Reference

IT equipment logistics reference data

Rules, limits and standards that govern moving IT equipment, each with its primary source.

This page collects the official rules, limits and standards that govern moving enterprise IT equipment in the United States: driver hours, truck weight, cargo securement, carrier liability, battery shipping, environmental ranges, media sanitization, seals, facility codes and recovery terms. Each figure links to the primary source it was checked against.

Last verified: October 2026

Regulations and standards change. Confirm any figure against the cited source before you rely on it, and treat this page as a reference, not legal or compliance advice. Terms used here are defined in the IT logistics glossary.

How long can a truck driver drive, and how heavy can the truck be?

A property-carrying driver may drive 11 hours inside a 14-hour on-duty window after 10 hours off duty, needs a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving, and stops at 60 or 70 on-duty hours per week. On the Interstate, gross vehicle weight is capped at 80,000 pounds.

How long can a truck driver drive, and how heavy can the truck be? Figures and sources.
Item	Figure or rule	Source	Notes
Daily driving limit	11 hours of driving, after 10 consecutive hours off duty	49 CFR 395.3	395.3(a)(1) and (a)(3)(i). Applies to property-carrying commercial motor vehicles.
On-duty window	No driving after the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty	49 CFR 395.3	395.3(a)(2). The window does not pause for breaks.
Rest break	30 consecutive minutes once 8 hours of driving have passed	49 CFR 395.3	395.3(a)(3)(ii). Off-duty, sleeper berth or on-duty not-driving time counts. Short-haul exceptions in 395.1(e) apply.
Weekly on-duty limit	60 hours in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days	49 CFR 395.3	395.3(b). The 70/8 limit applies when the carrier operates every day of the week.
Weekly restart	34 or more consecutive hours off duty	49 CFR 395.3	395.3(c). Starts a new 7- or 8-day period.
Gross vehicle weight, Interstate System	80,000 lb maximum	23 CFR 658.17	658.17(b). A lower limit applies where the Bridge Gross Weight Formula dictates.
Axle weights, Interstate System	20,000 lb single axle; 34,000 lb tandem axle	23 CFR 658.17	658.17(c) and (d).

What does federal cargo securement require for racks and crates?

Cargo on a truck must be contained, immobilized or secured so it cannot shift enough to affect the vehicle, and tiedown systems are sized against set g-forces. The rules are in 49 CFR Part 393, Subpart I.

What does federal cargo securement require for racks and crates? Figures and sources.
Item	Figure or rule	Source	Notes
General rule	Cargo must be contained, immobilized or secured to prevent leaking, spilling, falling or shifting that affects stability or maneuverability	49 CFR 393 subpart I	393.100. Applies to trucks, truck tractors, semitrailers, full trailers and pole trailers.
Breaking-strength design forces	0.8 g forward deceleration; 0.5 g rearward; 0.5 g lateral	49 CFR 393.102	393.102(a)(1). Each condition applied separately.
Working load limit forces	0.435 g forward deceleration; 0.5 g rearward; 0.25 g lateral	49 CFR 393.102	393.102(a)(2).
Aggregate working load limit of tiedowns	At least one-half the weight of the article or group of articles	49 CFR 393.106	393.106(d). Counting rules for direct and indirect tiedowns are in the section.
Equivalent securement in a sided vehicle	Cargo in contact with, or sufficiently close to, walls of adequate strength or other cargo so it cannot shift or tip	49 CFR 393.102	393.102(c)(2). 393.106(b) lists the means: structures of adequate strength, dunnage or dunnage bags, shoring bars, tiedowns, or a combination.

Who is liable for lost or damaged equipment, and how is a claim filed?

Under the Carmack Amendment a motor carrier is liable for the actual loss or injury to property it carries, unless liability was limited to a released value the shipper declared or agreed to in writing. A claim must be in writing, identify the shipment, assert liability and ask for a specific or determinable amount.

