Dangerous goods transportation refers to the shipping of products that present a risk to health, safety, or the environment during transport. In Canada, this activity is governed by the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992 and its accompanying regulations, administered by Transport Canada. The TDG Regulations classify dangerous goods into nine distinct classes based on the type of risk:
Dangerous Goods Transportation: Specialized Brokerage for TDG Shipments
Trans-Inter Logistik coordinates your dangerous goods shipments across Canada, the United States, and internationally through a network of carriers certified under TDG, IATA, and IMDG. Multi-modal service covering road, air, and ocean shipments, regulatory compliance, and a single point of contact for all your TDG shipments.
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What Is Dangerous Goods Transportation?
CLASS 1:
Explosives (ammunition, fireworks, pyrotechnic devices)
CLASS 2:
Gases (flammable, non-flammable, toxic, compressed, or liquefied)
CLASS 3:
Flammable liquids (fuels, solvents, paints)
CLASS 4:
Flammable solids and water-reactive substances
CLASS 5:
Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides
CLASS 6:
Toxic and infectious substances (including medical samples)
CLASS 7:
Radioactive materials
CLASS 8:
Corrosive substances (acids, bases, electrolytes)
CLASS 9:
Miscellaneous dangerous goods (lithium batteries, elevated-temperature goods)
Each class carries specific requirements for classification, packaging, labelling, and documentation, which also vary depending on the mode of transport used.
Our Multi-Modal TDG Transportation Services
Trans-Inter Logistik coordinates the transportation of dangerous goods across the three main modes used by Canadian shippers. Each mode has its own regulatory framework and its own network of specialized carriers.
Road Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Our road transport services partners are carriers certified under Part 6 of the TDG Regulations, with drivers holding valid training certificates and equipment that meets Canadian standards. Road remains the most common mode for dangerous goods in Canada, particularly for flammable liquids, industrial chemicals, and lithium batteries. For shipments to the United States and Mexico, our cross-border shipping services integrate the harmonized TDG/DOT requirements and the required customs documentation.
Air Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Air transportation of dangerous goods follows the strict rules of the IATA (International Air Transport Association) Dangerous Goods Regulations. Certain classes are forbidden in passenger cabin aircraft, while others require specific UN packaging and detailed documentation. This mode is ideal for urgent international shipments: medical samples, sensitive pharmaceutical products, prototypes containing lithium batteries.
Ocean Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Ocean freight of dangerous goods is governed by the IMDG (International Maritime Dangerous Goods) Code. This mode suits large-volume international shipments: industrial chemicals, bulk fuels, equipment containing hazardous fluids. Shipments can travel in full container load (FCL) or less than container load (LCL), with strict segregation requirements between incompatible classes onboard the vessel.
Why Entrust Your TDG Shipments to a Specialized Broker?
Transporting dangerous goods involves a regulatory layer absent from ordinary shipping. Working with a specialized transport broker gives you access to a network of already-certified, qualified carriers, without having to evaluate each provider individually. Four concrete advantages stand out:
Access to a network of TDG, IATA, and IMDG certified carriers. Every carrier in our network holds the certifications required for the mode and the classes they operate. You don’t need to verify permits, training records, or background checks — it’s already done.
Knowledge of documentation requirements. Shipping documents, safety marks, placards, UN numbers, training certificates: we know which documents accompany each type of shipment based on mode and class. Our carrier partners validate compliance before loading.
Multi-modal coordination under a single point of contact. For complex shipments combining road, air, or ocean, one contact coordinates every segment. You avoid the grey areas of responsibility between carriers.
Competitive rates through multi-carrier negotiation. Our aggregated shipping volume gives us access to rates you wouldn’t obtain by negotiating directly with a single TDG-certified carrier.
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Types of Dangerous Goods We Coordinate
Our carrier network covers the full range of TDG classes for common commercial shipments. The commodities most frequently shipped by our clients include:
- Industrial chemicals: solvents, acids, bases, electrolytes
- Lithium batteries and electronic products containing batteries (Class 9)
- Fuels, lubricants, and flammable liquids (Class 3)
- Compressed and liquefied gases (Class 2)
- Paints, varnishes, and adhesives (Classes 3 and 8 depending on composition)
- Medical samples and biological substances Category B (Class 6)
For dangerous goods in more restrictive classes (explosives, radioactive materials, certain toxic gases), specialized carriers and additional authorizations may be required. Contact us to confirm the feasibility of your shipment.
Responsibilities and TDG Compliance
The TDG framework clearly assigns responsibilities among the parties in the supply chain. Before shipping dangerous goods, it’s important to understand which role falls to whom:
- Classification of dangerous goods is the consignor’s responsibility. Under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, it is the consignor who must determine the class, packing group, and UN number applicable to their product, and provide proof of classification upon request from the Minister.
- Carriers in our network hold the required training certificates under Part 6 of the TDG Regulations, and their equipment (means of containment, safety marks, placards) meets the applicable standards.
- For classification of specific products or in cases of doubt, we recommend consulting Transport Canada or a specialized TDG consultant. Trans-Inter Logistik does not classify dangerous goods on behalf of its clients.
- In case of an emergency during transport: CANUTEC, the Canadian transport emergency centre, is available 24 hours a day at 1-888-CAN-UTEC (226-8832).
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents are required to ship dangerous goods?
At a minimum, a shipping document compliant with Part 3 of the TDG Regulations is required. It must include the UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, quantity, and consignor contact information. Depending on the class and quantity, safety marks on the means of containment (labels, placards), proof of classification, or an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) reference number may also be required.
Does Trans-Inter Logistik classify dangerous goods for its clients?
No. Under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, the responsibility to correctly classify a product (determining its class, packing group, and UN number) belongs to the consignor. As a transport broker, Trans-Inter Logistik coordinates shipments with the appropriate certified carriers once classification has been established, but does not perform the classification itself. For that step, refer to Transport Canada or a specialized TDG consultant.
Which modes of transport can move dangerous goods?
All four main modes (road, rail, air, ocean) can carry dangerous goods, each under its own regulatory framework: the TDG Regulations in Canada for road and rail, IATA for air, and the IMDG Code for ocean shipments. Trans-Inter Logistik coordinates road, air, and ocean shipments. The choice of mode depends on the class, the volume, the destination, and the urgency of the shipment.
Ready to Ship Your Dangerous Goods?
Request a free quote or schedule an initial consultation to discuss your TDG transportation needs. We analyze your shipment, identify the certified carriers best suited to your class and your mode, and propose a compliant and competitive solution.