Dangerous goods (also referred to as hazardous materials or “hazmat”) are substances, materials, or articles that pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment – particularly during transport, storage or handling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This covers a far wider range of products than many people expect. Common examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your product contains any of these elements, or if you’re unsure whether it qualifies, it’s always worth checking with a specialist before booking your shipment.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tShipping dangerous goods for the first time can feel overwhelming – the regulations are strict, the paperwork is detailed and the consequences of getting it wrong are significant. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. We manage the entire process on your behalf, from documentation, to repacking, labelling and transport compliance. Our job is to remove that complexity entirely, so you can focus on your business with complete confidence that your cargo is in safe hands.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tDangerous Goods Manager, Raphy Volkerijk\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
To make dangerous goods transport safe and manageable, an internationally recognised classification system groups goods into nine hazard classes based on the type of risk they present. This system underpins every regulation, label and handling requirement in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s a quick overview:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Knowing your hazard class isn’t just a formality – it determines how your goods must be packaged, labelled, documented, and transported. Some classes have strict quantity limits; others require specific vehicle types or handling procedures. Getting the classification right from the start is the foundation of a compliant shipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dangerous goods transport is governed by strict international and regional regulations. The regulations vary depending on how your goods are moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By Road<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For road transport across Europe, the governing framework is the ADR: the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. ADR sets out requirements for vehicle standards, driver training, packaging, placarding and documentation for cross-border road shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By Air<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Air freight follows the International Air Transport Association (IATA) <\/mark><\/a>Dangerous Goods Regulations. These are among the most stringent in the industry, airlines and airports have very little tolerance for non-compliance and incorrect declarations can result in cargo being offloaded or refused entirely. The IATA DGR is updated annually, so it’s essential to work with a partner who stays current.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By Sea<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sea freight is regulated by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code<\/a><\/mark>, published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO)<\/mark><\/a>. The IMDG Code covers stowage, segregation from other cargo, emergency procedures and documentation requirements for sea shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our team is trained and up to date across all three regulatory frameworks, ensuring your goods move compliantly, whichever mode of transport is right for your shipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documentation is one of the most critical and most mishandled aspects of shipping dangerous goods. To get started, we will need the following cargo specifications from you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n From there, our team will guide you through any additional requirements specific to your shipment, mode of transport and destination. We’ll let you know exactly what needs to be completed at your end and what we’ll handle on your behalf, taking the guesswork out of an otherwise complex process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, your shipment will need to be however, this is one less thing for you to worry about. We take care of all required labelling in line with internationally applicable regulations. Whether your shipment requires hazard diamond labels, handling markings or specific UN number identification, we ensure everything is correctly applied before your goods move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Incorrect or missing labels are one of the leading causes of dangerous goods shipments being delayed, rejected, or flagged by customs. By letting us handle this, you significantly reduce that risk<\/p>\n\n\n\n Size and weight limitations for dangerous goods are primarily determined by the mode of transport and subject to availability at the time of booking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you contact us, we’ll assess your shipment requirements and advise on the most suitable and compliant option available. Our multimodal capability means we can often find a solution even when one mode of transport presents restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why Ship Your Dangerous Goods with EV Cargo?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many shippers have to manage multiple providers: one for documentation, one for transport, one for compliance advice. With EV Cargo, it’s all under one roof. Our team combines deep regulatory knowledge with genuine operational capability across road, air and sea, so your dangerous goods shipment is managed end-to-end without the complexity of coordinating between different parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s what that looks like in practice:<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat documentation do I need?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Do I need to label my shipment in a specific way?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Are there size or weight limits?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n