Who is liable for lost or damaged equipment, and how is a claim filed? Figures and sources.
Item	Figure or rule	Source	Notes
Carrier liability (Carmack Amendment)	Actual loss or injury to the property	49 USC 14706	14706(a)(1). Runs against the receiving carrier, the delivering carrier, or the carrier on whose route the loss occurred.
Released value	Liability may be limited to a value declared by the shipper in writing or electronically, or set by written agreement, if reasonable	49 USC 14706	14706(c)(1)(A). Check the declared or agreed value on the bill of lading before tender.
Minimum time to file a claim	Carrier may not allow less than 9 months	49 USC 14706	14706(e)(1). The bill of lading may allow longer.
Minimum time to sue	Carrier may not allow less than 2 years from written disallowance	49 USC 14706	14706(e)(1).
What makes a valid claim	Written; identifies the shipment; asserts liability; claims a specified or determinable amount	49 CFR Part 370	370.3(b). Delivery-receipt notations or inspection reports alone are not a claim (370.3(c)).
Carrier acknowledgment	Within 30 days of receipt, unless paid or declined in writing in that time	49 CFR Part 370	370.5.
Carrier disposition	Pay, decline or make a firm offer within 120 days; then written status every 60 days	49 CFR Part 370	370.9.

How are lithium and lead acid batteries in IT equipment regulated?

Lithium batteries are Class 9 hazardous materials classed under four UN numbers and governed in the U.S. by 49 CFR 173.185; standalone lithium ion batteries shipped by air must be at no more than 30 percent state of charge. Lead acid UPS batteries fall under 49 CFR 173.159, or 173.159a when non-spillable.

How are lithium and lead acid batteries in IT equipment regulated? Figures and sources.
Item	Figure or rule	Source	Notes
UN3480	Lithium ion batteries (shipped on their own)	IATA Battery Guidance 2026	Number also listed in the marking rules of 173.185.
UN3481	Lithium ion batteries contained in equipment, or packed with equipment	IATA Battery Guidance 2026
UN3090	Lithium metal batteries (shipped on their own)	IATA Battery Guidance 2026
UN3091	Lithium metal batteries contained in equipment, or packed with equipment	IATA Battery Guidance 2026
Type testing	Each cell and battery type must pass UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, sub-section 38.3	49 CFR 173.185	173.185(a)(1). Manufacturers and distributors must make a test summary available (173.185(a)(3)).
Small lithium ion battery exception, size limit	20 Wh per cell; 100 Wh per battery	49 CFR 173.185	173.185(c)(1)(i). Larger cells and batteries do not qualify for this exception.
State of charge by air, U.S. rule	Lithium ion cells and batteries at no more than 30% of rated capacity (special provision A100)	49 CFR 172.102 (A100)	"A" special provisions apply only to transport by aircraft. Higher charge needs PHMSA approval under Part 107, subpart H.
State of charge by air, standalone (IATA PI 965)	Not more than 30% of rated capacity; not on passenger aircraft without approval	IATA Battery Guidance 2026	Above 30% only with approval of the State of Origin and State of the Operator (A331). Passenger aircraft per A201.
State of charge by air, packed with equipment (IATA PI 966)	Not more than 30% of rated capacity, from 1 January 2026	IATA Battery Guidance 2026	Section II applies the limit to batteries above 2.7 Wh.
State of charge by air, contained in equipment (IATA PI 967)	Recommended, not mandatory: 30% of rated capacity, or 25% indicated capacity	IATA Battery Guidance 2026
Lead acid (wet) batteries	Packaged to prevent dangerous heat, short circuits and terminal damage	49 CFR 173.159	173.159(a). Exposed terminals protected with non-conductive caps, tape or similar.
Non-spillable lead acid batteries	Excepted from 173.159 packaging if securely packed or secured to pallets, protected from short circuits, and marked "NON-SPILLABLE" or "NON-SPILLABLE BATTERY"	49 CFR 173.159a	173.159a(c). No unabsorbed free-flowing liquid at 55 °C (131 °F) for the further exception in 173.159a(d).

What temperature range does ASHRAE recommend for IT equipment?

