Shipping & Transportation

 

2024 Support FAQs

We transport freight and packages between Fairbanks and the station year-round. All mail, supplies, freight, and packages must be sent to the Fairbanks Logistics Department. We will then coordinate shipments to the station. We can ship packages of all shapes and sizes and coordinate special handling, including Keep Frozen, Do Not Freeze, or various HazMat designations. If you have a particularly time-sensitive shipment or other special handling instructions, please contact the Toolik Logistics Department in advance at uaf-toolik-logistics@alaska.edu or +1-907-474-5159.

 

Shipping address for Toolik Field Station 

(Your name and lab assignment at Toolik)
2120 N. Koyukuk Drive, Room 138
IAB Toolik 757005
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7005

Items received at the address above will be forwarded to Toolik Field Station on the next available truck (unless specified otherwise) or sent north via other freight transport (e.g., Lynden, LNW, etc). Items that must be refrigerated, frozen, or kept from freezing should be clearly labeled so they can be handled with proper care. If your items should be held in Fairbanks until you arrive or for any other reason, please include “Hold South” after your name on the shipping label.

Please use the myToolik Support Request System (login required) to inform the Logistics Department that you are sending boxes south. This allows our staff to ensure that there is sufficient refrigerator or freezer space as well as to keep track of packages as they are sent out into the world. 

Freight being shipped from Toolik Field Station must:

  • Include a pre-paid label (FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc.).
  • Be packaged in a ready-to-ship state.
  • Have a Southbound Sample Shipping Label filled out with information that will help ensure your samples are handled properly through their transit.
  • Be appropriately labeled with special handling instructions (do not freeze, keep refrigerated, etc.). If items require special handling, you must coordinate with station staff and the Fairbanks Logistics department at least one week in advance. 
  • Be requested via our Support Request System in myToolik.

You must coordinate with the on-duty station manager and place your items in the backhaul location in the shipping and receiving tent. 

Freight is generally shipped out from Fairbanks the next business day after arriving in town. Temperature sensitive or hazmat items will be held in Fairbanks and shipped at the beginning of the week (Monday or Tuesday) to avoid shipping delays over the weekend. 

Steps to ship your freight from TFS:

  • Submit a shipping request in our myToolik Support Request System, accessed under Support > Request Support > Shipping (TFS -> Fbks).
  • Alert station staff and the Logistics Department if you have special handling requirements at least one week in advance of sending shipment south.
  • Add a pre-paid shipping label to your package at TFS.
  • Tape and secure your package at TFS (no duct tape!) Be sure to tape frozen packages before freezing.
  • Place a Southbound Shipping Label on the package(s) with clear instructions. Clearly label items that must be refrigerated or frozen.
  • Bring your package to the FOAs or the Shipping and Receiving Tent
    • TFS staff needs to know you are shipping something south
  • When your package arrives at the Logistics Garage in Fairbanks, staff will either:
    • Bring your package to a carrier storefront,
    • Hand off your package to carrier during a scheduled pickup, or
    • Complete other instructions provided by the shipper.

FedEx

From previous experience, Toolik researchers have had the best experience shipping packages with FedEx, especially those that are time-sensitive, frozen, or contain hazardous items. ALWAYS check with the shipping vendor directly to ensure your package will be accepted by the carrier (e.g., FedEx does not accept styrofoam).

FedEx Tips

  • Styrofoam containers must be in a box.
  • FedEx does not accept shipments containing hazardous material on Fridays.
  • If you are shipping hazardous material, please allow two business days between southbound transit to Fairbanks and the external shipment date. You may need to purchase special packaging material.
  • DON'T ASSUME THAT WHAT YOU ARE SHIPPING IS NOT HAZARDOUS! Please check with the Logistics Department (tel: +1-907-474-5159). Your home institution should also be able to assist you.
  • Don’t use duct tape to secure your packages. Please remove old labels, barcodes, and hazmat stickers before sending a new shipment in old packaging! 
  • International shipments require additional paperwork.

FedEx shipping instructions Domestic | International

USPS

To ship a package via U.S. Postal Service, please print your label online at USPS Click-n-Ship. The USPS weight limit for domestic packages is 70 lbs; for international shipments the limit is 20 lbs.

USPS shipping instructions Domestic | International

UPS

UPS also offers easy shipping from Fairbanks. Please check with the UPS website for up-to-date packaging and shipping options.

UPS shipping instructions Domestic | International

Packages with existing tracking numbers with external carriers like FedEx or UPS will be scanned and entered into Toolik Field Station’s online freight tracking system, which you can access from your myToolik account. It will show the barcode number, when it arrived in the Fairbanks office, when it was shipped north to the station, and when it was received at the station. 

