What is the difference between an overpack and a salvage drum?
A. Overpack drums and salvage drums may look virtually identical, but they are different shipping containers used for different shipping scenarios. Although a salvage drum is an overpack drum, the reverse is not true. To better explain the differences between salvage and overpack drums, here is a review of the Department of Transportation (DOT) definitions. According to 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 171.8, an overpack is “an enclosure that is used by a single consignor to provide protection or convenience in handling of a package or to consolidate two or more packages.” Many things besides drums can be overpacks. If one or more packages are placed on a pallet and secured by shrink wrapping, stretch wrapping or strapping, this could be an overpack. If one or more packages are placed in a box or crate, this could be an overpack. An overpack can also include one or more packages placed in a salvage drum. Therefore, a salvage drum could be an overpack drum. Salvage packaging is defi
