The Hazmat Boom Is Here—and Lithium-Ion Batteries Are Leading the Charge: Mark Becker Features on What The Truck?!?

Hazardous goods used to be a niche corner of logistics—important, yes, but relatively contained. Today, that’s changed. Hazmat is becoming a central force in modern e-commerce, fueled by one major shift: the rise of lithium-ion batteries in everyday products.

From cordless lawn equipment to whole-home backup power stations, battery-powered products are moving online faster than most brands—and even many logistics teams—are ready for. And while the market opportunity is massive, so is the risk if compliance is treated like an afterthought.

That’s exactly why Mark Becker, President, CEO, and Co-Founder of G10 Fulfillment, is paying close attention. As one of the few Amazon-approved hazmat shippers in the United States, G10 operates inside the pressure cooker of hazardous goods compliance every day. Mark recently joined the show What the Truck to break down what’s driving this growth, where brands are making costly mistakes, and why “cutting corners” in hazmat shipping isn’t just risky—it’s dangerous.

Here’s what brands, retailers, and supply chain leaders need to understand right now.

From “Regular Fulfillment” to Hazmat Expertise

Mark’s journey into hazmat didn’t start with batteries—it started with solving the kinds of problems large retailers didn’t want to handle.

G10 Fulfillment launched in 2009, and as Mark puts it, the business was largely “built on the back of Amazon.” But early on, G10 found its lane by doing what major networks often avoid: niche, operationally complex fulfillment.

One example: selling paint online. That’s not a “cookie-cutter” e-commerce product. It requires special handling, an understanding of hazardous classifications, and the operational discipline to ship safely and consistently. G10 leaned into that complexity with a dropship model—keeping product in their warehouse while still providing the customer experience of buying directly from large marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, or Home Depot.

That muscle—handling challenging products in high-volume e-commerce environments—set the stage for what came next.

The Inflection Point: Fully Regulated Lithium-Ion Batteries

According to Mark, a pivotal moment came when Amazon began pushing deeper into fully regulated lithium-ion battery fulfillment. That shift introduced a new level of compliance requirements—ones that many brands underestimated.

Batteries aren’t new. But what’s new is the type and scale of battery-powered products selling online:

• Battery lawnmowers, blowers, and outdoor equipment replacing gas engines

• Large portable power stations used for travel and off-grid power

• Massive home backup batteries capable of running refrigerators, lights, and more

A decade ago, many of these items simply weren’t common e-commerce purchases. Now, they’re becoming normal—and consumers love the convenience of having them delivered directly to the home.

But the logistics behind that delivery is anything but simple.

What “Amazon-Approved Hazmat Shipper” Actually Means

Being “Amazon-approved” in hazmat isn’t a badge you get for filling out a form.

Mark explained that the approval process required extensive validation of G10’s systems and processes—down to security testing of their IT infrastructure, onsite audits, and repeated assessments to ensure compliance and safety are treated as non-negotiables.

Amazon employees visited G10 facilities, reviewed processes, and evaluated whether the operation could reliably manage hazmat risk at scale. After months of scrutiny, G10 became part of Amazon’s approved network for this work—and even helped pilot the program.

The takeaway for brands is simple: hazmat fulfillment partners are not interchangeable. In this category, capability isn’t marketing—it’s verification, audits, training, and rigor.

The Hazmat Market Is Growing—But Batteries Are the Real Driver

Hazardous goods market forecasts show steep growth over the next decade. Mark’s view is that the biggest driver isn’t “more regulation.” It’s more battery-powered products entering the household.

Two categories are creating especially strong pressure:

1) Battery-Powered Outdoor Equipment

The outdoor equipment market is still dominated by gas. But the shift is underway—and it’s accelerating.

Consumers are moving toward battery equipment because it’s:

• Cleaner

• Easier to maintain

• Convenient

• Often lighter and simpler to use

As that market transitions, hazmat volumes rise with it.

2) Power Stations and Home Backup Batteries

These products have gone from niche to mainstream—especially as consumers think more about resilience during outages.

Mark described everything from small camping-ready power boxes to units large enough to supply electricity for a home during downtime. These are high-energy products with serious shipping requirements, and they’re increasingly being bought online.

Where Brands Get Hazmat Compliance Wrong

Hazmat compliance is complex, but the mistakes brands make tend to fall into a few predictable buckets. Mark called out several that show up repeatedly.

