Hazmat Routing
Contents
In the Routing APIs, you can select hazardous materials route options using the hazMat, HazMatType, and HazMatTypes parameters in North America; as well as the tunnelCategory or TunnelCategories parameters in Europe.
Depending on the values you select for those parameters, the routing algorithm will generate legal and safe routes by avoiding or favoring certain types of roads. The charts below describe the impact on routing based on the hazmat type and road category.
-
favor = routing will prefer these segments
-
no change = routing will not be altered in any way
-
avoid = routing will go around these segments whenever possible
-
discourage = a lesser degree of avoidance, used when a state or road authority allows hazmat only at certain times of day, with prior notification, by permit, or in limited quantities, and for tunnels not otherwise classified
Hazmat route options and road categories - North America
Applies to U.S. and Canada
| Hazmat Routing Category | General | Caustic | Explosives | Flammable | Inhalants | Radioactive | Detailed Route Report | Hazmat Map Legend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | None | |
| Designated | favor | favor | favor | favor | favor | favor | Desig/Pref/Alt | |
| Prohibited | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Restricted | discourage | discourage | discourage | discourage | discourage | discourage | Restricted | Restricted |
| Explosive Designated | no change | no change | favor | no change | no change | no change | Desig Expl | |
| Inhalant Designated | no change | no change | no change | no change | favor | no change | Desig Inhal | |
| Explosive & Inhalant Designated | no change | no change | favor | no change | favor | no change | Desig/Pref/Alt | |
| Tunnel & Prohibited | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | Prohibited Tunnel | Prohibited |
| Tunnel & Restricted | discourage | discourage | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | Restricted Tunnel | Restricted |
| Caustic, Explosive, Flammable & Radioactive Prohibited | no change | avoid | avoid | avoid | no change | avoid | Many Cmds Prohib. | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Explosive Restricted | no change | no change | discourage | no change | no change | no change | Explosive Restricted | Restricted |
| Explosive & Flammable Prohibited | no change | no change | avoid | avoid | no change | no change | Expl. & Flam. Prohib. | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Radioactive Designated | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | favor | Desig Rad | |
| Radioactive Prohibited, Explosive Restricted | no change | no change | discourage | no change | no change | avoid | Rad. Prohib., Expl. Restr. | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Radioactive Prohibited | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | avoid | Radioactive Prohibited | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Escort Needed | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | Escort | None |
| Explosives, Inhalant & Radioactive Designated | no change | no change | favor | no change | favor | favor | Desig/Pref/Alt | |
| Radioactive & Explosive Designated | no change | no change | favor | no change | no change | favor | Desig/Pref/Alt | |
| Radioactive & Explosive Prohibited | no change | no change | avoid | no change | no change | avoid | Rad. & Expl. Prohib. | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Radioactive & Explosive Restricted | no change | no change | discourage | no change | no change | discourage | Rad. & Expl. Restr. | Restricted |
Hazmat route options and road categories - Outside of North America
Applies to Africa (AF), Asia (AS), Europe (EU), Middle East (ME), Oceania (OC), and South America (SA) – unless otherwise noted
| Hazmat Routing Category | General | Caustic | Explosives | Flammable | Inhalants | Radioactive | Detailed Route Report | Hazmat Map Legend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | None | |
| Designated | favor | favor | favor | favor | favor | favor | Desig/Pref/Alt | |
| Prohibited | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Restricted | discourage | discourage | discourage | discourage | discourage | discourage | Restricted | Restricted |
| Harmful to Water Prohibited (AF and EU only) | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | Harmful to Water Prohib. | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Explosive Designated | no change | no change | favor | no change | no change | no change | Desig Expl | |
| Inhalant Designated | no change | no change | no change | no change | favor | no change | Desig Inhal | |
| Explosive & Inhalant Designated | no change | no change | favor | no change | favor | no change | Desig/Pref/Alt | |
| Tunnel & Prohibited | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | Prohibited Tunnel | Prohibited |
| Tunnel & Restricted | discourage | discourage | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid | Restricted Tunnel | Restricted |
| Tunnel & Large Explosive, Inhalant, and Flammable Prohibited (EU only) | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | Many Cmds Prohib. | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Tunnel & Large Explosive and Inhalant Prohibited (EU and ME only) | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | Expl. & Inhal. Prohib. | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Caustic, Explosive, Flammable & Radioactive Prohibited | no change | avoid | avoid | avoid | no change | avoid | Many Cmds Prohib. | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Explosive Restricted | no change | no change | discourage | no change | no change | no change | Explosive Restricted | Restricted |