ASHRAE TC 9.9 recommends an inlet dry-bulb temperature of 18 to 27 °C (64.4 to 80.6 °F) for all four air-cooled equipment classes, A1 to A4. It also limits how fast temperature may change: 20 °C in an hour and no more than 5 °C in any 15 minutes for most equipment.

What temperature range does ASHRAE recommend for IT equipment? Figures and sources.
Item	Figure or rule	Source	Notes
Recommended dry-bulb range, classes A1 to A4	18 to 27 °C (64.4 to 80.6 °F)	ASHRAE TC 9.9 Reference Card	Facilities should be designed and operated to target the recommended range. Fahrenheit converted from the SI table.
Allowable dry-bulb range, class A1	15 to 32 °C (59 to 89.6 °F)	ASHRAE TC 9.9 Reference Card	Class A1 is typical of enterprise servers and storage in tightly controlled data centers.
Temperature change limit, most IT equipment	20 °C in an hour, and no more than 5 °C in any 15-minute period	ASHRAE TC 9.9 Reference Card	Table note f. ASHRAE treats this as a change within a time window, not a rate.
Temperature change limit, tape	5 °C in an hour	ASHRAE TC 9.9 Reference Card	Tape also needs 15 to 32 °C, 20 to 80% RH, maximum 22 °C dew point, no condensation (note c).
Power-off conditions (installed, not in use)	5 to 45 °C; 8 to 80% RH	ASHRAE TC 9.9 Reference Card	Defined as equipment removed from its shipping container and installed but not running. It is not a shipping specification.
Humidity	All classes specified as noncondensing	ASHRAE TC 9.9 Reference Card	The reason cold equipment should acclimatize before power-on: a cold chassis in warm, humid air collects condensation.

What do clear, purge and destroy mean under NIST SP 800-88?

NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 defines three sanitization methods: clear protects against simple, non-invasive recovery; purge makes recovery infeasible with state-of-the-art laboratory techniques; destroy does the same and leaves the media unable to store data. Degaussing applies only to magnetic media, never to SSDs.

What do clear, purge and destroy mean under NIST SP 800-88? Figures and sources.
Item	Figure or rule	Source	Notes
Clear	Logical techniques on all user-addressable locations; protects against simple, non-invasive recovery using the normal device interface	NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2	Typically overwrite through standard read and write commands, or a factory reset where rewriting is not supported.
Purge	Physical or logical techniques that make recovery infeasible using state-of-the-art laboratory techniques	NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2	Cryptographic erase is a purge technique.
Destroy	Recovery infeasible using state-of-the-art laboratory techniques, and the media can no longer store data	NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2	Shred, disintegrate, pulverize, melt or incinerate.
Degaussing applicability	Magnetic tapes, removable magnetic disks and magnetic hard disk drives only; should not be used on flash media such as SSDs	NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2	Many degaussers lack the force for high-coercivity drives. Degaussing is not an approved destroy technique.
Certificate of sanitization: media details	Manufacturer, model, serial number, organizational property number (if any), media type, media source	NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2	Section 4.6. Sample form in Appendix C.
Certificate of sanitization: process details	Method (clear, purge, destroy), technique, tool and version, verification method	NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2	Pre-sanitization confidentiality category is optional.
Certificate of sanitization: verifier	Name, title, date, location, contact information and signature of the person verifying	NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2

Which seal and security standards apply to IT shipments?

ISO 17712 grades mechanical freight seals as I (indicative), S (security) or H (high security), and CBP's CTPAT program requires H-class seals on sealed member shipments. TAPA's Trucking Security Requirements set three certification levels for road carriers.

