/CBP/MARAD federal-authored glossary rows — BTS; FMCSA; FMC; CBP; MARAD · Public domain
- United Kingdom official transport and customs terms — HMRC; Department for Transport; Traffic Commissioners/DVSA; UK Parliament/legislation.gov.uk · Reusable with attribution
1,049 further records are on file but not shown, because the publisher's terms do not clearly allow them to be republished.