Dangerous goods do not always look like, for example, a drum bearing a warning label. Even seemingly ordinary products – batteries, aerosols, paints, cleaning products, or even nail care products – may be classified as dangerous goods for transport. This means that additional requirements must be taken into account when arranging transportation.

This is one of the reasons why it is important to understand the nature of the goods before booking transportation. If information about dangerous goods only becomes available once the shipment has already reached a warehouse or terminal, the packaging, labelling, or transport solution may need to be changed. The result can be delivery delays and additional costs.

The Product Name Alone Is Not Enough

To determine which requirements apply to a particular shipment, accurate information about the goods is required. Depending on the product, this may include a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), UN number, dangerous goods class, packing group, and other relevant classification information.

The classification of the goods affects not only their labelling and packaging but also how and by which mode of transport they can be delivered to their destination. The requirements also differ depending on the mode of transport. ADR requirements apply to road transport, RID to rail transport, the IMDG Code to sea transport, while air freight is subject to its own dangerous goods transport requirements.

A small quantity of goods does not automatically mean that dangerous goods requirements do not apply to the shipment. The applicable requirements depend on the type and quantity of goods, the packaging, and the chosen mode of transport.

What Should You Know Before Booking Transportation?

It is important to inform us about dangerous goods in the initial transport request and provide all available information regarding the classification, quantity, and packaging of the goods. This allows the applicable requirements to be checked and the most suitable transport solution to be assessed.

ACE Logistics Latvia arranges the transport of dangerous goods by road, air, sea, and rail and coordinates transport possibilities with the partners involved.

At the same time, it is important to clearly distinguish the responsibilities of the parties involved. ACE Logistics Latvia does not classify customers’ goods as dangerous goods or prepare dangerous goods declarations on behalf of customers. The consignor is responsible for providing accurate information about the goods and their classification, as well as the documentation required for the relevant mode of transport.

The information required in the transport document must be provided in the official language of the country of origin and, if that language is not English, French, or German, also in English, French, or German, unless otherwise provided for by international road transport tariffs, where applicable, or by agreements concluded between the countries involved in the transport.

If there are any questions regarding the classification of the goods or the applicable requirements, these should be assessed together with the company’s designated dangerous goods specialist or safety adviser.

Planning to transport dangerous goods? Contact ACE Logistics Latvia and provide all available information about the goods and the required route. We will help you find a suitable transport solution.