Tracking information provided by the shipping vendor usually shows delivery to the UAF campus mail room before the items actually arrive at the Toolik Logistics Department. Packages will then be delivered to the Toolik Logistics Department the following business day.

To see the status of a package, enter either the recipient's name or the carrier tracking number into the myToolik freight tracking system. If no results appear, your package hasn’t been delivered to our Logistics Department. Small items that easily fit in the mailbag (small parcels, letters, magazines, etc.) are not usually tracked in the Toolik tracking system.  

If you find the package in our tracking system, you can click the log to get a more detailed view. The timestamp under “Arrived in Fairbanks” will let you know when the package was added to our tracking system. The timestamp under “Shipment to TFS” will let you know when the package was loaded onto a northbound truck. The timestamp under “Delivery to TFS” will let you know when the package arrived at the station and that it has been processed by a TFS staff member. You will also be able to find information on the sender, delivery vendor, and a short description of the package.

If you are curious about the location of your package and it only has a timestamp for “Arrived in Fairbanks”, please call the Fairbanks Logistics Department at +1-907-474-5159.  If your package has a timestamp for “Shipment to TFS” or “Delivery at TFS,” please contact an operations staff member at the station about the location of your package.

To ensure compliance with International Air Transport Association shipping regulations, all hazardous material shipments that necessitate a handoff to or from Toolik Field Station staff will be coordinated with UAF Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management (EHSRM). Groups or individuals planning on shipping hazardous materials out of the station that will need any handling by TFS staff must coordinate with UAF EHSRM at +1-907-474-5617 in advance to ensure that shipments arrive at their destination on time. Caution must be taken as otherwise ordinary items might be classified as dangerous goods for shipping and transportation.

Label Images
Flammable Liquids Hazard Label
Excepted Quantity Label
Dry Ice Label

 

Radioactive materials require additional testing and documentation before they can be transported. Notify the on-duty Safety Coordinator (uaf-toolik-safety@alaska.edu) and the Logistics Department (uaf-toolik-logistics@alaska.edu) well in advance to make appropriate arrangements for shipping radioactive materials.

Contacts

Tracey Martinson
UAF Industrial Hygienist/Radiation Safety Officer
tamartinson@alaska.edu
Phone: (907) 474-6771

Scott Filippone
TFS Lead EMT/Safety Coordinator
smfilippone@alaska.edu
Phone: (907) 474-2457

On-Duty Safety Coordinator
UAF-toolik-safety@alaska.edu
Phone: (907) 455-2516

 

Arrival Days  to Toolik Field Station are Tuesday, Thursday, and Fridays unless permission has been arranged with the Station Supervisor Mike Reynolds.

Toolik Field Station is located at mile 284.5 on the Dalton Highway, 370 miles north of Fairbanks. 

Driving to the station takes 9-12 hours and requires travel on a largely unpaved industrial highway that primarily serves oil and gas operations at Prudhoe Bay. Cell reception is limited on the Dalton Highway; consider bringing satellite phones or other communication devices like the Garmin InReach for emergency communication when traveling to/from the station. Also consider obtaining a CB radio for your vehicle to communicate with other drivers on the Dalton Highway. 

Challenging conditions are often encountered on the drive, including, but not limited to: mud, ice, snow, washboard, dust, heavy industrial traffic, fog, smoke, soft shoulders, and steep grades. Passengers must be prepared to travel slowly, yield to industrial traffic, and change flat tires.

The majority of our visitors — NSF or non-NSF funded researchers and staff — travel to Toolik via a fleet of NSF-owned, Toolik-managed Science Support trucks that travel between Toolik and Fairbanks on a set schedule. There are several methods of travel one may choose:  

  • Option 1, Year-round: Toolik-managed Science Support Truck from Fairbanks (requires truck reservation during the myToolik reservation process). 
  • Option 2: Toolik Taxi shuttle from Prudhoe Bay (requires reservation in your myToolik reservation and prior contact with operations staff)
  • Option 3, June-September only: Externally operated Dalton Highway Express service from Fairbanks (responsibility of the project to arrange and pay for directly)
  • Option 4:  Commercial rental truck or project-owned vehicle (responsibility of the project to arrange and pay for directly)

Note that no matter how you get to Toolik, you’ll need to have an approved reservation before coming for ANY overnight stay or have made prior arrangements with the Toolik Management Team for any other visits.

