DGM (Dangerous Goods Management) is a global organization that provides its customers with services related to the safe and secure transport of Dangerous Goods. DGM provides the freight forwarding industry with services for dangerous goods packing, export packing, project packing, general cargo, on-site packing, chemical packing, IATA training and dangerous goods training. DGM prepares shipments in accordance with the modal specific dangerous goods regulations (49-CFR, ICAO-T.I., IATA, IMDG Code). DGM operates in over 24 countries worldwide mainly based in countries with dangerous goods needs. DGM has its headquarters in the Amsterdam, The Netherlands. DGM operates worldwide with major offices in The Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Denmark, South Africa, Houston, USA.
HISTORY
DGM was established in 1988 in The Netherlands by its founding father Frank Petillon. Frank Petillon saw an opportunity to offer professional expertise to the industry due to the complex and conflicting regulations for the transport of dangerous goods. Petillon’s early career was in the airline industry where he served with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for many years. He left KLM Royal and began working in the forwarding industry where he would eventually start his own forwarding company, Air Cargo Express, based in Amsterdam. Once ACE was well established he left the forwarding business to his son and began to concentrate full-time on the development of DGM initiatives. DGM started as a division of Frank Petillon’s forwarding company ACE – Air Cargo Express. In 1988 DGM broke away from ACE and became its own entity. DGM has expanded its scope of services over the years to assist air carriers: for technical assistance, cargo inspections, repack and re-document shipments in transit, or to prepare new sets of Shipper’s Declarations for Dangerous Goods by Air, under DGM’s responsibility. DGM also arranges ADR or IMDG paperwork for dangerous goods which are shipped as air cargo, but are carried by road on airline air waybill, or which must connect to ferry services (IATA/ICAO rules, versus ADR road, versus the IMO/IMDG maritime rules and regulations).
DGM Support was established in 1990 to provide the technical, marketing, and other supportive functions to the global network. It further acts as the umbrella organization for the global network. Using the franchise model for expansion and growth, DGM Support has established the DGM brand in nearly 25 countries. Today DGM is a network of independent companies operating in different countries, using the same brand name, operating principles, and standards.
Frank Petillon
In 1990, Frank Petillon went to his nephews, Jean Petillon and Marc Petillon to ask them to join DGM in Holland where they would receive advance training in dangerous goods procedures and regulations. He would later have them both head up his Houston, Texas office in 1997. That year DGM incorporated in Houston and became DGM Services, Inc. On October 30th, 2006, founder Frank Petillon, passed away. However, his vision continues to guide the growth and development of the DGM network around the world.
A few years ago, DGM became the dialogue partner to the IATA Dangerous Goods Board. IATA, a representative association of airlines, formulates the regulations for the transport of dangerous goods by member airlines based on the International Civil Aviation Organization-Technical Instructions (ICAO-TI). Today, DGM has an observer seat in the IATA Dangerous Goods Board. In addition to being an IATA Accredited Training School, DGM has also become an IATA Strategic Partner and an IATA Publications Sales Agent.
DGM has a network of training school accredited by IATA, DGM that contributes in creating safety awareness for transport and handling of dangerous goods shipments.
Mission Statement
To offer our superiors and partners services free of defects with competitive pricing. We strive to be the most reliable hazardous goods service provider group in the industry, which is proactively dedicated to serving our customers. While we are proficient in offering hazardous goods services, we endeavor to promote trade and we are committed advisors to our customers, partners and authorities. The DGM staff is an innovative and dynamic group that works with the most reputable organizations in our industry. All our offices are controlled and regulated to provide the same quality of service. We know that our continued success relies on our ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with our customers through ongoing investment in human resources and procedures.