Dangerous goods vehicle licensing

Overview

The ACT Dangerous Goods (Road Transport) Act 2009 (the Act) and ACT Dangerous Goods (Road Transport) Regulation 2010 (the Regulation) set out requirements for the transport of dangerous goods by road in the ACT.

The Regulation gives effect to the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail (the ADG Code) which sets out specific requirements for the transport of different classes of dangerous goods.

For an introduction to the requirements for transporting dangerous goods by road in the ACT and the classes of dangerous goods which may require a separate licence under other legislation, refer to the Transport of dangerous goods page.

The prime contractor for the transport of the dangerous goods is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle is licensed under the Regulation or under a corresponding law of another State or Territory if the vehicle will be used to transport loads requiring a dangerous goods licensed vehicle.

The prime contractor also has a duty under the ACT Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the ACT Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 to manage health and safety risks of the work, including loading and unloading the vehicle.

For further information about managing risks to health and safety, refer to the Managing safety page.

Loads requiring a dangerous goods licensed vehicle

Subject to the exemption for intermediate bulk containers (see below), a dangerous goods licensed vehicle is required if one or more of the receptacles containing the dangerous goods has a capacity of more than 500L or 500kg.

Other requirements set out in the Regulation and the ADG Code may apply regardless of whether the vehicle must be licensed under the Regulation.

Exemption for loads in Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)

If the dangerous goods are carried in IBCs (rigid or flexible portable packaging designed for mechanical handling) which will be removed from the vehicle before being filled or emptied, a dangerous goods licensed vehicle is only required if the total quantity of dangerous goods in the load is more than 3,000L.

However, the packaging will only be recognised as an IBC if it meets all of the requirements set out in Section 17 of the Regulation.

Non-load carrying vehicles

An ACT dangerous goods vehicle licence cannot be granted for a prime mover or a converter dolly, being vehicles which have no load-carrying capacity when a semi-trailer is not attached.

If a prime mover or converter dolly will be used in connection with a semi-trailer carrying a load that requires the use of a dangerous goods licensed vehicle, it is the semi-trailer which must be licensed for that purpose.

Interstate vehicles

An ACT dangerous goods vehicle licence will not be granted for a vehicle which is presently registered in a State or Territory other than the ACT or which is presently licensed under an interstate dangerous goods vehicle licence.

However, a current and valid interstate dangerous goods vehicle licence allows the use of the vehicle as a dangerous goods licensed vehicle in the ACT, subject to the terms and conditions shown on that licence.

Before making your application

You should contact WorkSafe ACT before making your application if you are subject to an order made by an Australian court of law which places conditions or restrictions on your involvement in the transport of dangerous goods.

If you are prohibited by court order from one or more activities which constitute involvement in the transport of dangerous goods, WorkSafe ACT cannot grant you a licence. For further information, refer to the Transport of dangerous goods page.

As fees paid for an ACT dangerous goods vehicle licence application are not refundable, you should check that the vehicle and its equipment will meet the requirements set out in the ACT legislation and the ADG Code before making your application.

In making an application for an ACT dangerous goods vehicle licence, you are deemed to agree to the collection and use of your personal information and to the details of the licence being published in a public register if your application is approved (see below).

If you have any concerns about the collection, use or publication of your personal information, you should contact WorkSafe ACT before making your application.

WorkSafe ACT does not allow the substitution of alternate vehicles during the application process. If you want to add additional vehicles to an application after it has been submitted, you should contact WorkSafe ACT for advice of the additional fees and processing time involved.

After making your application

WorkSafe ACT will provide written confirmation that your application has been received, but you cannot use the vehicle to transport loads which require a dangerous goods licensed vehicle until you receive confirmation that a licence has been granted.

If the vehicle was previously licensed under an ACT dangerous goods vehicle licence which has passed its expiry date, you can still apply for renewal of the licence but you cannot use the vehicle to transport loads which require a dangerous goods licensed vehicle until you receive confirmation that the licence has been renewed.

Following the initial review of the application, WorkSafe ACT may ask you to provide further information about the vehicle and its intended use, to ensure that relevant requirements from the ADG Code are addressed during the vehicle inspection (see below).

Vehicle condition

You will need to provide a current Certificate of Registration from the ACT Road Transport Authority showing that the vehicle is roadworthy.

