Applying for a dangerous goods driver licence

When is this licence required?

A dangerous goods driver licence is issued for five years and is required if a person drives a vehicle transporting:

  • dangerous goods in a receptacle with a capacity of more than 500 L

or

  • more than 500 kg of dangerous goods in a receptacle.

If transporting ammonium nitrate a dangerous goods security card (DGSC) or a recognised security clearance (certain interstate licences/permits recognised as equivalent to a DGSC) is required.

When is this licence not required?

A dangerous goods driver licence is not required if driving a road vehicle transporting dangerous goods where:

  • the person holds a dangerous goods driver licence issued in other States and Territories of Australia, or
  • the goods are transported in an intermediate bulk container (IBC), and
    • the IBC is not filled or emptied on the vehicle, and
    • the total capacity of IBCs containing dangerous goods on the vehicle is not more than 3,000 L, or
  • the goods are mineral ores and concentrates classified as UN 3077—Environmentally Hazardous Substances, Solid, N.O.S., or
  • the dangerous goods are being transported on a mine site, or
  • the dangerous goods are in packages.

For further information on interstate dangerous goods driver licences, refer to Mutual Recognition section.

For further information regarding mineral ores and concentrates classified as UN 3077, refer to Exemption No. 23 30 June 2010.

Who can apply?

The applicant must:

  • demonstrate a suitable driving record over the five years prior to making application
  • be at least 17 years of age
  • be a resident of Western Australia
  • hold a current Western Australian motor driver’s licence (provisional “P” plate drivers cannot hold a dangerous goods driver licence)
  • pass a medical assessment against the standards in Assessing Fitness to Drive – Medical Standards for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers 2022, not more than six months before the day the application is lodged
  • be trained in the national unit of competency TLILIC0001 Preparation to transport dangerous goods by road, not more than six months before the day the application is lodged (this is a two-day driver training course).

If you hold a Western Australian dangerous goods driver licence but no longer reside in the State, you may continue using the licence.  However, you will not receive a renewal notice.

If you have a court order prohibiting transport of dangerous goods by road, you may not be granted a dangerous goods driver licence.  Contact Resources Safety before lodging application.

Applications can only be made online through the Safety Regulation System. Refer to Lodging the application for more information.

Required supporting information

Applications for a dangerous goods driver licence must be accompanied by specific information. Before completing your application ensure you have high quality colour images of the following documents.

If you have recently submitted an application for a different licence type and items provided with that application are still valid, they are prepopulated by SRS for subsequent applications.  This may mean you do not have to obtain a new medical certificate or driving records etc.

The payment of fees must be by Visa or MasterCard.

Item Document details Date before lodgement date

Competency training

Statement of attainment or certificate of competency in the course TLILIC0001 Preparation to transport dangerous goods by road

Not more than 6 months

Medical certificate

Assessed against the standards in Assessing Fitness to Drive – Medical Standards for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers 2022

Not more than 6 months

Motor driver licence (MDL)

Colour image of both sides of the MDL issued from any Australian state or Territory or New Zealand

 

Photograph

Passport quality photo
The passport photograph must be a JPEG file

Not more than 6 months

WA driving record

National Police Certificate (NPC)

  • Note: Only NPCs obtained direct from the Police (WA, interstate, federal, or New Zealand) either online, or via Australia Post for WA NPCs are acceptable.
  • Third party provided NPCs (including Australia Post’s own National Police Check) cannot be accepted
  • Submitting an unacceptable NPC will delay the issuing of your licence and result in additional cost and inconvenience to you.

WA Certified copy of Traffic Infringements

  • Required if you have, or have not been issued with a WA MDL.
Not more than 6 months

Other WA driving record

Other notices issued, if applicable:

  • Excessive demerit points
  • Election of good behaviour
  • Grant of good behaviour
  • Breach of good behaviour
  • Disqualification, suspension or cancellation of MDL
In the last 5 years
Non-WA driving record The driving records are required from Australian States or Territories and/or New Zealand where an MDL was held within the past five years, and/or you incurred a traffic offence or conviction where an MDL was not held (refer to driving record contact details). Not more than 6 months
Proof of residency If a Western Australian MDL is not held but you reside in Western Australia, a copy of another form of residency evidence must be provided (e.g. utility bill standing in your name or similar) Recent

 

 

Failure to provide the required documentation will delay processing of applications.

