ADR is the international agreement governing the transport of dangerous goods by road. It establishes requirements designed to ensure that substances and articles presenting hazards during transport can be carried safely between countries using a common regulatory framework.
ADR covers a wide range of dangerous goods, including fuels, gases, chemicals, corrosive substances, toxic materials, explosives, infectious substances and lithium batteries. Its requirements affect not only road carriers and drivers, but also organisations that consign, pack, fill, load or unload dangerous goods.
What does ADR regulate?
ADR establishes rules for the classification, packaging, marking, labelling, documentation and transport of dangerous goods. Dangerous goods are divided into nine hazard classes according to their principal transport hazard. Individual substances and articles are generally identified using a four-digit UN number.
The central Dangerous Goods List can be found in ADR Table A of Chapter 3.2. For each UN number, the table provides information that leads to requirements concerning classification, packing instructions, special provisions, tank transport, vehicle requirements and transport conditions.
ADR also contains exemptions and simplified provisions. These include Limited Quantities (LQ), Excepted Quantities and the exemptions related to quantities carried per transport unit under ADR 1.1.3.6, commonly known as the 1,000-point rule.
Who has responsibilities under ADR?
ADR assigns responsibilities to different participants in the dangerous goods transport chain. These include the consignor, carrier, consignee, loader, packer, filler, tank-container or portable-tank operator and unloader. An organisation can perform several of these roles simultaneously.
Personnel whose duties concern the carriage of dangerous goods must receive training appropriate to their responsibilities under ADR Chapter 1.3. Drivers of certain vehicles carrying dangerous goods must additionally hold an ADR driver training certificate.
Organisations involved in activities such as the consignment or carriage of dangerous goods, or related packing, filling, loading or unloading, may also be required to appoint a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA).
How often does ADR change?
ADR is normally revised every two years. New editions enter into force in odd-numbered years, such as ADR 2025 and ADR 2027. Amendments reflect developments in technology, new substances and products, experience from incidents and changes to the UN Model Regulations.
ADR is therefore much more than a set of rules for truck drivers. It provides an integrated safety framework covering dangerous goods from preparation for transport through loading and road carriage to unloading at the destination. For companies involved in European chemical logistics, understanding ADR is a fundamental part of managing dangerous goods safely and compliantly.