Mistake #1: Skipping or Underfunding Testing

One of the most critical elements is making sure products have undergone the proper testing—especially for lithium-ion batteries.

Mark noted that Amazon has recently increased the level of testing manufacturers must provide to sell certain high-capacity batteries (like 300Wh fully regulated lithium-ion batteries) on the platform. That kind of tightening has a big impact: it filters out manufacturers who can’t (or won’t) invest in compliance.

And that matters—because unsafe, poorly tested batteries are frequently connected to the fires you see in headlines involving e-bikes and power stations.

Mistake #2: Labeling Errors

Labeling is not cosmetic. It’s operational communication for every step of the journey:

• Receiving

• Put-away

• Storage

• Picking

• Packing

• Carrier handoff

If labeling is wrong at the manufacturing level, the entire downstream supply chain is exposed.

Mistake #3: Treating Hazmat Like a “Cost Problem”

Mark was blunt about a dangerous reality: some operators cut corners because hazmat shipping costs more.

Small parcel and LTL carriers charge premiums for fully regulated hazmat. Some companies attempt to reduce those costs by mis-declaring, under-declaring, or bypassing proper processes.

That might save money in the short term—but it puts workers, carriers, and customers at risk. And it invites serious regulatory consequences.

How Regulations Are Reshaping Warehouse Operations

One of the most interesting points Mark raised is that hazmat compliance doesn’t just change how you ship—it changes how you design and operate warehouses.

G10 runs hazmat programs across multiple U.S. locations, and each warehouse must align with local fire code requirements. That means working closely with fire marshals and adapting layouts and safety systems based on region-specific rules, including:

• Racking configuration

• Sprinkler system requirements

• Storage limits and segregation rules

• Seismic zone considerations (which can change how racking must be installed)

In other words: hazmat compliance is physical infrastructure, not just paperwork.

Training: The Only Real Safety Technology

Mark repeatedly returned to one theme: training.

Fully regulated hazmat shipping depends on warehouse employees who know what they’re doing and can follow processes without exception. G10 invests in training programs, memberships, and expert partnerships to keep operations current with evolving requirements.

And they don’t treat it as an annual checkbox. Mark described how hazmat is discussed constantly:

• Weekly business reviews

• Monthly business reviews

• Process reviews and implementation cycles

Because in hazmat, the margin for error is effectively zero.

The Misconception Most People Have About Hazmat

Mark said the biggest misconception is simple: people don’t realize how much hazmat can move via small parcel ground.

Many manufacturers assume hazmat equals slow, complicated freight moves (often LTL). In reality, there are cases where hazmat products can be shipped ground through small parcel networks—if you have the expertise, carrier relationships, and packaging discipline to do it correctly.

That education piece matters, because faster delivery can be achieved without compromising safety—but only when compliance is done right.

What’s Next: Cameras, AI, and Mistake Prevention

Looking ahead, Mark sees technology playing a larger role in reducing error. The vision isn’t flashy automation for its own sake—it’s verification at scale.

He described a near future where warehouse camera systems could:

• Photograph shipments entering and leaving

• Validate labeling and packaging in real time

• Use AI to flag mismatches or compliance failures

• Potentially leverage thermal imaging for added safety

The goal is simple: stop mistakes before they leave the building.

Because the nightmare scenario isn’t “a delayed shipment.” It’s a hazmat product mislabeled and loaded into an aircraft, or mishandled in transit—risking catastrophic outcomes.

The Bottom Line: Hazmat Is a Growth Category—But Safety Has to Lead

The hazardous goods market is booming for a reason: battery-powered products are becoming the default across consumer categories, and e-commerce is the preferred buying channel.

That creates huge opportunities for brands. But it also creates huge responsibilities.

Mark Becker’s message is clear:

• Compliance is not optional.

• Cutting corners isn’t just risky—it’s dangerous.

• Training and process discipline matter as much as speed.

• And the partners you choose can either protect your business—or expose it.

If your product includes lithium-ion batteries or falls under hazmat classifications, the question isn’t whether you can sell online.

It’s whether your supply chain is built to do it safely, compliantly, and at scale.

Want to Learn More About Hazmat Fulfillment?

Mark points brands to the simplest starting point: G10 Fulfillment’s website, where manufacturers and sellers can explore hazmat services and compliance support.

In a world where batteries are powering everything, the companies that win won’t be the ones that ship the cheapest.

They’ll be the ones that ship the safest.