Regulations and Tips for Transporting Commonly Used Hazardous Materials

To reduce the risk to people, the environment and property, you should exercise caution when transporting hazardous materials such as:

• propane, butane, acetylene and other flammable gases;

• gasoline, diesel, kerosene, methanol and other flammable liquids;

• air, nitrogen, helium and other non-flammable gases;

• oxygen and other oxidizing gases;

• car batteries, pool chlorine, fireworks, cleaning products, some glues and paint stripper.

To transport a hazardous material, you must:

• use a container designed for that particular purpose. For example, a window washer container cannot be used to carry gasoline;

• tie and secure the container to prevent it from shifting, whether it is full or not;

• avoid contact of the container with other objects;

• respect the maximum weight of the container and its contents (30 kg) (the total weight of the hazardous materials transported and the container does not exceed 150 kg).

While travelling, you must drive safely and adapt your driving to the road conditions. In addition, you must respect speed limits, braking distances and the ban on smoking or vaping.

Transporting a Propane Tank

Propane tanks must always be:

• attached so as to be completely immobilized, whether empty or full;

• in an upright position;

• in a space that is ventilated towards outside, such as in a partially open trunk of a vehicle or inside a car with a partially open window.

If a trailer or tent trailer is attached to the vehicle, it is recommended that the propane tank be placed at the front of the trailer or tent trailer’s exterior part.

A cylinder installed on the outside rear of a vehicle must be protected. The bumper must therefore be protected beyond the cylinder with materials that are at least as strong as the bumper.

A propane tank should never:

• be installed on the roof of a vehicle or attached to a door;

• be placed in front of the front axle of a motor vehicle;

• protrude from the vehicle on either side.

If you have an open vehicle such as a pick-up truck, you can carry a maximum of five propane tanks. However, the gross weight, i.e. the total weight of the tanks and their contents, must not exceed 500 kg, and the hazard warning label on each tank must be visible from outside the vehicle.

Propane Tank Capacity in Litres and Pounds

Propane tanks sold in Québec are identified in pounds, while transportation standards are indicated in litres. To give an idea of scale, the propane tank usually used for a BBQ has a capacity of 20 pounds, which corresponds to approximately 22 litres. Here is a chart that shows examples of propane tank weights.

Carrying an Air Cylinder for Diving

To carry a diving cylinder, you must ensure that the valve is protected. Similarly, pressure gauges and hoses must be removed or protected.

Sport diving cylinders have a gross weight between 15 kg and 19 kg. For sport diving, taking into account the 150 kg gross weight exemption, a diver could carry a maximum of 7 to 10 cylinders, regardless of the type of road vehicle.

Carrying a Car Battery

Before you leave, you must ensure that the battery is placed in a closed, secure and appropriate container. The weight of the container and battery must not exceed 30 kg in gross weight, and the combined weight of all hazardous materials transported must not exceed 150 kg in gross weight.

Additional rules regarding the transport of hazardous materials in a vehicle or combination of vehicles apply in the following tunnels and bridge tunnels:

• Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine, Ville-Marie and Viger, in Montréal;
• Joseph-Samson, in Québec;
• Melocheville, in Beauharnois.

It is prohibited to drive through a tunnel or bridge tunnel in a road vehicle carrying equipment that is generating a flame.

It is therefore recommended to close the valve of a propane tank before crossing this type of infrastructure.

Tunnel and Bridge-Tunnel Approach Signs

Signs posted near tunnels and tunnel bridges remind you of the permitted quantities of gasoline and propane.

To learn more, consult the brochure on Restrictions Respecting the Transportation of Dangerous Substances in Tunnels and Bridge-Tunnels (PDF 4.08 Mb).

Restrictions also apply when you take a ferry. Consult the regulations for transporting hazardous materials on a ferry .