FAR 47.208-1—Advance notice.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 47.208-1 explains when advance notice of shipments is required and why it matters in federal transportation and receiving operations. It focuses on advance notification to military storage and distribution points, depots, and other receiving activities, and notes that civilian agencies may also require it when appropriate. The section identifies the kinds of shipments that typically trigger notice: classified material, sensitive or controlled material, certain protected material, explosives, other hazardous materials, selected shipments subject to movement control, and minimum carload or truckload shipments. Its purpose is operational readiness: advance notice lets the destination arrange transportation control, labor, storage space, and materials-handling equipment before the shipment arrives. In practice, timely notice also helps avoid demurrage and vehicle detention charges by ensuring the consignee transportation office can act before delays occur. For contractors, this means shipment planning must include not just delivery timing but also the required prearrival communications to the receiving activity.
Key Rules
Advance notice is required
Military storage and distribution points, depots, and other receiving activities require advance notice of shipments en route from contractors’ plants. Civilian agencies may also require advance notice when needed for their operations.
Notice applies to specific shipment types
The requirement is generally limited to classified material, sensitive or controlled material, certain protected material, explosives, some hazardous materials, selected movement-control shipments, and minimum carload or truckload shipments.
Notice supports destination planning
Advance notification allows the consignee to arrange transportation control, labor, storage space, and materials-handling equipment before the shipment arrives, reducing disruption at the receiving point.
Timely notice avoids charges
When the consignee transportation office receives notice in time, it can help prevent demurrage and vehicle detention charges that may otherwise result from delays in unloading or coordination.
Operational coordination is the goal
The rule is not just administrative; it is intended to ensure the receiving activity can safely and efficiently manage shipments that require special handling or advance preparation.
Responsibilities
Contractor
Provide advance notice of shipment en route when the shipment falls into a category requiring notice, and ensure the notice is sent early enough for the consignee to make transportation and receiving arrangements.
Receiving Activity / Consignee
Use the advance notice to plan transportation control, labor, space, and equipment needs, and coordinate receipt so the shipment can be handled efficiently upon arrival.
Consignee Transportation Office
Receive and act on shipment notices in time to coordinate unloading and delivery arrangements, helping avoid demurrage and vehicle detention charges.
Contracting Officer / Agency
Identify when advance notice requirements apply in the contract or shipment instructions, especially for civilian agency requirements or special handling categories.
Practical Implications
Contractors should build advance-notice steps into shipping procedures for sensitive, hazardous, controlled, or movement-controlled shipments, not treat them as an afterthought.
A common pitfall is assuming notice is only needed for classified cargo; the rule also reaches certain hazardous, protected, and minimum carload/truckload shipments.
Late or missing notice can create avoidable costs, especially demurrage and vehicle detention, if the receiving activity is not ready to unload or process the shipment.
Receiving points need enough lead time to line up labor, space, and equipment; short notice can cause delays even when the shipment itself is otherwise compliant.
Contract terms, shipping instructions, and agency-specific procedures should be checked carefully because civilian agencies may impose advance-notice requirements beyond the military examples listed here.
Official Regulatory Text
Military (and as required, civilian agency) storage and distribution points, depots, and other receiving activities require advance notice of shipments en route from contractors’ plants. Generally, this notification is required only for classified material; sensitive, controlled, and certain other protected material; explosives, and some other hazardous materials; selected shipments requiring movement control; or minimum carload or truckload shipments. It facilitates arrangements for transportation control, labor, space, and use of materials handling equipment at destination. Also, timely receipt of notices by the consignee transportation office precludes the incurring of demurrage and vehicle detention charges.