You may not be aware your item is dangerous. That’s why it’s important to check the different classifications and ensure your shipment is safe and compliant.
It’s anything which, if not handled correctly, could harm you, the driver, receiver, other shipments or the environment.
If you’re not sure whether your shipment is dangerous or not, ask the manufacturer or supplier for a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). If it contains a UN number, it’s dangerous goods. Alternatively, you can just contact us.
Some goods that are classified as hazardous materials may surprise you, such as aerosols, perfume or anything containing lithium batteries – like phones or laptops.
If packed incorrectly or damaged in transit, lithium batteries can short-circuit, causing them to overheat and catch fire.
The compressed gas that makes these items work is hazardous and can explode if packed incorrectly.
Oil-based paints, spray paints and some varnishes can overheat and catch fire in certain conditions.
Alcohol, which is a flammable substance, is also a crucial ingredient in almost all perfumes and colognes.
There are nine classes of dangerous goods, plus a few sub-classes. The class your shipment falls under will affect how you pack, label and transport it.
It’s the shipper’s responsibility to ensure dangerous goods are correctly declared, packed and labelled with the right documentation for the countries of origin, transit and destination.
Shipping dangerous goods requires special transport and handling services. This means extra charges will be added to your shipping costs.
TNT's qualified and experienced staff can assist with the transportation of dangerous goods within Australia. Please see Classes of Dangerous Goods for further information. Click here for Dangerous Goods Shippers Declaration form which is required when shipping dangerous goods within Australia by road*, rail or sea. Click here for Dangerous Goods Shippers Declaration form which is required when shipping dangerous goods within Australia by air.
*Effective October 1, 2021, the regulations surrounding the shipment of dangerous goods in limited quantities changed. Within these new changes, shipments of limited quantity dangerous goods travelling via TNT Domestic Road Services (Road Express and Technology Express) on mainland Australia and intra-state Tasmania will not be required to provide a Dangerous Goods Shippers Declaration (DGD) form. Please note shipments of dangerous goods in limited quantities travelling between Tasmania and mainland Australia will still need to supply the DGD form. To understand how to ship dangerous goods in limited quantities in compliance with government regulations, please visit the National Transport Commission website and reference guide.
Further information about the transport of dangerous goods can be downloaded here. If you are in doubt as to whether your shipment is acceptable, please contact TNT Customer Service on 13 11 50.