Dangerous goods are products that can harm people, property, or the environment during transport, and in Canada they are regulated under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and its Regulations, administered by Transport Canada. A courier can carry many of them, but only when the person who ships them classifies, packages, marks, and documents them correctly. This guide is general information to help you prepare for that conversation; it is not legal advice, and the regulations themselves are the authority.
Who Is Responsible for What
The rules assign duties to everyone in the chain. The consignor, the party that offers the goods for transport, carries the heaviest load: deciding whether the product is regulated, selecting the right classification, choosing compliant packaging, applying the marks, and preparing the shipping document. The carrier must check that the paperwork and marks are present, carry the documents, and respond properly if something goes wrong. A courier cannot make a non-compliant package compliant by driving it quickly.
The Nine Classes at a Glance
| Class | Covers | Everyday examples you might ship |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explosives | Flares, certain ammunition and pyrotechnics |
| 2 | Gases | Compressed gas cylinders, aerosols, refrigerant gas |
| 3 | Flammable liquids | Solvents, paints, some adhesives, fuels |
| 4 | Flammable solids, spontaneously combustible and water-reactive substances | Matches, certain metal powders |
| 5 | Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides | Pool chemicals, some bleaching agents |
| 6 | Toxic and infectious substances | Biological specimens, certain lab reagents |
| 7 | Radioactive materials | Certain medical isotopes and gauges |
| 8 | Corrosives | Acids, battery electrolyte, some cleaners |
| 9 | Miscellaneous | Lithium batteries, dry ice, environmentally hazardous liquids |
Class 9 surprises people most, because it covers items that do not look hazardous. A box of lithium-ion batteries or a cooler packed with dry ice is regulated cargo.
UN Numbers: The Four Digits That Identify the Product
Every regulated substance has a four-digit UN number paired with an official shipping name. The number appears on the package and in the shipping document, so a responder can look up the correct response from a distance. A few come up repeatedly in courier work:
- UN3373: Biological substance, Category B, the usual designation for diagnostic specimens. See our guide to hospital-to-hospital transport for how specimens move between facilities.
- UN1845: Carbon dioxide, solid, better known as dry ice, which matters for any cold-chain shipment that uses it as a refrigerant.
- UN3480 and UN3481: Lithium-ion batteries, shipped on their own or packed with or contained in equipment.
What the Shipping Document Must Show
For goods that need one, Transport Canada sets out the minimum content of the shipping document. In summary it includes:
- The consignor's name and Canadian address, and the date.
- The UN number, the shipping name, and the primary class, followed by any subsidiary class and the packing group where they apply, in that order.
- The quantity in metric units, and the number of small containers that carry labels.
- A 24-hour telephone number where the consignor, or an authorized agency, can give technical information immediately.
- A certification signed by an individual, with the person's name legible.
Some goods also require an Emergency Response Assistance Plan reference, or special instructions such as temperature limits. The consignor, the carrier, and the importer each keep a copy for at least two years, and electronic copies are acceptable. Always confirm the exact current requirements for your product on the Transport Canada site or with your trained staff, because details vary by substance and quantity.
Training: Not Optional for Anyone Who Handles Regulated Goods
Anyone who handles, offers for transport, or transports dangerous goods must be trained and hold a training certificate, unless they are working under the direct supervision of someone who is. Remote camera monitoring does not count as supervision. A certificate is valid for 36 months for road, rail, and vessel transport, and 24 months for air transport. It names the employer, the employee, and the specific tasks the person is trained for, along with an expiry date and both signatures.
Our team lists certification for the transportation of dangerous materials and infectious substances on the about page. When you book a regulated shipment, ask the dispatcher which classes the driver is trained to carry, and say so plainly in your request.
Seven Mistakes That Stop a Shipment
- Assuming "small" means "exempt." Limited-quantity and other exemptions exist, but they have conditions. Check that you meet every one.
- Forgetting Class 9. Batteries, dry ice, and some equipment qualify.
- Missing or wrong UN numbers on the package or paperwork.
- No 24-hour number, or a number nobody answers.
- Using packaging that was never tested for the product. Regulated goods typically need packaging that meets specific performance standards.
- Relying on the safety data sheet alone. The SDS helps classify a product (section 14 covers transport information), but the consignor is still responsible for the final decision.
- Booking without saying what is inside. A courier who learns about regulated contents at the door has to refuse the pickup.
How to Brief Your Courier
Before you book, have these ready: the product's shipping name and UN number, its class, the quantity, the type of packaging, and the pickup and delivery addresses. For shipments by air, add the airline or the flight deadline, since air carriers apply their own acceptance rules on top of the national ones. If you are preparing a package with no hazardous contents, our packing checklist covers the basics, and the glossary of courier terms explains shipping jargon you may meet on forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a courier carry dangerous goods in Canada?
Yes, when the shipper has classified, packaged, marked, and documented the goods in line with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, and when the driver is trained for the classes involved. Tell the courier what the goods are when you book.
What does a UN number mean?
It is a four-digit code that identifies a hazardous substance or group of substances. It appears on the package and the shipping document, and responders use it to look up the right action in an emergency.
Is dry ice dangerous goods?
Yes. Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide, shipped as UN1845 and classed in Class 9. Packages need ventilation because the gas must be able to escape, and they need appropriate marking.
Do I need a shipping document for every dangerous goods shipment?
Most shipments need one, but exemptions apply to certain small quantities and consumer products, with conditions. Check the exact provision for your product or ask a trained person before relying on an exemption.
How long does TDG training last?
A training certificate is valid for 36 months for road, rail, and vessel transport, and 24 months for air transport. Employers must keep training records current.
Who is responsible if the paperwork is wrong?
The consignor is responsible for classifying the goods and preparing the documents. Carriers also have to confirm that the documents and marks are present before they move the shipment.
Get the Questions Answered Before the Driver Arrives
Shipping dangerous goods by courier is routine when the preparation is done properly and awkward when it is not. Classify early, document completely, and tell your courier what is in the box. The few minutes you spend on that conversation prevent refusals, delays, and fines.
If you ship specimens, batteries, dry ice, or other regulated items in the Montréal area, tell us what you have through the quote form and we will confirm whether and how we can move it. You can also read how we handle medical shipments and aircraft parts day to day.
See also: research lab courier service and medical device repair returns.