The SLP licence card is the credential NSW fuel tanker drivers need to work. The Safe Load Program (SLP) covers safety when entering fuel terminals, and holding a current SLP card allows the holder to enter fuel terminals and other fuel storage facilities in Australia. If you load bulk petroleum product, this is the card the gate is looking for.
There is a strict prerequisite: you must first hold a current Dangerous Goods driver licence before you can sit for SLP. Here’s everything you need to know about the card, the course behind it, and how to get one.
- The SLP card is the Safe Load Program credential — it covers safety when entering fuel terminals
- Holding a current SLP card allows you to enter fuel terminals and other fuel storage facilities in Australia
- You must first hold a current Dangerous Goods driver licence before you can sit for SLP
- Course: $385 plus a $200 card fee payable directly to SLP Administration, four hours face-to-face at Kells Safety Centre
- Delivered at Wetherill Park; Wollongong when bundled with the DG licence course
What Is the SLP Licence Card?
The SLP licence card is the wallet credential issued when you complete the Safe Load Program. The program covers safety when entering fuel terminals — introductory training for drivers entering oil industry terminals and depots, intended to ensure the safety of personnel and the protection of facilities at fuel storage and distribution facilities throughout Australia.
The card is what allows the holder to enter fuel terminals and other fuel storage facilities in Australia. Fuel terminals require it as a prerequisite for anyone needing to enter a petroleum facility to load bulk petroleum product. No current card, no entry — which makes it a working requirement for every fuel tanker driver.
Unlike a dangerous goods driver licence, which is the EPA licence to carry bulk dangerous goods, the SLP card is the fuel industry’s terminal-access credential. The two go together: you need the DG licence first.
You Need a DG Licence Before You Can Sit SLP
The SLP training session requires a current Dangerous Goods driver licence. The licence — based on the TLILIC0001 unit of competency — is issued by the NSW EPA and is required for drivers carrying dangerous goods in bulk (a receptacle over 500 litres capacity or 500 kilograms net). It is valid for five years.
Kells Safety Centre delivers the two-day DG licence course at Wetherill Park and Wollongong. Once you hold the licence, you can enrol in SLP — or bundle the two with our DG and SLP bundle course.
What the SLP Course Covers
The four-hour course builds the knowledge drivers need to work safely at terminals and depots:
- Health and safety — safe work at fuel terminals
- Product properties — the petroleum products being handled
- Vehicles loading — safe loading of tankers, load restraint principles and Safe Work NSW-aligned Chain of Responsibility obligations, weight distribution and axle load compliance
- Tanker and gantry knowledge — terminal loading equipment and tanker configurations
- Training and assessment — completing the program and obtaining your card
How Much Does the SLP Card Cost?
The SLP course at Kells Safety Centre is $385 per person, plus a $200 card fee which is payable directly to SLP Administration. The course runs for four hours, face-to-face at our Wetherill Park facility. Wollongong delivery is available when bundled with the DG licence course.
Remember the prerequisite investment as well: the DG licence course must come first, at $618 all-inclusive (including EPA licence processing).
How Do You Get an SLP Licence Card?
- Hold a current DG licence — complete the TLILIC0001 course and obtain your EPA-issued Dangerous Goods driver licence
- Enrol in the SLP course at Kells Safety Centre (RTO 91528)
- Complete the four-hour face-to-face training — all five program modules
- Complete the assessment within the program
- Pay the $200 card fee to SLP Administration and receive your SLP card
Keeping Your SLP Card Current
Check the expiry details printed on your SLP card when you receive it, and confirm renewal requirements with SLP Administration. Terminals expect a current card — an expired card will stop you at the gate, so set a reminder and renew before it lapses.
Key Takeaways:
- The SLP card covers safety when entering fuel terminals, and allows the holder to enter fuel terminals and other fuel storage facilities in Australia
- You must hold a current DG driver licence before you can sit for SLP
- $385 course fee plus $200 card fee payable directly to SLP Administration
- Four hours, face-to-face at Wetherill Park; Wollongong when bundled with the DG licence course
- Check your card’s expiry and renewal requirements with SLP Administration
Your SLP Card and DG Licence Work Together
For bulk fuel work in NSW, the standard credential combination is a current Dangerous Goods driver licence plus a current SLP card. The DG licence is the legal authority to carry bulk dangerous goods — receptacles over 500 litres capacity or 500 kilograms net — issued by the NSW EPA and valid for five years. The SLP card is the fuel industry credential that gets you through the terminal gate.
The order never changes: DG licence first, then SLP. The SLP program builds on dangerous goods knowledge, so the prerequisite protects both the driver and the facility. Drivers planning a career in fuel transport often book the two courses together through Kells Safety Centre’s DG and SLP bundle, completing the TLILIC0001 course before their SLP training session.
Keep both credentials current. A lapse in either one stops bulk fuel work — the licence with the transport authority side, the card at the terminal gate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an SLP licence card?
The SLP card is the credential issued on completion of the Safe Load Program. The program covers safety when entering fuel terminals, and the card allows the holder to enter fuel terminals and other fuel storage facilities in Australia to load bulk petroleum product.
Do I need a DG licence before getting an SLP card?
Yes. You must have a current Dangerous Goods driver licence (TLILIC0001) to be able to complete the SLP training session. The DG licence comes first — it is the EPA licence for carrying bulk dangerous goods.
How much does the SLP course cost?
The SLP course at Kells Safety Centre is $385 per person, plus a $200 card fee payable directly to SLP Administration. The course is four hours, face-to-face.
Where can I get an SLP card in NSW?
Kells Safety Centre (RTO 91528) delivers the SLP course at Wetherill Park in Western Sydney. SLP is also available at Wollongong when bundled with the Dangerous Goods licence course.
Is the SLP card the same as a dangerous goods licence?
No. The dangerous goods driver licence is the NSW EPA licence to carry bulk dangerous goods (receptacles over 500 litres or 500 kilograms). The SLP card is the fuel industry credential that allows you to enter fuel terminals and other fuel storage facilities. You need the DG licence first, then the SLP card.
Do I need an SLP card for general freight work?
No. The SLP is specific to the fuel industry — drivers entering oil industry terminals and depots to load bulk petroleum product. General freight load restraint is a separate duty under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
Does the SLP card expire?
Your SLP card carries expiry details as issued — check the card and confirm renewal requirements with SLP Administration. Terminals require a current card, so renew before it lapses.
Can I do the DG licence and SLP together?
Yes. The Kells DG and SLP bundle course lets you complete both qualifications in one training period, with the four-hour SLP session run immediately after day one of the DG licence course at Wetherill Park or Wollongong.
