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The foundation of ADR (the Accord governing international carriage of dangerous goods by road) carriage is the transport document with goods data the consignor is responsible for: UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group and the number and type of packages. The carrier adds the instructions in writing for the crew, the driver ADR certificate and the vehicle equipment, while a DGSA adviser watches over company procedures.
The ADR transport document
This is the document describing dangerous goods in the way ADR requires. In international practice its role is usually played by the CMR consignment note with the ADR data entered. The consignor is responsible for the content, because only the consignor knows the goods: UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, number and description of packages and quantities. A good data source is section 14 of the safety data sheet, where the manufacturer provides transport information. A wrong or incomplete entry is the most common reason an ADR truck is stopped at an inspection.
Instructions in writing: the crew emergency crib sheet
Instructions in writing are a standardised document following the ADR model, describing what to do in an accident or emergency. The carrier provides them, in a language every crew member understands, and the driver keeps them at hand in the cab. The instructions also determine what emergency equipment must be on the vehicle.
Driver and vehicle
A driver performing carriage under the full ADR regime must hold an ADR certificate, obtained after a course and exam and renewed periodically. For some carriage, for example in tanks, a vehicle approval certificate is additionally required. On top of that come fire extinguishers, emergency equipment and the marking of the transport unit.
Certificates around the goods
Packagings for full ADR must be certified, which you can tell by the UN code marked on the packaging. For lithium batteries there is also the test summary from the manufacturer. For exports outside the EU the ADR documents must be consistent with the customs declarations, so we collect the data set once and use it in both tracks, within the customs clearance service. How the border procedure itself works is described on our customs clearance hub.
The role of the DGSA adviser
Participants in the carriage of dangerous goods, with certain exemptions, are obliged to appoint a dangerous goods safety adviser, the DGSA. (source: unece.org) The adviser audits procedures, trains staff, prepares the annual report and incident reports. It is the adviser who settles classification doubts that should never be settled by intuition. If you regularly ship dangerous goods and do not know whether the obligation applies to your company, treat that question as urgent.
What to prepare before the order
UN number, proper shipping name, quantities, packaging type and the safety data sheet. With that set we organise ADR transport without guesswork: we assign the truck and driver, complete the transport and customs documents, and classification doubts go back to the consignor and their adviser before they become a problem on the road.
See also
- ADR transport to the UK after Brexit: documents on both sides of the border
- Shipping lithium batteries: UN 3480 and UN 3481 in practice
- Limited quantities (LQ): when dangerous goods travel without full ADR
- ADR classes in groupage: what an ordinary carrier will not take
- Service: ADR transport
Who is responsible for the details entered into the ADR transport document?
The consignor is responsible for providing the correct details in the transport document, as only the sender possesses full knowledge of the product attributes, including its UN number, proper shipping name, class, and packing group.
Step by step
- Extract data from SDS section 14. Obtain the UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group from the safety data sheet.
- Complete the transport document. Enter all required dangerous goods information into the CMR consignment note.
- Issue written instructions. Provide the emergency instructions in writing to the vehicle crew before departure.
- Check driver certification and equipment. Verify the driver holds a valid ADR certificate and that the vehicle equipment is complete.
- Ensure DGSA supervision. Confirm that the dangerous goods safety adviser monitors compliance with company procedures.
Definitions
- ADR: Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.
- DGSA: Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser responsible for supervising compliance procedures within the company.
- CMR: International consignment note confirming the contract of carriage by road, used to enter dangerous goods data.
- UN number: Four-digit identification number assigned to a specific dangerous substance or article.
When does this rule not apply?
Standard documentation rules do not apply when dangerous goods are transported under specific limited quantity exemptions.
The OTSL role
We review transport documentation prior to dispatch to ensure full regulatory compliance. Check our ADR transport service and explore our options for Odprawa celna z niekompletną lub błędną dokumentacją.
