For four years I worked as a military logistics specialist in the Royal Danish Air Force (JMTO), moving cargo by air, sea, road and rail, much of it dangerous goods. This is the overview I wish I'd had on day one.
This page is an introduction, not legal or compliance advice. Always work from the current edition of the regulation and your organisation's procedures, and only if you hold the required training.
All four rule sets build on the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods – Model Regulations (the "Orange Book"), so the core concepts are shared.
| Mode | Regulation | Body | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🚛 Road | ADR | UNECE | Every 2 years (odd years) |
| 🚆 Rail | RID | OTIF | Every 2 years, aligned with ADR |
| 🚢 Sea | IMDG Code | IMO | Every 2 years (amendments) |
| ✈️ Air | IATA DGR (based on ICAO Technical Instructions) | IATA / ICAO | Every year |
| Class | Hazard |
|---|---|
| 1 | Explosives |
| 2 | Gases (flammable, non-flammable, toxic) |
| 3 | Flammable liquids |
| 4 | Flammable solids; spontaneously combustible; dangerous when wet |
| 5 | Oxidizers and organic peroxides |
| 6 | Toxic and infectious substances |
| 7 | Radioactive material |
| 8 | Corrosives |
| 9 | Miscellaneous (e.g. lithium batteries, environmentally hazardous) |