ADR subject to conditions
ADR requests reviewed according to the goods, classification, packaging, available documentation and destination.
ADR transport
ADR dangerous goods transport covers the carriage by road of goods that may present a risk to people, property, infrastructure or the environment. They cannot be handled like ordinary freight because their nature requires a more rigorous assessment before any transport is organised.
ADR is the reference framework for the international carriage of dangerous goods by road. It identifies the conditions under which goods may be carried according to their classification, hazards, packaging, quantities, available documents and shipment obligations. The first step is therefore to establish whether transport is possible and under which conditions.
Dangerous goods can include chemicals, flammable liquids, gases, aerosols, paints, solvents, batteries, corrosive or toxic substances, oxidising products and other regulated goods. Precise identification is essential because visually similar goods may have very different requirements depending on composition, packaging or classification.
A request should provide the exact product, UN number where known, ADR class, packing group, quantity, weight, volume, type of packaging, number of packages or pallets, safety data sheet, transport documents, collection and delivery addresses, required dates and any site constraints.
Packaging is central to ADR transport. The goods must be prepared, packed, identified and presented in a manner suited to their nature. Incomplete information, unsuitable packaging or missing documents may lead to refusal or require further assessment before acceptance.
Loading and delivery conditions must also be checked: site access, schedules, local contacts, safety instructions, handling equipment, documents to be handed over and any traffic restrictions all affect the proposed organisation.
Every ADR request is reviewed case by case. Some goods may be accepted subject to conditions, while others require a specific organisation, additional information or may be refused because of their nature, quantity, destination or applicable restrictions.
ADR transport is therefore a regulated, technical service based on reliable information, correct identification, a feasibility review and coordination between the consignor, carrier and loading and delivery sites.
ADR classification
ADR divides dangerous goods into nine main classes according to the hazard they present in road transport: explosion, flammability, toxicity, radioactivity, corrosivity or environmental danger. Some classes are divided into subclasses to define the risk more precisely.
Classification determines transport conditions, packaging, marks and labels, documents, incompatibilities and requirements for the vehicle, driver and loading operations. The ADR class alone is not enough: the UN number, proper shipping name, subsidiary hazards, packing group where applicable and quantity must also be checked.
Class 1
Divisions 1.1 to 1.6
Covers substances and articles presenting an explosion or pyrotechnic hazard. The divisions distinguish mass explosion, projection, fire and sensitivity hazards. Vehicle, driver, loading and route requirements can be particularly strict.
Class 2
2.1 flammable · 2.2 non-flammable/non-toxic · 2.3 toxic
Covers compressed, liquefied, dissolved or refrigerated gases. Propane, butane, acetylene, oxygen, aerosols and industrial gases may fall into this class depending on their exact classification.
Class 3
Fuels, solvents, alcohols, paints…
Includes liquids classified as flammable under ADR, such as certain fuels, solvents, alcohols, paints, inks and chemicals. Flash point, composition, packaging and UN number determine the applicable conditions.
Class 4
4.1 · 4.2 · 4.3
Division 4.1 covers flammable solids and self-reactive substances, 4.2 substances liable to spontaneous combustion, and 4.3 substances which emit flammable gases in contact with water.
Class 5
5.1 oxidisers · 5.2 organic peroxides
Class 5.1 substances can promote or intensify combustion. Class 5.2 covers organic peroxides, some of which require strict handling, segregation or temperature conditions.
Class 6
6.1 toxic · 6.2 infectious
Class 6.1 covers toxic substances presenting ingestion, inhalation or contact hazards. Class 6.2 concerns infectious substances, including certain biological samples, medical products or waste.
Class 7
Radiological hazard
Transport is subject to specific requirements for package type, marking, labelling, documentation, radiation levels and carriage conditions. It cannot be undertaken by every carrier or standard vehicle.
Class 8
Acids, bases and corrosive products
Covers substances liable to damage living tissue or materials. Packaging, material compatibility, securing and handling precautions are essential to reduce leakage and contact risks.
Class 9
Lithium batteries and other hazards
Covers hazards not assigned to the first eight classes, including certain lithium batteries, environmentally hazardous substances, regulated articles and some elevated-temperature products.
Regulatory identification
The goods must be identified by their regulatory name and, in most cases, a four-digit UN number. ADR Table A lists the class, possible packing group, labels, carriage conditions and special provisions.
