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Factsheet 37 – May 2008
D endorsements for carrying dangerous goods
If you're transporting dangerous goods, you usually need to have a dangerous goods (D) endorsement on your driver licence.
A lot depends on what you're transporting, how much of it and under what circumstances.
- If you're transporting dangerous goods for hire or reward (eg if you're a transport operator), you will need a D endorsement, except for 'small packages' of dangerous goods (up to 50 kg).
- If you're transporting dangerous goods as tools-of-trade and the quantities are under the limits in schedule 1 of Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005, you don't need a D endorsement.
- If you're transporting dangerous goods as tools-of-trade in quantities that are over the limits in schedule 1, you will need a D endorsement.
- If you're transporting dangerous goods for domestic or recreational purposes, you don't need a D endorsement.
For more information, read:
- Factsheet 67, Dangerous goods carried by transport service operators
- Factsheet 68, Dangerous goods transported as tools-of-trade
- Factsheet 69, Dangerous goods transported for domestic or recreational use
- section 9 of Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005.
Note: you must have the correct class of driver licence. If you transport dangerous goods in a heavy vehicle, see Factsheet 70, Heavy vehicle driver licences.
If you're not sure whether you need a D endorsement, phone our driver licensing contact centre on 0800 822 422 or contact your nearest NZ Transport Agency office.
First, complete a course
You'll need to provide a course certificate as evidence that you've successfully completed an approved course that teaches specialist knowledge and skills relating to the transport of dangerous goods. For a course provider near you, check this listing of course providers on our website, or phone the driver licensing contact centre on 0800 822 422.
Please note that you can't carry dangerous goods just because you've got the course certificate. The endorsement must be on your driver licence.
Next, apply for the endorsement
You can apply for a D endorsement at your nearest NZ Transport Agency driver licensing agent (participating offices of the Automobile Association, Vehicle Testing New Zealand, Vehicle Inspection New Zealand and On Road New Zealand).
You need to bring:
- a completed DL19 application form
- evidence of your identity (eg your current driver licence)
- evidence of your name and address (eg a recent bill or an account statement)
- a certificate showing you have successfully completed an appropriate and approved course (if renewing your D endorsement, this course certificate must be no more than 60 days old)
- a cheque, cash or EFTPOS card to pay the $37.20 application fee.
Please note that the D endorsement will be valid for up to five years. (The expiry date of your endorsement will be on the back of your driver licence.) To renew the endorsement, you'll have to complete another course (to stay up to date with any developments or changes) and apply again.
Eyesight requirements
You must prove that your eyesight meets the required standard. To do this, you can:
- present a satisfactory eyesight certificate issued by a New Zealand-registered optometrist (this certificate must be no more than 60 days old)
- present a satisfactory medical certificate issued by a New Zealand-registered medical practitioner (this certificate must not be more than 60 days old)
- pass an eyesight screening check at a driver licensing agent.
Note: the agents' eyesight screening machines eliminate the need for many drivers to be tested by an optometrist or medical practitioner. However, if you don't pass the screening check, then you must provide one of the certificates listed before your application can proceed. Some drivers choose to provide a certificate instead of taking a screening check.
Where you can find out more
- Email us: info@nzta.govt.nz.
- Call our driver licensing contact centre: 0800 822 422.
- Write to us: NZ Transport Agency, Private Bag 6995, Wellington 6141.
Quantity limits - Copy of Schedule 1 from Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005
| Schedule 1: Quantity limits for dangerous goods transported for domestic or recreational purposes, for use as tools-of-trade, for agricultural use or for a commercial purpose, but not transported for hire or direct reward. | |||
| Class or division |
Class or division name | Packing group+ | Maximum quantity* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explosives (except UN 0012, CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS) | — | 50 kg subject to other New Zealand legislation |
| 1.4S | UN 0012, CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS | — | 250 kg |
| 2.1 | Flammable gases | — | 250 litres water capacity |
| 2.2 | Non-flammable, non toxic gases; cryogenic liquids (except UN 1977, NITROGEN, REFRIGERATED LIQUID) | — | 25 litres water capacity |
| UN 1977, NITROGEN, REFRIGERATED LIQUID | — | 100 litres water capacity | |
| Non-flammable, non toxic gases (except cryogenic liquids) | — | 250 litres water capacity | |
| 2.3 | Toxic gases (except those listed below) | — | 50 litres water capacity |
| UN 1026, CYANOGEN; UN 1067, NITROGEN DIOXIDE; UN 1076, PHOSGENE; UN 1589, CYANOGEN CHLORIDE, STABILIZED |
— | 1 litre water capacity | |
| 3 | Flammable liquids | I | 5 litres |
| II or III | 250 litres | ||
| 4.1 | Flammable solids | I | 5 kg |
| II | 50 kg | ||
| III | 250 kg | ||
| 4.2 | Spontaneously combustible substances | I | No quantity permitted |
| Spontaneously combustible substances (Packaged as Dangerous Goods in Limited Quantities or Consumer Commodities only) | II or III | 50 kg | |
| 4.3 | Dangerous when wet | I | No quantity permitted |
| Dangerous when wet (Packaged as Dangerous Goods in Limited Quantities or Consumer Commodities only) |
II or III | 50 kg | |
| 5.1 | Oxidizing substances | I | 5 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 5 litres (liquids) |
| II | 50 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 50 litres (liquids) | ||
| III | 250 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 250 litres (liquids) | ||
| 5.2 | Organic peroxides Type B (Packaged as Dangerous Goods in Limited Quantities or Consumer Commodities only) |
— | 5 kg (solids, powders,etc); or 5 litres (liquids) |
| Organic peroxides Type C, D, E or F (As hardener for an organic resin or packaged as Dangerous Goods in Limited Quantities or Consumer Commodities) | — | 10 kg (solids, powders,etc); or 10 litres (liquids) | |
| 6.1 | Toxic substances | I | 5 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 5 litres (liquids) |
| II | 50 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 50 litres (liquids) | ||
| III | 250 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 250 litres (liquids) | ||
| 6.2 | Infectious substances (except portable toilet effluent, septic tank wastes and sewage screening sludge) | — | 5 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 5 litres (liquids) |
| Portable toilet effluent, septic tank wastes and sewage screening sludge | — | 250 litres or two portable toilets, whichever is the greater quantity | |
| 7 | Radioactive material | — | As permitted by Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material of the International Atomic Energy Agency or the requirements of the relevant regulatory authority |
| 8 | Corrosive substances (except batteries listed below) | I | 5 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 5 litres (liquids |
| II | 50 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 50 litres (liquids) | ||
| III | 250 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 250 litres (liquids) | ||
| UN 2794, BATTERIES, WET, FILLED WITH ACID, electric storage UN 2795, BATTERIES, WET, FILLED WITH ALKALI, electric storage UN 2800, BATTERIES, WET, NON-SPILLABLE, electric storage |
— | 250 litres (measured by the volume of the battery case) | |
| UN 3028, BATTERIES, DRY, CONTAINING POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE SOLID, electric storage | — | 250 kg | |
| 9 | Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles | I | 5 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 5 litres (liquids) |
| II | 50 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 50 litres (liquids) | ||
| III | 250 kg (solids, powders, etc); or 250 litres (liquids) | ||
| Mixed loads | The maximum quantity for a mixed load is an aggregate amount of 500, using the following units: kilograms (solids, powders, etc including the weight of the packaging), litres (liquids), litres water capacity (gases). The maximum quantity for a mixed load is exceeded if the quantity for any class or division in the load exceeds the limit specified for that class or division. |
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* Quantities specified as weights include the weight of the packaging. |
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