Trucks about to depart campus

Use the information below to coordinate your travel within Alaska to/from Toolik Field Station. Each user must arrange transportation to and from the station prior to arrival in Alaska.​


 

2023 truck schedule

 

  •  Field Season (May-September)
    • Toolik Trucks
      • Northbound trucks on Tuesday & Thursday
      • Southbound trucks on Tuesday & Thursday
      • During peak season additional trucks may be added.
    • Dalton Highway Express during June-August
      • Northbound on Tuesday 
      • Southbound on Wednesday & Sunday
    • Toolik Taxi
      • North and southbound on Thursday afternoon
  • Winter Season (October-April)
    • Northbound on Tuesday
    • Southbound on Thursday
    • Note: Trucks do not run every week in the winter
      • If there is a long stretch of time without a Toolik truck, projects can send a tote of supplies and equipment north with an external freight carrier. Check with the Logistics Department if you are trying to get something to the station outside of truck availability.
Truck Calendar

Our Logistics Garage is located at the back of Irving II, across from the back of the Margaret Murie Building.

Map of UAF's West Ridge Campus, with location of Toolik Garage highlighted The exterior of the Toolik Garage

Note: We are no longer located in the trailers. If you have any questions about where to find us please call us at +1-907-474-5159

  • Trucks depart from the Fairbanks garage at 9:00am
  • Please arrive at the garage at 8:15am for an orientation and completion of any necessary paperwork.
  • Reserve Seats when you make a housing reservation through your myToolik Account. Truck seats are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
  • Our fleet is mostly made up of 1-ton diesel or gasoline crew-cab pickups with enclosed toppers.
  • While our vehicles are well equipped for Dalton Highway travel, not everyone is comfortable driving in these conditions. The scheduled truck runs do not automatically include a driver; instead passengers share driving responsibilities during the trip. We do ensure that there is at least one comfortable driver in the vehicle.
  • Researchers age 25 and over without any significant driving violations are eligible to drive the Toolik science trucks. Any passenger that is uncomfortable or ineligible to share driving responsibilities should notify the Logistics Department when making their reservation. If a truck is without any eligible, experienced, or willing drivers, efforts will be made to arrange for one.
    • All drivers will need to complete a pre-departure form, supply a copy of their driver's license, and receive a driving orientation.
  • Toolik Field Station and the U.S. National Science Foundation require that drivers for our shared-use vehicles at the station have a valid driver's license from their home country and a clean driving record. We will request a photocopy of your license, upon arrival, and you will need to complete a TFS driver form.
  • All individuals who plan to drive TFS trucks should be aware that TFS does not cover insurance for your use of the vehicle. In the U.S., workers’ compensation usually covers costs for personnel who are injured during fieldwork. It is possible that you or your institution could be responsible for covering the cost of a vehicle incident or for medical costs for project members or others related to an accident. Foreign colleagues who have previously worked at Toolik have had to work with their institutions in advance to ensure that their institution is aware of their fieldwork and will cover unanticipated expenses so that the individual is not personally responsible.
  • Passengers are advised to pack ample food and drink for the drive. There are limited food options along the route, and not all groups choose to stop for meals. Before leaving Fairbanks, those in the truck may agree to stop at a local grocery store to obtain snacks for the drive north and any last-minute items. 
  • Cargo space in cabs of the trucks is extremely limited and luggage will need to ride in the covered bed. We provide garbage bags to protect luggage from dust.  Each passenger is allotted space for two personal bags.
  • We also use scheduled trucks to deliver general Toolik freight, so cargo space is limited. If you will have more than two bags, or any large or bulky items, please contact Toolik Logistics in advance. 
  • Additionally, if your cargo has special needs (Hazardous Material, Do Not Freeze, Keep Frozen, etc), please contact Toolik Logistics in advance.
  • Thursdays (June - September)
    • Depart Toolik 12:30 pm
    • Arrive in Prudhoe Bay 4:00 pm
    • Depart Prudhoe 6:00 pm
    • Arrive at Toolik 9:30 pm
  • If no reservations have been made for the Toolik Taxi, service will be canceled for that day. 
  • The Toolik Taxi is operated by station staff and is scheduled to provide service for:
    • Inbound Alaska Airlines flight 86 from Anchorage, arriving at 5:10 pm
    • Outbound Alaska Airlines flight 87 to Anchorage, departing at 6:05 pm
  • Reserve a taxi seat by selecting "Thursday Toolik Taxi- Fly to/from Prudhoe Bay" on your TFS Housing Reservation Form from the 'Arrival Method' and 'Departure Method' drop-down menus. 
  • Please note that regardless of the schedule, no taxi will be sent without prior reservation. 
