When is a licence required?
The same criteria apply to both driver and vehicle licences.
A licence is required when transporting any receptacle with a capacity of more than 500 L, or which contains more than 500 kg of dangerous goods.
A licence is not required for transporting intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) with a total capacity of up to 3,000 L as long as they are not filled or emptied while on the vehicle.
Dangerous goods vehicle licences
A licence is issued for a vehicle that will be loaded with dangerous goods, such as a trailer, rigid vehicle, B-double trailer or a road-train trailer. Prime movers are not licensed.
A single licence is issued for each transport organisation and details of each vehicle are included on that licence. The licence is valid for one year and is nationally recognised.
To apply for a vehicle licence you must:
- provide information about the vehicle
- advise the class or classes of dangerous goods to be carried
- hold an insurance policy for the vehicle to cover clean-up and emergency services costs incurred in response to, and recovery of, any vehicle(s) and/or goods involved in a dangerous goods incident
- pay the licence application fee.
For tank vehicles you must also provide:
More information on application requirements is given in the application form.
Forward the completed form, along with the required information and application fee, to:
Chemicals and Radiation Licensing
Level 21
Office of Environment and Heritage
PO Box A290 Sydney South NSW 1232
or send by email to d.goods@environment.nsw.gov.au.
Dangerous goods driver licensing
To drive a licensed dangerous goods vehicle you must hold a dangerous goods driver’s licence. This licence is required when transporting dangerous goods in a receptacle with a capacity of more than 500 L or weighs over 500 kg.
You do not need a dangerous goods driver’s licence when:
- you are transporting dangerous goods in an intermediate bulk container and the total capacity of that container is not more than 3,000 L, or
- the intermediate bulk container is not packed or unpacked while on the vehicle.
Interstate dangerous goods driver licenses
A current dangerous goods driver’s licence issued by any state or territory is recognised throughout Australia. If you hold a current interstate dangerous goods driver’s licence, you are able to drive a dangerous goods vehicle anywhere in NSW.
To obtain a NSW dangerous goods driver’s licence you must complete your training in NSW within six months prior to submitting your licence application.
Applying for dangerous goods driver’s licence
To apply for a dangerous goods driver’s licence you must:
- complete the required training provided by an approved registered training organisation
- be certified as medically fit by a general practitioner
- have a satisfactory driving history
- provide identification (passport-sized photographs and a copy of your vehicle driver’s licence)
- complete and sign the application form.
The requirements for driving history and medical fitness are given in the licence application form.
Forward the completed application form, along with the required information attached and application fee to:
Chemicals and Radiation Licensing
Level 21
Office of Environment and Heritage
PO Box A290 Sydney South NSW 1232
or send it by email to d.goods@environment.nsw.gov.au.
Most licences are issued within five working days after OEH receives all the necessary information. Licences are normally valid for five years, but a shorter duration licence may be issued in certain circumstances.
Dangerous goods register of licenses
See the register of people and vehicles with current dangerous goods licences here.
