When is this licence required?
An explosives driver licence is required if a person is transporting explosives by road.
The explosives driver licence is issued for five years.
When is this licence not required?
An explosives driver licence is not required when:
- a person is only transporting explosives on mine sites.
- holders of shotfirers, fireworks operator, fireworks contractor and pyrotechnics (special use) licences transporting up to Category 2 loads of explosives and the explosives are:
- for their own use, and
- authorised under the licence to possess.
- holders of explosives driver licences issued in other Australian States or Territories. Interstate licences are recognised under the Western Australian regulations. There is no requirement to apply for mutual recognition of these licences to work in Western Australia as an explosives driver.
For further information on interstate explosives drivers' licence, refer to Mutual Recognition section.
Who can apply?
The applicant must:
- demonstrate a suitable driving record over the five years prior to making application
- be at least 21 years of age
- hold a current motor driver’s licence issued anywhere in Australia or New Zealand
- hold a current dangerous goods security card or recognised security clearance
- pass a medical assessment against the standards in Assessing Fitness to Drive – Medical Standards for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers 2022, not more than six months before the day the application is lodged
- pass an approved Explosives Driver training course not more than 6 months before the application which covers the following units of competency:
- TLID0014 - Load and unload explosives and dangerous goods
- TLID3015 - Identify and label explosives and dangerous goods
- pass the relevant offence requirements.
Applications can only be made online through the Safety Regulation System. Refer to Lodging the application for more information.
Required information
If you have recently submitted an application for a different licence type and items provided with that application are still valid, they are prepopulated by SRS for subsequent applications. This may mean you do not have to obtain a new medical certificate etc.
Applications must include (document must be no older than 6 months unless otherwise specified):
- Competency Training: Competency in units TLID0014 and TLID3015
- Medical Certificate: Assessed against the relevant standards
- Motor driver licence (MDL): Colour image of both sides of your motor driver licence
- Relevant Offence: Original or certified copies of any convictions or pending charges (may be older than six months)
- Dangerous Goods Security Card: Colour copy of both sides of your valid card
- WA Driving Record:
- National Police Certificate (NPC)
- Driving record of the past 5 years
Failure to provide the required documentation will delay processing of applications. Most applications are dealt with within 20 business days.
Application fees
The licence fee payable covers the five year period of the licence.
For information regarding application and renewal fees please see Dangerous goods fees and charges.
Applications can only be made online through the Safety Regulation System. Refer to Lodging the application for more information.
Complying with a licence condition
If you are granted a licence with a condition where a review is required, a notification is sent six weeks prior to the review due date. To comply with the condition, you must provide the documentation required by the review due date. Conditional compliance applications must be lodged online.
If you do not comply with the condition, you will be deemed unfit to perform the licensed activities on the grounds of your non-compliance with the condition and action may be taken to suspend your licence.
Applications can only be lodged online.
Lodging the application
The completed application form, together with supporting documents and the fee(s) payable to the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
You must apply online via the Safety Regulation System (SRS).
If you have an existing SRS ex account number (username), Log on to SRS
Enter your ex-account number and password and follow online instructions to complete your application
If you are unsure if you have previously registered as a user with SRS and may have an existing ex account number, please call 1300 489 099 to confirm in order to avoid the creation of an additional profile.
Having more than one ex account number can cause issues with your access to the Safety Regulation System and delays in processing your application.
If you are a new user, go to SRS new user
Register for an ex-account number (this will be your username).
Updating personal details
Show moreTo update your personal details, or to provide the department with information relevant to your licence, log on to Safety Regulations System. There is no fee required.
Mutual recognition
Show moreHolders of explosives driver licences issued in other States and Territories of Australia are deemed to be so licensed in Western Australia (WA). There is no requirement to apply for mutual recognition of your interstate licence even if you become a WA resident.
However, you are not prevented from applying for mutual recognition if you wish to obtain a WA licence.
This does not apply for holders of New Zealand explosives driver licences who must apply for mutual recognition of their licences.
For more information refer to Applying for mutual recognition
Public registers
Show moreThe licensing regulations create public registers which require information about licence holders and licences to be publicly available. The actual information published in each licence register depends on the licence type.
Typically the register includes:
- Licence number
- Licence holder
- Conditions on licence(if any)
- Expiry date of licence
Route selection
Show moreThere are general criteria regarding the transportation of dangerous goods and explosives. These are addressed in What are the route restrictions for dangerous goods and explosives transport?
