Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods: IATA DGD Form Completion Guide

Completing the Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods

The Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods (DGD) is the primary transport document for IATA DGR regulated air shipments. This multi-part form communicates essential hazmat information from shipper through freight forwarder to airline, and errors in its completion are the leading cause of dangerous goods acceptance rejections at airports worldwide.

Form Layout and Required Fields

The IATA DGD follows a standardized format with fields for shipper and consignee information, air waybill number, aircraft type declaration (passenger or cargo only), nature and quantity of dangerous goods, packing instruction references, authorization information, and shipper certification. Every field must be completed accurately, and blank fields where information is required constitute violations.

Dangerous Goods Description Entry

The description block requires information in a specific sequence: UN number, proper shipping name, hazard class or division, subsidiary risk (if any), packing group, quantity and type of packaging, net quantity per package, and packing instruction. Each element must exactly match IATA DGR Column entries for the declared UN number. Freight forwarders preparing DGDs must reference current edition tables for accuracy.

Common Completion Errors

The most frequent DGD errors include improper sequence of description elements, incorrect proper shipping names (using trade names instead of UN names), wrong packing instruction references, mathematical errors in quantity calculations, missing subsidiary risk entries, and shipper certification deficiencies. These errors result in rejection at the acceptance check, requiring correction and re-submission that delays shipment departure.

Overpack and Multiple Item Entries

When multiple dangerous goods items are combined in an overpack, each item requires a separate description line on the DGD. The overpack must be declared with “Overpack Used” indicated. Compatibility between items in the overpack must be verified, and the most restrictive packing instruction governs the overall package. Total quantities must not exceed aircraft type limitations.

Shipper Certification Requirements

The shipper’s certification at the bottom of the DGD is a legal declaration that the shipment has been classified, packed, marked, labeled, and documented in accordance with IATA DGR. The signatory must be trained in dangerous goods procedures and authorized by the shipper to sign. Electronic signatures are accepted by most airlines with appropriate validation systems.

Go Freight’s DGD Preparation

Go Freight prepares accurate Shipper’s Declarations for Dangerous Goods from South Florida. Our certified team ensures first-pass acceptance of DGDs with meticulous attention to the details that acceptance staff verify during the dangerous goods check process.