You will also be asked to provide additional information about the vehicle and the class(es) of dangerous goods that will be carried in each load compartment.

Vehicle suitability

You will need to provide a written statement confirming that the vehicle is suitable for use in transporting the identified class(es) of dangerous goods under the ADG Code and meets the requirements of Chapter 4.4 of the Code.

If the vehicle is a road tank vehicle (as defined in Section 1.2.1 of the ADG Code) and the dangerous goods being transported will be liquids or gases carried in the tank compartment(s), you will also need to confirm that the vehicle meets the requirements of Chapter 6.10 of the Code and has been fitted with the required compliance plates.

Vehicle insurance

You will need to provide a Certificate of Currency from your insurance provider showing that the vehicle is currently insured for the transport of dangerous goods for an amount of at least $5,000,000 in relation to:

• personal injury, death, property damage and other damage (except consequential economic loss) arising out of any fire, explosion, leakage or spillage of dangerous goods in or from the vehicle or any packaging transported in the vehicle; and
• costs incurred by or on behalf of a Commonwealth, State or Territory government authority in a clean-up resulting from such a fire, explosion, leakage or spillage.

If the vehicle can only be used to transport dangerous goods when connected to a prime mover (such as a tanker trailer), WorkSafe ACT will accept a Certificate of Currency showing that each prime mover which is to be used with the vehicle is insured for an amount of at least $5,000,000 in relation to the above events.

Vehicle inspection

A decision will not be made on the application until a WorkSafe ACT inspector has carried out an inspection of the vehicle and its equipment.

If the vehicle is presently due for a roadworthy inspection, that inspection must take place first and you will need to provide WorkSafe ACT with evidence from the ACT Road Transport Authority that the vehicle was found to be roadworthy before the WorkSafe ACT inspection will be scheduled.

At the time of the WorkSafe ACT inspection, the vehicle must be fitted with the appropriate placards, emergency information panels and safety equipment for the class(es) of dangerous goods identified in the application.

If the vehicle does not pass the initial WorkSafe ACT inspection, additional fees may be payable for re-inspection once the identified concerns have been addressed.

The inspector will discuss any concerns at the time of the initial inspection and advise whether these can be addressed by providing further information and documents (including photographs of the vehicle to show changes which have been made) or whether re-inspection of the vehicle will be necessary.

The inspector may also ask for further information or documents to address any concerns about the use of the vehicle or the handling of dangerous goods which may breach a safety duty under the ACT Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

Licence conditions

WorkSafe ACT may grant an ACT dangerous goods vehicle licence subject to any conditions considered necessary for the safe transport of dangerous goods by road.

If you are granted an ACT dangerous goods vehicle licence subject to conditions, you may request an internal review of the decision to place conditions on the licence. The approval letter will explain how you may request an internal review.

Licence document

If your application is approved, WorkSafe ACT will issue an approval letter which serves as the licence document. WorkSafe ACT recommends that a copy of the approval letter be carried in the vehicle when it is being used to transport dangerous goods by road under the licence.

WorkSafe ACT does not issue dangerous goods vehicle licence labels and does not require a dangerous goods licensed vehicle to display a licence label.

Register of dangerous goods vehicle licences

Register of dangerous goods vehicle licences.

Personal information

The Act authorises WorkSafe ACT to collect and use your personal information for the purpose of assessing an application for an ACT dangerous goods vehicle licence and regulating the transport of dangerous goods by road in the ACT.

The Act also authorises WorkSafe ACT to share your personal information with the competent authorities who regulate the transport of dangerous goods by road in other States and Territories.

WorkSafe ACT publishes the details of ACT dangerous goods vehicle licences granted under the Regulation in a public register (see below).

WorkSafe ACT may otherwise collect, use and disclose your personal information in line with the Territory Privacy Principles set out in the Information Privacy Act 2014.

If you have any concerns about the collection, use or publication of your personal information, you should contact WorkSafe ACT before making your application.

Forms and fees

WorkSafe ACT is presently developing a new dangerous goods vehicle licence application form.

The previous application form can no longer be used as WorkSafe ACT cannot accept payment of fees under a credit card payment authority.

For information about the current process to submit an application for an ACT dangerous goods vehicle licence and available payment methods contact WorkSafe ACT.

For current fees go to the Dangerous Goods (Road Transport) Fees and Charges Determination 2023.