DIGITAL TDG SHIPPING DOCUMENTS FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR DRIVERS

BY AMIT BHARGAVA

Modern life is enabled by the daily transportation of dangerous goods (TDG). A dangerous good is any substance or product that can pose a significant risk to health, safety, property, or the environment if not properly stored, transported, or handled. Most of the dangerous goods are transported by road during the first mile* or last mile. Some of these hazardous goods are essential to manufacturing and delivering products and services that our lives and lifestyles depend on.

Across Canada, it is estimated that more than 30 million TDG movements occur every year, and each movement of a dangerous good carries with it the potential to endanger human lives and damage the environment if an incident were to occur during its transport.

Public safety is the key driver for TDG shipping documents. TDG regulations were designed with public safety (people, property, and the environment) in mind and have been in place for almost 40 years. One of the key essentials of TDG regulations is that TDG shipping documents must travel with dangerous goods shipments. These documents come in handy when there is an incident, and first responders are called in to carry out emergency response. The first responders rely on this information to prepare an effective and efficient response to minimize the impact and save lives.

Paper is the problem. The sheer number of dangerous goods transported often makes TDG compliance seem like an onerous and time-consuming task. The requirements of having TDG shipping documents in paper format seem like a paperwork exercise, and everyone loses sight of the rationale for why such regulations exist in the first place - public safety. If we stacked all the TDG shipping documents created in Canada every year, the stack would be more than 12 times taller than the CN Tower.

There is a better way: go digital! For almost 40 years, we have been using paper TDG shipping documents, so it is hard to change our mindset; however, there is a better way - digital! First and foremost, digital documents can be accessed and shared quickly through multiple devices, so the driver must focus on their safety in case of an incident. When first responders receive complete and accurate information that they can read, they are much better prepared to save lives and minimize any impacts.

Another benefit of digital TDG shipping documents is the efficiency gained by reducing duplication of efforts. Drivers hardly enter any information except delivered quantities, and all they must do is update the workflow status by clicking a button. Transport Canada is encouraging Carriers and Shippers to go digital by participating in the Regulatory Sandbox Project focused on TDG shipping documents. Ask your company about going digital and making your lives easier!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Amit Bhargava is the CEO and Co-founder of EnviroApps Inc., Canada's pioneering digital TDG shipping documents provider. Amit founded EnviroApps to make sure accurate information reaches our first responders quickly so they can save lives. EnviroApps is making lives better by improving safety, ensuring compliance and saving costs — more info at www.enviroapps.ca

* First mile logistics: the transfer of goods from the manufacturer to a warehouse or distribution centre. Middle mile: moving goods from a warehouse or distribution centre to fulfillment facilities. Last mile: transferring goods from fulfillment facilities to a final destination.