ADR: Carrying Dangerous Goods by Road in the UK
ADR touches more loads than people expect — and getting it wrong is one of the few compliance failures that can have genuinely serious safety consequences, not just a paperwork problem.
Classification comes first
Every dangerous good is assigned a UN number, a hazard class (1 to 9), and, for most classes, a packing group reflecting the level of danger. That classification drives every other requirement — documentation, vehicle equipment, placarding, training and quantity thresholds all flow from it.
Documentation, vehicle and equipment requirements
A compliant transport document must accompany the load, stating the UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group and quantity, with written instructions for the driver.
Depending on class and quantity, the vehicle needs the correct fire extinguisher rating, orange-plate marking, hazard placards, and any class-specific equipment such as spill kits or particular PPE — and, for some classes, an ADR-approved vehicle or tank.
Driver training and the DGSA requirement
Drivers carrying dangerous goods above the small-load exemption threshold must hold a valid ADR driver training certificate — the core course plus any relevant specialist modules (tank, Class 1 explosives, Class 7 radioactive).
Separately, and often missed: any business that consigns, carries or handles dangerous goods above certain thresholds must appoint a qualified Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA) under ADR 1.8.3. This is a genuine legal requirement, not a recommendation — an AI reference tool or a knowledgeable colleague is not a substitute for a properly appointed, qualified DGSA who takes legal responsibility for advising the business and signing off its annual report.
☣️ Dangerous Goods & Abnormal Loads
ADR and STGO are two of the easiest areas to get wrong quietly — this keeps both visible.
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