Degree of danger
For many substances, packing group I indicates high danger, group II medium danger and group III lower danger. This system does not apply uniformly to all ADR classes and must be checked against the exact classification.
Special regimes
ADR provides regimes for limited quantities, excepted quantities and partial exemptions based on quantities carried. Being below 1,000 points does not remove ADR classification or every obligation.
ADR partial exemption
Subject to conditions, ADR provides a partial exemption linked to the quantity of dangerous goods carried per transport unit. The ‘1,000-point calculation’ does not remove the goods’ ADR classification; it only relaxes certain obligations when all conditions are met.
1. Transport category
Each eligible dangerous good is assigned an ADR transport category. This category, together with the UN number and classification, determines how the quantity is counted. Where several dangerous goods are carried together, weighted quantities are added according to ADR rules.
2. Overall calculation
The threshold is not considered pallet by pallet or customer by customer. All ADR goods in the transport unit must be included. A small shipment may therefore contribute to an excess when loaded with other dangerous goods.
3. Groupage and distribution
In groupage and distribution transport, consignments from several customers may share one vehicle. A pallet may qualify for the partial exemption on its own while the truck is carrying other dangerous goods for other consignors.
The total ADR load in the vehicle is what counts. Several shipments may together exceed 1,000 points, so goods described as ‘below 1,000 points’ cannot automatically be accepted under that regime in a groupage network.
4. Obligations that still apply
This is a partial exemption, not the disappearance of the rules. Compliant packaging, package marks and labels, the transport document, staff training, safety equipment and other ADR provisions may still apply.
Drivet Transport International
ADR is the international agreement governing the carriage of dangerous goods by road. It covers classification, packaging, marking and labelling, documentation, loading and handling, vehicle equipment and the training and safety obligations of the parties involved.
ADR divides dangerous goods into 9 main classes: explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids and related hazards, oxidising substances and organic peroxides, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive material, corrosive substances, and miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles. Several classes are further divided into specific divisions.
A UN number is a four-digit identifier assigned to a dangerous substance, article or group of goods with similar transport characteristics. Together with the proper shipping name, ADR class, subsidiary hazards and packing group where applicable, it helps determine the transport provisions that apply.
Useful information includes the exact product description, UN number, ADR class, subsidiary hazards, packing group where applicable, quantity, weight, packaging, number of parcels or pallets, safety data sheet if available, collection and delivery addresses, required dates and any loading or delivery constraints.
ADR 1.1.3.6 provides a partial exemption linked to the quantity of dangerous goods carried per transport unit. Relevant goods are assigned to a transport category and, when different dangerous goods are carried together, the quantities are weighted and added according to ADR rules. The total must remain within the applicable threshold for the partial exemption to apply.
Yes, some ADR goods may be accepted in groupage when the network and carrier permit them and the relevant requirements are met. However, the quantity calculation is made for the entire transport unit, so dangerous goods belonging to several customers can accumulate and cause the 1,000-point threshold to be exceeded.
No. The 1,000-point rule is a partial exemption, not an exclusion from ADR. Requirements can still apply to compliant packaging, package marking and labelling, transport documentation, safety measures and the Chapter 1.3 training of personnel involved in dangerous-goods operations.
Limited quantities and the exemption under ADR 1.1.3.6 are separate regimes. Limited quantities are linked in particular to the permitted quantities per inner packaging and specific packaging and marking conditions. The 1,000-point calculation is based on dangerous goods carried in the transport unit and their transport categories.
It depends on the regime applying to the shipment. Fully regulated ADR movements may require the appropriate ADR driver training certificate. Under certain movements benefiting from the partial exemption in 1.1.3.6, the driver's basic ADR certificate may not be mandatory, while Chapter 1.3 training for personnel involved in dangerous-goods activities still applies.
A safety data sheet can provide useful classification and transport information, but it does not replace all transport checks or documents. The UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group where applicable, quantities and actual packaging should still be confirmed before the shipment is arranged.
Certain lithium batteries are classified in ADR Class 9 and have specific UN numbers depending on their type and configuration. The applicable requirements vary according to the battery, capacity, packaging, condition and whether it is shipped alone, packed with equipment or contained in equipment.
Yes. Drivet Transport International can review dangerous-goods movements within France and on European routes. Feasibility depends on the product classification, quantity, packaging, vehicle requirements, documentation, route and any restrictions applying to the journey or countries involved.
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