A freight forwarder asks for the UN 38.3 test summary before accepting a lithium forklift battery. The buyer has never seen one and wants to know what it contains and who is expected to hold it.
UN 38.3 is the transport test section of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria. The test summary is a short document, issued by or for the battery manufacturer, that shows a battery type has passed those tests. Manufacturers and distributors are expected to make it available on request, and carriers and forwarders normally ask for it before booking. Ask the factory for the summary that matches your exact model, and check the model names on the summary and on the shipping papers agree.
What the summary normally shows
- Who and what. The manufacturer’s name and contact details, and the cell or battery type and model names it covers.
- Test laboratory and report. The test body, a report reference and the date.
- Pack details. Watt-hour rating or mass, and whether the document covers a cell, a battery or a battery assembled from tested components.
- Outcome. A statement that the type passed the listed tests.
How it is used in shipping
The forwarder or airline checks that the summary exists and matches the goods before accepting dangerous cargo. It sits in the shipping file with the dangerous-goods declaration, packing list and invoice. Our paperwork article lists the other documents, and our shipping modes article compares sea, air and road.
What to ask the factory
- The summary for each model you order, sent before the order is confirmed.
- Confirmation that the summary covers the version you will receive, including any custom changes.
- A named contact at the factory who can answer a forwarder’s questions.
Redway holds relevant qualifications and certifications for its batteries; details are available from sales on request. Redway’s compliance documentation page gives background.
Keeping the file tidy
Store the test summary with the order file, the packing instructions and the shipper’s declaration, and give each shipment a reference. When the pack design changes, ask for an updated summary, because a different cell or BMS may need a new look. A tidy file saves hours when a carrier or customs office asks questions.
Risk limits
Rules are updated from time to time and carriers can add their own requirements, so confirm the current set with your forwarder. A custom or modified pack may need its own summary. This article is general guidance, not a compliance opinion.
Additional perspectives
Request the summary at quotation, not at cargo-ready. Many delays happen because the document names a different model from the invoice, so compare names line by line before you book.
Redway Tech Editorial Team – Freight forwarder perspective
Keep a controlled copy of each summary with its date. If the pack design changes, ask the factory whether the summary still applies, and file the answer.
Redway Tech Editorial Team – Compliance officer perspective
Treat the summary as part of the purchase specification. Write in the order that the factory will provide it, and name the model it must cover.
Redway Tech Editorial Team – Logistics buyer perspective
Specifications are taken from Redway product pages as of October 2026. Where a figure isn’t published, this article says so. Confirm current specifications for your model with Redway before ordering. This article is general guidance, not a site-specific engineering assessment.
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