Remembering Haldis Fearn

I don’t know if I’ve ever met a dangerous goods professional whose dream as a child was to have a career in hazardous materials. But one way or another, some of us are drawn to it. Such was the case with Haldis M. Fearn. 

Haldis graduated from Portland State University with a degree in the Humanities. In 1988 she started working for American President Lines (APL), one of the largest shipping companies in the world, in an administrative role. She soon became fascinated with hazmat and eventually worked her way up to being named Director of Hazardous Materials.

During her career at APL, Haldis oversaw their compliance with all United Nations, domestic, and international shipping regulations for an astonishing 26,000 annual combined ocean and rail hazardous cargo moves. In her role at APL, Haldis recognized the importance of training hazmat employees and how deadly the lack of training could be. Hazmat training became her lifelong passion, which led Haldis to become a founding member of the Dangerous Goods Trainers Association (DGTA). 

Also, while at APL, Haldis managed APL’s Hazmat Response Center, where she developed and directed a 24-hour emergency response system, establishing APL as a leader in hazmat response management. Haldis also led APL in becoming the first company to implement Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) for rail transport, and she Chaired the EDI Group for APL. 

Heralded by the US Department of Transportation, one of her crowning achievements at APL was creating in/out gate procedures at rail ramps and terminals in North America. These procedures allowed for the controlled and safe movement of dangerous goods and were adopted by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

After assuming the Director position at APL, it didn’t take long for Haldis to take a leadership role in the international dangerous goods community. Haldis became an active member of many trade associations, including the Association of American Railroads and the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council (DGAC). While a member of DGAC, she served for several years with distinction on the Board of Directors. She also was a Delegate Member to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the UN Subcommittee of Experts on the Transporation of Dangerous Goods. 

Working for an international shipping company, Haldis gained a great love and respect for the United States Coast Guard. She served on their Chemical Transporation Advisory Committee and was a member of their Safety and Environmental Protection Directorate. For her work with the Coast Guard, they awarded her The US Coast Guard Certificate of Merit and the US Coast Guard Certificate of Appreciation. 

A frequent speaker and panelist at Dangerous Goods (DG) Conferences worldwide, Haldis was also a regular contributor to various publications, including the Hazardous Cargo Bulletin, Hazmat Packager and Shipper, Lloyd’s List, and Pacific Shipper. She also helped launch and served as Editor of the Shipper’s Guide to Hazardous Materials, one of the first-ever trade publications on Hazardous Materials for the shipping and transportation industry.

If you ever attended a Dangerous Goods conference, odds are Haldis was there. Never a wallflower, Haldis was always working the room, looking to make friends and strike up a passionate conversation about hazardous materials, whether it be about the dangers of counterfeit lithium batteries or the finer details of 49 CFR 173.3. In a field dominated by men, Haldis established herself as a world-renowned expert in her field. Shattering the glass ceiling, she and a few other fearless women paved the way for others to follow in their footsteps.



While slight in stature, she was a giant in the industry. She was forthright. She was bold. She made the world a safer and better place, a legacy to be proud of. Haldis died on January 20, 2023, and we will forever miss her.