Transport Canada has recently tested a few of the “24-Hour Numbers” provided on dangerous goods shipping documents and found some of these numbers to be invalid. The purpose of this bulletin is to remind shippers and importers of their obligations and to advise that CP will follow-up Transport Canada’s findings with periodic audits of its own, and will apply Tariff 2 or Tariff 3 to any invalid “24-Hour Number”.

Canadian Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations – 24-Hour Number Requirements

The Canadian Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR) requires that the consignor provide on the shipping document, an emergency telephone number (“24-Hour Number”) at which the consignor can be reached immediately for technical information about the dangerous goods in transport, without breaking the telephone connection made by the caller (TDGR Section 3.5 (1)(f)).

Consignor means a person in Canada who:

a) is named in a shipping document as the consignor;

b) imports or who will import dangerous goods into Canada; or

c) if (a) and (b) do not apply, has possession of dangerous goods immediately before they are in transport.

The “24-Hour Number” must be answered not only during office hours but must be answered at any hour of the day when the dangerous goods are in transport.

A consignor that uses the telephone number of an organization or agency other than CANUTEC must ensure the organization or agency can provide the required technical information for the dangerous good. If the organization or agency is located outside of Canada but is competent to give the technical information required in English or in French, the 24-Hour Number must include the country code, and if required, the city code (TDGR Section 3.5(2)).

Shipments for which proper shipping documentation is not provided are subject to Intermodal Supplemental Services Tariff 3, Item 21 for container shipments and Tariff 2, Item 50 for railcar shipments. Shipments will be stopped until the information has been corrected. Additional rail switching, lift or container storage charges may or will apply. The current penalty is $5,500.00 per container or railcar and will be assessed to the billable party.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Intermodal Supplemental Services Tariff 3

Railcar Supplemental Services Tariff 2

Regulatory requirements for shipping documents can be found on Transport Canada’s Web site.

For specific shipment and problem resolution inquiries, please contact our Customer Service Team at 1-888-333-8111. To trace your shipment, visit www.cpr.ca.

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