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Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road 2004 - Legislation Changes
Legislation governing the carriage of dangerous goods by air, road, sea and rail both nationally and internationally is regulated by law.
New UK regulations, namely the Carriage of Dangerous Goods & Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004, (effective 10th May) will bring the UK in line with the rules for the rest of the EU (known as ADR) for the transport of dangerous goods
The new UK regulations will mean that consignments of dangerous goods transported by TNT Express Services throughout the UK will now be “regulated”. This was not the case for goods carried in accordance with the previous TNT policy which complied with the 1996 Dangerous Goods regulations.
When a package is categorised as ‘regulated’ it can only be carried by specially equipped vehicles driven by drivers qualified in the transportation of dangerous goods.
In order to meet the requirements of the new legislation, and provide customers with a service for the carriage of dangerous goods by road, TNT Express Services has made a considerable investment to train drivers and managers with the specialist knowledge and also to purchase equipment for our vehicles ahead of the new regulations. This will ensure a seamless service to customers when the new regulations become law.
The investment consists of:
- Training drivers so they can gain the relevant qualification to allow them to drive vehicles loaded with consignments of dangerous goods
- Training Depot personnel to manage the transportation of dangerous goods through the TNT network
- Equipping TNT vehicles with fire extinguishers, emergency spillage kits, wheel chocks, hazard-warning triangles, hi-visibility clothing for the driver and orange hazard warning plates for vehicles.
- Equipping depots and sortation centres to deal with any chemical spillage.
The costs of these new safety measures require the introduction of an option charge on each consignment of dangerous goods carried by TNT Express Services with the exception of Limited Quantity freight (smaller amounts of dangerous goods).
Safety is of paramount importance to TNT. We are the only Express Delivery Service provider to obtain the British Safety Council 5 Star Accreditation company wide and also their prestigious Sword of Honour which is the ultimate health and safety award, not just in Britain but worldwide.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q: Why did TNT introduce an option charge?
A: The surcharge is necessary to fund driver training and the investment in equipping vehicles to ensure we comply with the new regulations.
Q: Will consignments be guaranteed delivery in a specific time frame?
A: Throughout our collection, sortation and delivery cycle individual customer dangerous goods consignments are handled. Additional processes are now required to ensure that these loads are handled and consolidated in line with the new legislation, therefore next day delivery cannot always be guaranteed. However we will guarantee next day delivery of Limited Quantity (LQ) consignments.
Q: If an individual customer’s consignment does not need to be regulated why are they charged the option charge?
A: The option charge does not apply to LQ consignments. Other dangerous goods consignments will at some stage of the collection and delivery process be carried as part of a larger 'consolidated' consignment. This is when a combination of dangerous goods from a variety of customers is carried as one larger consignment, which qualifies as a 'regulated' movement.
Q: Does TNT offer a guaranteed service?
A: Yes - TNT Sameday offers this service in the UK while TNT Special Services offers an international service.
Q: When do loads need to be regulated?
A: Under Transport Category 2 the maximum quantity of dangerous goods that can be carried as an unregulated load is 333 litres or 333kg. Once this threshold is exceeded each individual consignment is classified as a regulated load. Under Transport Category 3 the threshold is 1000 litres or 1000 kgs.
Q: Why are all movements of dangerous goods being regulated?
A: Not all movements are regulated, it is only when the load limits on the vehicles are exceeded that a load becomes regulated.
Q: What are the essential changes between the old and the new regulations?
A: The main changes under the transport rules are in the load limits on vehicles. Under the old regulations you had two load limits - one for the container and one for the vehicle. Under the new regulations you only have one for the vehicle.
Q: What paperwork is the customer obliged to complete when using the services of TNT for the movement of a consignment of dangerous goods?
A: A customer who sends dangerous goods must:
- Package the goods within UN approved packaging (not required for 'LQ' freight)
- Label the packaging with appropriate class labels i.e. Flammable Liquid (not for LQ)
- Produce and give TNT a Dangerous Goods Transport document to accompany the consignment (not for LQ unless traveling by sea).
- Produce and give TNT a copy of the 'Instructions in Writing' (Tremcard).
- Complete a TNT consignment note for each type of dangerous goods declaring the UN number and volume of dangerous goods.
- Declare if a consignment is LQ and mark the package accordingly.
- Dispatch LQ consignments separate from other dangerous goods to ensure a guaranteed service.
- Dispatch non-dangerous goods consignments separate from other dangerous goods to ensure a guaranteed service
- Appoint their own Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor to advise on the consignment of dangerous goods.
Q: What happens if a customer failed to declare a dangerous goods consignment?
A: The customer could be liable to criminal prosecution by the Health & Safety Executive and could also face civil action from TNT Express Services.
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