Vehicle placarding, marking and documentation requirements
This domain tests what must be displayed on the vehicle and what documents must be carried. Placards, also called danger signs, warn emergency services and the public about the hazards on board. They are required when the quantity of dangerous goods exceeds the threshold in the Rule. The exam expects you to know the type, placement, condition and removal of placards, and the documentation that must travel with the load.
Core rules and concepts
- Display the correct class diamond for each hazard above threshold, including subsidiary risk placards where required.
- Placards must be clearly visible, unobstructed, weatherproof and securely fixed. Emergency information panels may be required for certain classes and show the UN number and emergency code.
- The transport document and emergency procedure guide must be carried in the cab or another readily accessible place.
- Placards must be removed or covered when the goods are unloaded and the vehicle is purged of residue. A vehicle that still contains residue may still need placards.
Worked example
A tanker delivers 5,000 L of petrol, UN1203, Class 3, PG II. It must display Class 3 placards on both sides and the rear, and carry the transport document and emergency procedure guide. After delivery the tank is emptied but not purged, so the placards stay until the tank is gas-free because vapour still presents a Class 3 hazard.
Traps that cost marks
- Placarding only one side, or using a placard for the wrong division.
- Leaving placards on an empty, purged vehicle.
- Carrying documents in a locked toolbox instead of the cab.
- Forgetting subsidiary placards for goods with more than one hazard.