• A TR Group Site
  • Help
  • Cart
Driving Tests DT logo small
Driving tests
  • Learner licence
    • Car
    • Motorbike
    • Heavy vehicle
    • Learner Licence Plus
  • Courses
  • Tourist
  • Resources
  • Learn
  • Resources
  • Learner licence
    • Car
    • Motorbike
    • Heavy Vehicle
    • Learner Licence Plus
  • Your courses
    • Enrolled courses
  • View all courses
  • Tourist
  • Resources home
  • iOS application
  • Android application
  • Contact us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Home
  • /
  • Resources
  • /
  • Dangerous goods
  • / What’s a dangerous goods or DG placard?

What’s a dangerous goods or DG placard?

A dangerous goods placard is a diamond-shaped warning sign or label displayed on a truck, trailer, portable tank or container that either conveys information about the specific hazards and risks of the goods carried, or is a generic warning that dangerous goods are carried. They are used by emergency services to understand what action to take if there’s a spill or crash.

Generic dangerous goods placard

Drivers who carry dangerous goods need to pass a D endorsement course and pay for the D endorsement on their driver licence.

Types of placard

Vehicles will either show a permanent sticker or placard where that’s the only type of dangerous good that will be carried, or will have a flip sign which can be changed to the required placard depending on the goods carried.

B-trains with four flip sign placards to cater for the primary and secondary risk in each part of the trailer combination

Do dangerous goods placards have to be displayed all the time?

Dangerous goods placards have to be displayed on a vehicle when it’s travelling on a road when certain weights, volumes or masses of dangerous goods are exceeded. For quantities under 50kg or 50 litres, usually no placard is required – these are dangerous goods in limited quantities or DGLQ.

If the vehicle is carrying containers that used to carry dangerous goods, and they are empty but they haven’t been cleaned, dangerous goods placards must still be shown.

If the vehicle is not carrying dangerous goods, DG placards must be removed or covered.

What are the specifications of a dangerous goods placard?

There are minimum dimensions of 250x250mm for placards for general freight and 400x400mm for tank wagons.

They must be carried either on the front and back of the truck or combination, or on either side.

By Darren Cottingham

Darren has written over 3000 articles about driving and vehicles, plus almost 500 vehicle reviews and numerous driving courses. Connect with him on LinkedIn by clicking the name above

‹ Why do trucks have a lot of gears?
How do you charge a forklift battery safely? ›
Tagged with: dangerous goods | Posted in Dangerous goods
  • DisqusDisqus
Recent Resources
  • How do you operate an excavator safely in the rain?
  • The Impact of Weather Conditions on Safe EWP Operation
  • Acoustic Emission Testing for Fibreglass Booms: Why It Matters
  • The Evolution of Gantry Cranes in Modern Manufacturing
  • Understanding Load Capacity and Weight Distribution on EWPs
  • How do you efficiently dig a trench? Tips from the pros
  • How to Choose the Right EWP for Your Project: A Comprehensive Guide
  • Pre-Operational Inspection Checklist for Gantry Crane Operators
  • The Importance of Harness Systems When Working on Boom Lifts
  • Safety Procedures for Working Near Power Lines with EWPs

Licences and Courses

  • Car
  • Motorbike
  • Heavy Vehicles
Car
  • Core
  • Behaviour
  • Parking
  • Emergencies
  • Road position
  • Intersection
  • Theory
  • Signs
Motorbike
  • Bike-specific questions
  • Core
  • Behaviour
  • Parking
  • Emergencies
  • Road position
  • Intersection
  • Theory
  • Signs
Heavy Vehicles
  • Class 2
  • Class 3-5
  • Core
  • Behaviour
  • Parking
  • Emergencies
  • Road position
  • Intersection
  • Theory
  • Signs

Vehicle and workplace training

  • About
  • Resources
DT Driver Training TR Group
About
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
Resources
  • Homepage
  • Driving Tests Android App
  • Driving Tests iPhone App
  • Getting your learner licence
DT Driver Training TR Group
Copyright 2010-2025 DT Driver Training Ltd, PO Box 12541, Penrose, Auckland, 1642. All rights reserved. Questions and images are used with permission from NZTA; question answers are proprietary.