Which seal and security standards apply to IT shipments? Figures and sources.
Item	Figure or rule	Source	Notes
ISO 17712 seal classes	I = Indicative; S = Security; H = High Security	CBP CTPAT seal bulletin	Classification must be validated by independent labs accredited to ISO/IEC 17025.
CTPAT seal requirement	Sealable shipments sealed immediately after loading with a seal meeting the current ISO 17712 high-security standard	CTPAT Highway Carrier MSC	Criterion 6.2. Qualifying cable and bolt seals are both acceptable.
Seal inspection (VVTT)	View, Verify, Tug, Twist and turn	CBP CTPAT seal bulletin	View the seal and lock, verify the number, tug to confirm it is affixed, twist and turn to confirm it does not unscrew.
CTPAT participation	Voluntary, with no cost to join	CBP CTPAT
TAPA TSR classification levels	Level 1 = Elevated; Level 2 = Moderate; Level 3 = Basic security protection	TAPA TSR 2023	TSR 2023, section 6.1. Self-certification is available for Level 3 only.

Which NFPA standards govern IT rooms and their power?

Three NFPA documents matter most: NFPA 75 for fire protection of IT equipment and IT areas, NFPA 70 (the National Electrical Code) for electrical installation, and NFPA 110 for emergency and standby power systems. Your local authority having jurisdiction decides which editions apply.

Which NFPA standards govern IT rooms and their power? Figures and sources.
Item	Figure or rule	Source	Notes
NFPA 75	Protection of IT equipment and IT equipment areas from fire and its effects: smoke, corrosion, heat and water	NFPA 75	Current edition listed by NFPA: 2024.
NFPA 70 (NEC)	Safe electrical design, installation and inspection	NFPA 70	Current edition listed by NFPA: 2026. Adoption and edition vary by state and locality.
NFPA 110	Performance of emergency and standby power systems that supply alternate power when normal power fails	NFPA 110	Covers power sources, transfer equipment, controls, supervisory and accessory equipment. Current edition listed by NFPA: 2025.

What do RTO, RPO and FEMA flood zones mean for recovery planning?

NIST SP 800-34 defines the recovery time objective as the longest a system resource can stay unavailable before the impact becomes unacceptable, and the recovery point objective as the point in time to which data can be recovered. FEMA's high-risk flood areas are those with a 1 percent or greater chance of flooding in any year.

What do RTO, RPO and FEMA flood zones mean for recovery planning? Figures and sources.
Item	Figure or rule	Source	Notes
Maximum Tolerable Downtime (MTD)	Total outage time the system owner will accept for a mission or business process	NIST SP 800-34 Rev. 1	Section 3.2.1. RTO must normally be shorter than MTD.
Recovery Time Objective (RTO)	Maximum time a system resource can be unavailable before unacceptable impact on other resources, processes and the MTD	NIST SP 800-34 Rev. 1
Recovery Point Objective (RPO)	Point in time before the outage to which data can be recovered; a measure of tolerable data loss	NIST SP 800-34 Rev. 1	Not part of MTD. RPO is set and met by your IT team.
Base flood	1 percent chance of being equalled or exceeded in any given year	44 CFR 59.1
Special flood hazard area	Land subject to a 1 percent or greater annual chance of flooding; mapped as A or V zones	44 CFR 59.1
Zone A / AE	Special flood hazard area; AE (and A1-30) where water surface elevations are determined, A where they are not	44 CFR 64.3
Zone V / VE	Coastal high hazard area with velocity (wave action) from tidal floods	44 CFR 64.3
Zones B, C and X	B/X: moderate flood hazard; C/X: minimal hazard	44 CFR 64.3	Zone D: undetermined but possible flood hazard.
Flood map lookup	Official flood maps by address	FEMA Map Service Center	Check both the primary site and the recovery site before staging equipment.

Which sources does this page cite?

Every figure above was read from one of these primary sources in October 2026. Regulations were checked against the eCFR (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations) and statute against the Cornell Legal Information Institute text of the U.S. Code. The ASHRAE figures come from the TC 9.9 reference card for the 2015 Thermal Guidelines; later editions exist, so confirm against the current ASHRAE publication.

DataTech Logistics handles the physical side of these rules: packing, transport, custody and installation of hardware. Data-side decisions such as recovery point objectives belong to your IT team, and any software wiping or cryptographic erase we coordinate is performed by a licensed contractor. Related tools: IT logistics tools.

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