  • Passengers arriving on inbound flights with an arrival time before 5:30 pm will need to wait in Prudhoe Bay before being picked up. We cannot guarantee an arrival at the airport early enough for the outbound flights before 5:30 pm.
  • The taxi is set up to service the afternoon Alaska Airlines flight 86 from Anchorage. If any other flight is used, you may have a significant wait or need to arrange lodging in Deadhorse for the next Toolik Taxi service. We pick arrivals up at the Alaska Airlines terminal unless other arrangements are made in advance with the on-duty station manager. You must let the station manager know if you are using a flight other than AS86.
    • We may be able to send a taxi for earlier flights, subject to approval before making reservations.
  • Dalton Highway Express is a small Alaska-owned business that specializes in summertime transportation June through August on Alaska's Dalton Highway. 
  • They provide northbound service for a fee from Fairbanks to Toolik Field Station on Tuesdays, and southbound service on Sundays and Wednesdays. Please check their website for an up-to-date schedule and prices or call them at +1-907-474-3555 to make a reservation. 
  • Travel time on the DHE takes roughly 12 hours between Fairbanks and Toolik.
    • Northbound - Depart Fairbanks at 6:00 am, arrive at Toolik at ~ 6:00 pm
    • Southbound - Depart Toolik at 12:00 pm, arrive in Fairbanks at ~12:00 am
  • For ease of scheduling, we recommend flying into Fairbanks the day before your northbound DHE departure and spending the night in a hotel in Fairbanks.
  • If you plan to rent a vehicle or obtain a Battelle ARO vehicle for your trip to Toolik Field Station, you will need to set up a fuel account to be able to fill up your vehicle at the station.   
  • Rental vehicle options:
  • Battelle ARO Contract Vehicle
    • Arrange with your Battelle Project Manager
    • Pick up in Fairbanks
  • Science Support Trucks
    • There are 6 NSF-owned, crew-cab, 4x4 science support trucks available for use by scientists working at Toolik.  Some of these trucks have toppers and others do not.  These trucks are for use only on the North Slope and do not travel between Fairbanks and Toolik. 
    • These vehicles are available for check out by residents who don't have their own transportation and need to access local sites (e.g. Kuparuk River, Imnaviat, etc.), and for transportation to and from Deadhorse.  Fuel for these vehicles is included. Please notify staff when a truck needs to be refueled.
    • Toolik Field Station and the U.S. National Science Foundation require that drivers for our shared-use vehicles at the station have a valid driver's license from their home country and a clean driving record. We will request a photocopy of your license, upon arrival, and you will need to complete a TFS driver form.
    • All individuals who plan to drive TFS trucks should be aware that TFS does not cover insurance for your use of the vehicle. In the U.S., workers’ compensation usually covers costs for personnel who are injured during fieldwork. It is possible that you or your institution could be responsible for covering the cost of a vehicle incident or for medical costs for project members or others related to an accident. Foreign colleagues who have previously worked at Toolik have had to work with their institutions in advance to ensure that their institution is aware of their fieldwork and will cover unanticipated expenses so that the individual is not personally responsible.
  • Bicycles
    • Toolik Field Station has a fleet of bicycles (and trailers!), available for use in-camp (in camp bikes) and out-of-camp (mountain bikes)  to reach field sites along the road system.  Bikes are for everyone to use unless they are specifically labeled (for example, EMT bike, Maintenance bike).
    • Mountain bikes are available for recreation and must be signed out prior to use.  Helmets and reflective vests are mandatory for any bike trips outside of the station. 
    • In-camp bikes can be used as needed on a first-come first-serve basis. If you see one on the pad, just grab it, and leave it anywhere on the pad for someone else to use! 
  • Snowmachines
    • During the winter season it may be necessary to travel by snowmachine to a site location.  
    • Snowmachines are available upon prior coordination and reservation.  Due to the limited availability of snowmachines, please coordinate with the TFS Managers during the planning process to determine  availability.  
    • Additionally, a project will need a permit allowing you to use snow machines on the north slope. Please see the permitting page. 
    • For more details on snowmachines, please visit the Maintenance, Equipment Support & Fabrication page.

Trucks & snowmachines

Camp bicycles

 

 

 Fuel Account

  • Project vehicles can not be refueled without an active fuel account. (Vehicles provided by Toolik will usually be refueled without an account)
  • Fuel accounts must be renewed annually and created before visiting Toolik. This is the link to the fuel account request form.
  • Unleaded gasoline and diesel are both available.
  • Fuel is not included in the Toolik user day rate.
  • Fuel is generally billed on a monthly basis in the summer, and quarterly in the winter months. Please contact uaf-toolik-business@alaska.edu for questions about fuel billing.