The following information may assist in obtaining the required supporting information.

Driving record

Driving record contact details - list - 233 Kb

Driving record contact details for Australian States and Territories and New Zealand.

Driver training

Dangerous goods transport training providers - 140 Kb

Approved training providers.

Medical fitness

Dangerous goods and explosives licences medical certificate – application form - 86 Kb

Print out the dangerous goods and explosives licence medical certificate and take to your medical practitioner to complete. When making an appointment with your medical practitioner, inform them the medical assessment is for a dangerous goods licence.

Assessing Fitness to Drive - Medical Standards for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers is available from Austroads.

Mutual recognition

Holders of dangerous goods driver licences issued in other States and Territories of Australia are deemed to be so licensed in Western Australia (WA). There is no requirement to apply for mutual recognition of your interstate licence even if you become a WA resident.

However, you are not prevented from applying for mutual recognition if you wish to obtain a WA licence.

This does not apply for holders of New Zealand explosives driver licences who must apply for mutual recognition of their licences.

For more information refer to: Applying for mutual recognition

Application fee

The licence fee payable covers the 5 year period of the licence.

For information regarding application and renewal fees please see Schedule of fees and charges.

Amending the licence and updating personal details

To amend your licence, update your personal details, or provide the department with information relevant to your licence, log on to Safety Regulations System SRS. There is no fee required.

Renewing the licence

Renewal notices are sent three months prior to the licence expiry. You may apply for a renewal online after you have received a renewal notice.

Licences must be renewed prior to expiry. If you require a licence after a licence expires, you must apply for a new one.

For more information refer to: Renewing a dangerous goods driver licence

Complying with a licence condition

If you are granted a licence subject to a condition requiring a review, a notification is sent six weeks prior to the review due date. To comply with the condition you must provide the documentation required by the review due date. Conditional compliance applications must be lodged online.

If you do not comply with the condition, you will be deemed unfit to perform the licensed activities on the grounds of your non-compliance with the condition and action may be taken to suspend your licence.

Applications can only be lodged online.

Lodging the application

The completed application form, together with supporting documents and the fee(s) payable to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.

You must apply online via the Safety Regulation System (SRS).

If you have an existing SRS Ex account, Log on to SRS 
Enter your Ex-Account number and password and follow online instructions to complete your application

If you are a new user go to SRS new user
Register for an ex-Account number.

Contact details

For any enquiries please contact Dangerous Goods Licensing:
Phone: (08) 6251 2300
Email: cso@dmirs.wa.gov.au

Public Registers

The licensing regulations create public registers which require information about licence holders and licences to be publicly available.  The actual information published in each licence register depends on the licence type.

Typically the register includes:

  • Licence number
  • Licence holder
  • Conditions on licence(if any)
  • Expiry date of licence

Route selection

There are general criteria regarding the transportation of dangerous goods and explosives. These are addressed in What are the route restrictions for dangerous goods and explosives transport?

Other guidance

Road transport in receptacles of more than 500 L or kg - dangerous goods safety guide - 866 Kb

This safety guide assists those transporting packaged dangerous goods by road in receptacles (e.g. packages, cylinders) with a capacity of 500 litres or more or net mass of 500 kilograms or more (i.e. 500 L or kg).

Road transport in receptacles of 500 L or kg or less - dangerous goods safety guide - 665 Kb

This safety guide assists those transporting packaged dangerous goods by road in receptacles (e.g. packages, cylinders) with a capacity of 500 litres or less or net mass of 500 kilograms or less (i.e. 500 L or kg).

Applicable legislation

The Dangerous Goods Safety (Road and Rail Transport of Non-Explosives) Regulations 2007 adopt the Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG) and are aligned with the associated National Model Regulations.