Limited Quantity (LQ) dangerous goods courier
Limited Quantity is the provision in ADR chapter 3.4 that lets dangerous goods packed in small inner containers, inside a suitable outer package, travel without a placarded vehicle or a vocationally certificated driver. It is marked with the black-and-white LQ diamond, and it is how most retail-sized paint, aerosols and cleaning products reach shops and sites.
What qualifies
Two things have to be right. The substance must be one that ADR permits to travel as Limited Quantity, and the quantity in each inner packaging must be at or below the limit set for that substance. The inner containers then go into a combination package which is marked with the LQ diamond.
The limit is per inner packaging, not per consignment, which is the point most often misunderstood. A pallet of correctly packed LQ goods is still LQ.
What LQ does and does not remove
LQ removes the need for an ADR vocational training certificate, orange plates, placards and an ADR-approved vehicle. It does not remove the need for the goods to be properly packed and marked, for the driver to have awareness training, or for the load to be secured.
If the marking is missing or wrong, the exemption does not apply — the goods are then simply undeclared dangerous goods, which is a far worse position than declaring them properly in the first place.
This page explains the framework; it is not a compliance opinion on your consignment. Send us the UN number, the packing group and the weight or volume per package and we will tell you in writing which route it travels under.
What X-Eagle will carry
We carry dangerous goods that fall under Limited Quantity, Excepted Quantity or the ADR 1.1.3.6 threshold today. For a placarded full-ADR load we will tell you so and help you find a carrier who holds the certificate, rather than take the job and work it out later.
Common questions
What does the LQ diamond mean?
It is the mark required on Limited Quantity packages under ADR chapter 3.4 — a black-and-white diamond with solid top and bottom segments. It tells the carrier the package qualifies for the limited quantity provisions.
Is there a weight limit for a Limited Quantity load?
The limits that define LQ apply per inner packaging rather than to the load as a whole, so a full pallet of correctly packed and marked LQ goods remains LQ. Separate provisions can apply to very large LQ loads and to carriage by other modes.
Who is responsible for LQ packing and marking?
The consignor. A carrier can refuse a consignment that is not correctly packed or marked, and should — carrying mismarked dangerous goods exposes both parties.
Send us the UN number and we will tell you how it travels
The UN number, the packing group and the quantity per package settle it in one call. We will put the answer in writing before anything is collected.