Shipping documents and packages to any destination, either in the continental United States or internationally, must be done according to the laws that govern mail. There are plenty of items you can ship without issue, especially documents, letters, clothes, toys, books, DVDs and other items. Then, there are items you should never ship, even if companies or the law allow you to do so. Sometimes, it just makes more sense to err on the side of caution when shipping so your liability remains low.

Cash 

Cash is never something you should consider shipping. Most courier services will not ship cash. There’s just too much liability involved in shipping cash. If you must send money to someone, consider sending a personal check, a cashier’s check or a money order. These are safer to ship and have much less liability involved.

Hazardous Items 

As you plan a move, or put together a shipment, make sure you don’t try to ship any hazardous items. Hazardous items include flammable materials, corrosives and toxic substances. Some examples of these items include lye, acetone and herbicides. Not only is shipping these items dangerous to the courier, the warehouse and the recipient, it is also illegal to ship some of these items.

Weapons 

You should never ship weapons like swords, guns, ammunition and small explosive devices. Not only is it a bad idea to ship these items, but it’s also dangerous to ship the items using a courier service. Putting the courier in the line of danger by transporting these items is never a good idea.

Illegal Substances

Illegal substances, such as drugs and drug paraphernalia, are illegal to ship. This is not because courier services choose not to ship them, but because they are illegal to ship based on federal and state laws. This goes for any illegal drug or piece of paraphernalia. It’s not illegal to ship prescription drugs, especially if you are moving, so long as they are packaged properly and are accompanied with a prescription.

Animals 

It is illegal to ship live animals, no matter where you want to send them. It’s understandable that you might want to send an animal ahead of you for a move, but it is illegal to do so.

Hazardous Waste 

Hazardous waste is another category of material that should not be shipped. There are so many restrictions placed on hazardous material when dealing with it at work or other locations that they simply could not be followed when part of a shipment.

Gambling Items

It is illegal to ship gambling items anywhere in the United States, including lottery tickets. So, make sure you don’t try to mail lottery tickets to a family member for a gift as this can get you into quite a bit of trouble.

The friendly and experienced staff at Econo-Courier in Parsippany, New Jersey is here to handle all of your shipping needs. Whether you need to send something down the road or across the country, the Econo-Courier staff will ensure your shipment arrives on time.