| Tunnel & Very Large Explosive Prohibited (EU only) | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | Explosive Restricted | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Explosive & Flammable Prohibited (AS, EU, and SA only) | no change | no change | avoid | avoid | no change | no change | Expl. & Flam. Prohib. | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Radioactive Designated | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | favor | Desig Rad | |
| Radioactive Prohibited, Explosive Restricted | no change | no change | discourage | no change | no change | avoid | Rad. Prohib., Expl. Restr. | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Radioactive Prohibited | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | avoid | Radioactive Prohibited | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Escort Needed | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | Escort | None |
| Explosive and Flammable & Harmful to Water Prohibited (EU Only) | no change | no change | avoid | avoid | no change | no change | Many Cmds Prohib. | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Explosives, Inhalant & Radioactive Designated | no change | no change | favor | no change | favor | favor | Desig/Pref/Alt | |
| Radioactive & Explosive Designated | no change | no change | favor | no change | no change | favor | Desig/Pref/Alt | |
| Radioactive & Explosive Prohibited | no change | no change | avoid | no change | no change | avoid | Rad. & Expl. Prohib. | Some Cmds Prohib |
| Radioactive & Explosive Restricted | no change | no change | discourage | no change | no change | discourage | Rad. & Expl. Restr. | Restricted |
Tunnel categories in Europe
In addition to the HazMatType or HazMatTypes parameters, ADR hazmat tunnel restriction codes can be set for routing in Europe with the tunnelCategory or tunnelCategories parameters.
| Hazmat Routing Category | EU Harmful to Water | None | EU Tunnel B, C, D, E | EU Tunnel C, D, E | EU Tunnel D, E | EU Tunnel E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Designated | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Prohibited | avoid | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Restricted | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Harmful to Water Prohibited | avoid | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Explosive Designated | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Inhalant Designated | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Explosive & Inhalant Designated | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Tunnel & Prohibited | no change | no change | avoid | avoid | avoid | avoid |
| Tunnel & Restricted | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Tunnel & Large Explosive, Inhalant, and Flammable Prohibited | no change | no change | avoid | avoid | avoid | no change |
| Tunnel & Large Explosive and Inhalant Prohibited | no change | no change | avoid | avoid | no change | no change |
| Caustic, Explosive, Flammable & Radioactive Prohibited | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Explosive Restricted | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Tunnel & Very Large Explosive Prohibited | no change | no change | avoid | no change | no change | no change |
| Explosive & Flammable Prohibited | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Radioactive Designated | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Radioactive Prohibited, Explosive Restricted | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Radioactive Prohibited | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Escort Needed | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Explosive and Flammable & Harmful to Water Prohibited | avoid | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Explosives, Inhalant & Radioactive Designated | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Radioactive & Explosive Designated | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Radioactive & Explosive Prohibited | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| Radioactive & Explosive Restricted | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
U.S. DOT hazmat classes
The table below shows the wording used for setting the hazMat, HazMatType, and HazMatTypes parameters. (Parameter settings are bolded.) It is derived from industry-standard placarded descriptions of hazardous materials, corresponds to the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazmat classifications.
Class 1: Explosives – Explosive
Class 2: Compressed Gases
2.1: Flammable Gas – Flammable
2.2: Non-Flammable Compressed Gas – Other
2.3: Poisonous Gas – Inhalant
Class 3: Flammable and Combustible Liquid – Flammable
Class 4: Flammable Solids
4.1: Flammable Solid – Flammable
4.2: Spontaneously Combustible Material – Flammable
4.3: Dangerous When Wet Material – Flammable
Class 5: Oxidizers – Other
Class 6: Poisons
6.1: (part) Inhalation Hazard – Inhalant
6.1: (balance) – Other
6.2: Infectious Substance (Etiologic agent) [“Biohazard”] – Other
Class 7: Radioactive Materials – Radioactive
Class 8: Caustic Liquids – Caustic
Class 9: Miscellaneous – Other
Determining the hazmat setting
Hazmat regulations for a particular tunnel on a route should be checked if there is any doubt about which materials are permitted. Regulations may change over time and might not be included in the version of the PC*Miler database that you are currently using. The shipper of hazardous materials is legally responsible for determining the U.S. DOT Hazmat Class for their shipment and communicating that class to the carrier in their shipping papers.