Compliance Central

What does it take to get IATA dangerous goods certified under CBTA, and what changed from the old training system? In this episode, Marc Petillon sits down with Jennifer Perez, DGM USA's corporate training manager, to break down IATA CBTA training, the four-day class, the certification exam, and the 24-month renewal cycle.

Jennifer explains how IATA replaced accredited training schools and the various training categories with CBTA providers and function-specific divisions, why carriers and auditors now expect CBTA-certified staff, and how COVID led to virtual "face-to-face" classes. She also walks through a full class from day one to the exam, why you don't have to memorize the DGR, how to read an SDS without getting the classification wrong, and the number one reason people fail the exam. Plus: Jennifer gives Marc a live pop quiz to see if he was paying attention.

In this episode

00:30 Meet Jennifer Perez

01:39 From accounting to dangerous goods trainer

03:06 What are didactic skills?

06:42 From ATS to CBTA: what changed

09:35 Why carriers now require CBTA-certified staff

10:46 How COVID delayed the move to CBTA

11:52 Virtual CBTA training

13:34 Inside a four-day CBTA class and exam

16:34 You don't have to memorize the DGR

17:32 Reading an SDS and avoiding classification mistakes

19:56 How do you ship hand sanitizer?

20:39 The most common reason people fail

21:27 Online vs. in-person training

24:37 The 24-month renewal cycle

26:22 Comparing training courses apples to apples

27:51 Not sure what certification you need?

28:48 Pop Quiz, Marc

What should we cover next? Leave a comment and let us know what you want to hear more about.

Resources mentioned Dangerous goods training and certification: https://dgm-usa.com/dangerous-goods-training/

Hazmat consulting: https://dgm-usa.com/dangerous-goods-consulting/

DGM USA locations: https://dgm-usa.com/locations/

Talk to our team Not sure what certification you or your team needs? Email [email protected]

About Compliance Central

Compliance Central is the DGM USA podcast for shippers, compliance managers, and logistics teams who need to move dangerous goods safely and compliantly. New episodes every month.

Follow DGM USA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dgm-usa

DGM USA started as a family business. Marc Petillon’s uncle founded the original DGM in the Netherlands, and in the 90s Marc and his brother Jean brought the idea to the United States. In our first episode, Erin Levey sits down with Marc to talk about how that happened. He explains why Houston was the right place to start, how the company grew into Dallas and Atlanta, and what DGM USA does for shippers who have never heard of it.

Marc also talks about the principles the company was built on, the most memorable job in DGM USA’s history, and what still surprises him after three decades in the business. To finish, Erin puts him on the spot with Desert Island DGM: if he could keep only three things about how DGM works, what would they be?

In this episode
00:00 Welcome to Compliance Central
00:25 How Marc got started at DGM
02:37 Why Houston
03:18 Expanding to Dallas and Atlanta
04:50 How Dangerous Goods Management began
07:33 How dangerous goods regulations have changed
11:55 Working with regulators and the IATA innovation award
16:26 The DG-Matic: automated chemical repours
20:14 Why safety is in DGM’s DNA
22:19 What it takes to train a hazmat specialist
24:09 The 24-hour repour for an air charter
27:26 What still surprises Marc about the industry after 30+ years
31:59 Packing above and beyond the regulations
32:49 Desert Island DGM: Company Edition
33:53 Desert Island DGM: Personal Edition
34:47 Wrap-up: send us your topic ideas

Comment and let us know what you want to hear more of!

Resources mentioned
Our story: https://dgm-usa.com/about-us/
Chemical repours and the DG-Matic: https://dgm-usa.com/services/chemical-packing-solutions/dgmatic-repour-system/
Watch the DG-Matic in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HBP9WrcZ-g
Dangerous goods training and certification: https://dgm-usa.com/dangerous-goods-training/
Dangerous goods packing and crating: https://dgm-usa.com/services/export-packing-crating-services/
Hazmat consulting: https://dgm-usa.com/dangerous-goods-consulting/
DGM USA locations: https://dgm-usa.com/locations/

Talk to our team
Need help shipping dangerous goods safely and compliantly? Contact DGM USA: [email protected]

About Compliance Central
Compliance Central is the DGM USA podcast for shippers, compliance managers, and logistics teams who need to move dangerous goods safely and legally. New episodes every month.

Follow DGM USA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dgm-usa