Dangerous goods licensing and training

When transporting dangerous goods in a large receptacle such as a tank, both the driver and the vehicle must hold a dangerous goods licence. Find out what you need to do to get a licence.

Instruction, training and supervision

If you are doing a task that is part of the transport of dangerous goods you are required to be trained, instructed and supervised for the task to ensure you are able to perform the task safely and in accordance with dangerous goods regulations.

If you are responsible for the management of dangerous goods transport you must ensure that before anyone undertakes the transport of dangerous goods

• they have been sufficiently trained to be able to perform the task safely and lawfully.
• they are instructed on what they are expected to do
• they will be appropriately supervised when doing the task

Managers also need to be trained to ensure that they are able to manage and supervise others doing these tasks.

There are no current mandated training courses for this, and businesses may provide their own training by experienced in-house people, or by a qualified external trainer. Businesses should ensure that the training is targeted for their operations, and that records of the training are kept.

If you are transporting dangerous goods in tanks or other large receptacles, you may also require a dangerous goods driver licence and dangerous goods vehicle licence for the vehicle.

Drivers who require a dangerous goods driver licence  also need to complete the course TLILIC0001 to obtain a licence.

Dangerous goods driver and vehicle licences

Dangerous goods transported in large receptacles present a greater risk for large quantities of dangerous goods to escape if there is a failure in the container, so dangerous goods driver and vehicle licences are required.

Large receptacles include tanks, tank compartments, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and bulk containers and are usually required to be placarded with Emergency Information Panels (EIPs).

Dangerous goods  transported in smaller containers such as drums, jerricans or gas cylinders with individual capacities that do not exceed  500 L or 500 kg do not require the driver or vehicle to have a dangerous goods licence, regardless of the aggregate quantity of dangerous goods. However, large quantities of dangerous goods in smaller packages are still a placard load and controls apply.

A dangerous goods driver licence AND dangerous goods vehicle licence is required if the vehicle;

• is carrying any quantity of dangerous goods in a receptacle with a capacity of more than 500 litres; or
• is carrying any receptacle containing more than 500 kilograms of dangerous goods.

Note: a receptacle is a container that holds the dangerous goods substance or article and is in contact with the substance or article. 

Dangerous goods licences are not required for some IBCs

A dangerous goods driver licence or vehicle licence is not​ required if:

• the dangerous goods are in IBCs; and
• the total capacity of the IBCs on the vehicle is no more than 3000 litres; and
• no IBC is filled or emptied while on the vehicle.

Note: Empty IBCs with residues of dangerous goods still present a high danger so this is based on the capacity of the IBCs, not the total quantity of dangerous goods in the IBCs.

A current dangerous goods driver or vehicle licence issued by any state or territory is recognised throughout Australia and allows you to drive or use a dangerous goods vehicle in NSW.

If you are transporting waste in NSW, you may also need a waste transporter’s licence.

Dangerous goods licences not required for transporting lithium ion batteries and battery energy storage systems

Under the ADG Code, batteries and battery energy storage systems (BESS) are defined as articles and not receptacles. A dangerous goods driver licence or vehicle licence is not required when transporting lithium ion batteries, including BESS units. This also applies to batteries and BESS units that store energy using similar chemistry to lithium ion batteries.

Note: When transporting more than 1000Kg of lithium ion batteries, or a BESS with a mass of batteries that is greater than 1000Kg, it is a placard load and controls apply.