Electronic Shipping Document Placards or Decals

Why use electronic shipping documents?

The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations currently requires a physical paper shipping document to accompany most dangerous goods while they are in transport. Shipping documents include information on the dangerous goods being transported and give first responders the information they need to respond to incidents when they occur. Unfortunately, paper documents can be lost or destroyed, which can cause delays in emergency response.

Electronic shipping documents present several potential benefits, as they can be:

• easier to read
• simpler to update
• quicker to share with emergency responders
• integrated with other digital business processes
• more flexible and able to give Canadian businesses a competitive edge, and
• aligned with international regulations.

https://tc.canada.ca/en/dangerous-goods/electronic-shipping-documents

Are you interested in using electronic shipping documents?

Carriers interested in using electronic shipping documents instead of paper to transport dangerous goods must apply for an equivalency certificate. Find out how to apply.

If you meet the requirements, you will be granted permission to use electronic shipping documents for a two (2)-year period. Some of the requirements are:

• your company must have an existing electronic system in place. You will need to provide a demonstration of your system through a virtual meeting prior to issuance of equivalency certificate
• internet or cell connectivity are required at loading and unloading sites to update the electronic shipping document as dangerous goods are added or removed from the means of transport
• the electronic shipping document must be provided immediately upon request and must be communicated using two or more methods of information exchange, such as an electronic device, a single telephone call, a single electronic transmission (email), website or a web portal
• road vehicles must display a sign advising that electronic shipping documents are in use. The sign must include the unit number, the emergency telephone number and the equivalency certificate number. The sign (34 cm X 47 cm) must be displayed on the right side, left side and rear of the truck, for example:
  
• instructions on how to access electronic shipping documents must be available inside the road or railway vehicle
• companies are responsible for ordering and purchasing signs

The information provided above is not a comprehensive list of requirements. For further details on requirements for using electronic shipping documents, please send an email to tdgapprovals@tc.gc.ca.