Dangerous Goods Transport by Road: ADR Classes, Documents and Checks
Dangerous goods transport under ADR, explained for importers: the nine hazard classes, UN numbers and packing groups, required documents, safety advisers, sea and rail rules and a checklist.
Dangerous goods transport by road means moving substances that are a risk to health, safety or the environment in line with the classification, packaging, labelling, vehicle and driver rules of the ADR agreement (the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road). Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan and most countries on the routes from Turkey and China to Central Asia apply ADR.
If you buy chemicals, paints, gas cylinders, lithium batteries, crop protection products or vehicle batteries from Turkish or Chinese suppliers, your shipment is almost certainly covered by ADR. This guide explains the nine hazard classes, UN numbers and packing groups, the documents, the role of the safety adviser, and gives a checklist to go through with your supplier before loading.
What is ADR and who must comply?
ADR sets out how dangerous substances are classified, packed and labelled, and which vehicles and trained staff may carry them between contracting parties. The text is revised every two years, so check requirements against the current edition published by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and against the national rules of the destination country.
Duties are spread along the whole chain. The consignor (your supplier) is responsible for correct classification and packaging, the packer for marking, the loader for safe stowage, the carrier for a suitable vehicle and a trained driver, and the consignee for safe unloading. For an importer this means checking not only the carrier but also how the supplier prepares the cargo.
Dangerous goods transport by class: the 9 ADR classes
Every dangerous substance belongs to one of nine classes according to its main hazard. The class decides the packing group, the hazard label, vehicle requirements and the rules on loading different goods together.
| Class | Type of hazard | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explosive substances and articles | Fireworks, ammunition, cartridges |
| 2 | Gases (compressed, liquefied, dissolved) | LPG, oxygen cylinders, aerosols, refrigerant gases |
| 3 | Flammable liquids | Petrol, paint, thinner, alcohol, perfume |
| 4.1–4.3 | Flammable solids, self-heating substances, substances that emit flammable gas with water | Matches, sulphur, magnesium, sodium |
| 5.1–5.2 | Oxidising substances and organic peroxides | Ammonium nitrate fertiliser, hydrogen peroxide |
| 6.1–6.2 | Toxic and infectious substances | Pesticides, cyanide compounds, medical samples |
| 7 | Radioactive material | Medical isotopes, industrial radiography sources |
| 8 | Corrosive substances | Sulphuric acid, sodium hydroxide, battery acid |
| 9 | Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles | Lithium batteries, dry ice, asbestos, environmentally hazardous substances |
Some substances have more than one hazard; in that case a subsidiary hazard label is shown next to the main class. For example, some flammable liquids are also toxic.
UN number and packing group
Each dangerous substance or group of substances has a four-digit UN number: UN 1203 is petrol, for example, and UN 3480 is lithium-ion batteries. The number appears on the package marking, in the transport documents and on the orange plate of the vehicle. A wrong UN number can stop the whole shipment at the border.
The packing group shows the degree of danger: I is high, II is medium and III is low. Packaging must carry a UN mark that matches the packing group. Limited quantity (LQ) and excepted quantity (EQ) rules relax some requirements for small retail packs, but whether a product qualifies is decided from its safety data sheet (SDS).
Documents for dangerous goods transport
- ADR transport document: UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, number of packages and quantity; these details are also entered on the CMR note. See our guide to the CMR consignment note and TIR carnet.
- Instructions in writing: the crew's emergency card explaining what to do after an accident, kept in the cab in a language the driver understands.
- Safety data sheet (SDS): prepared by the manufacturer; classification and packaging are based on it. Ask your supplier for it at the order stage.
- ADR driver training certificate: proves the driver has completed the basic course; tankers and some classes need extra training. In Turkey this certificate is known as SRC5.
- Vehicle certificate of approval: required for tankers and vehicles carrying explosives; curtain-sided trucks must meet equipment requirements.
The vehicle must also carry fire extinguishers, warning signs, personal protective equipment and any extra equipment for the class, and be marked with orange plates and hazard labels.
The dangerous goods safety adviser
ADR requires companies that ship, carry, load or unload dangerous goods to appoint a dangerous goods safety adviser. The adviser checks classification, packaging, labelling, staff training and documents, writes an annual report and investigates incidents. In Turkey this specialist is called a TMGD, and national rules set the volumes above which one is mandatory.
For an importer, the point is that both the supplier and the carrier should have this control in place. Then the shipment is not stopped at the border because of a labelling or paperwork error, and you receive your goods on the agreed date.
Sea and rail: IMDG, RID and SMGS
ADR covers road transport only. If the cargo travels by sea, the IMDG Code applies; on European railways it is RID, and on the railways of the CIS and Central Asia the dangerous goods rules in Annex 2 to SMGS. Classes and UN numbers are largely the same, but container stowage, segregation and document formats differ.
In intermodal transport, the rules of each mode are followed separately, and the strictest rule usually sets the standard for the whole chain. Acceptance of dangerous goods on Caspian ferries and by container lines from Mersin or Antalya must be agreed with the operator in advance.
Pre-shipment checklist
Most errors in dangerous goods transport can be caught before loading. Go through these steps with your supplier:
- Get the product's SDS and confirm the UN number, class and packing group.
- Make sure UN-marked packaging is used and check labels and marks.
- Prepare the transport document and instructions in writing; add the dangerous goods details to the CMR note.
- Confirm that the carrier provides an ADR-trained driver and, if needed, an approved vehicle.
- Separate classes that must not be loaded together.
- Insure the goods; some policies exclude dangerous goods, so check the cover as explained in our article on cargo insurance and CMR liability.
- Check import restrictions in the destination country and the rules of transit countries.
For large tanks, industrial equipment or oversized dangerous cargo, planning must combine ADR with the rules for project cargo and oversized freight. If you import from China, our guide to shipping chemicals from China covers the Khorgos and Dostyk routes.
Frequently asked questions
Which documents are needed for dangerous goods?
The basic set is the ADR transport document, instructions in writing, the safety data sheet, the driver's ADR certificate and, where required, the vehicle certificate of approval. For an international shipment, the CMR note, invoice, packing list and customs documents are added.
Are lithium batteries dangerous goods?
Yes. Lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries are Class 9 and have the numbers UN 3480, UN 3481, UN 3090 and UN 3091. Lighter rules may apply to batteries installed in or packed with equipment.
Can dangerous goods travel as groupage?
Sometimes, but options are limited by the mixed loading rules: incompatible classes cannot travel in the same vehicle. Tell your forwarder the class early so they can check whether consolidation is allowed.
Is dangerous goods transport more expensive?
Usually yes. A trained driver, equipment, insurance and documents are reflected in the rate, and groupage options are fewer. The cost depends on the class, quantity and route.
BNK Lojistik, based in Muratpaşa, Antalya, organises ADR shipments from Turkey and from China to Central Asia, for example Class 5.1 cargo. The hazard class must be declared at the start, and whether a shipment can be accepted is assessed separately for each load; see our ADR dangerous goods service. Send the SDS and cargo details through our quote form or call us on +90 542 485 53 70 or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 485 53 70.
Updated: