Essential Requirements for ADR Transport Documentation
Any transport subject to the provisions of ADR (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) must be accompanied by a transport document. While the specific format of this document is not prescribed by regulations, the content and the order of certain information are strictly regulated and must comply with ADR requirements.
Document Preparation and Language Requirements
The transport document must be:
Prepared by the consignor/sender
Provided to the carrier
Written in the official language of the country of origin AND in English, French, or German
Important Exceptions:
For transport exclusively within a single country, the document may be solely in that country’s official language
For transport between the Netherlands and Belgium, the document may be solely in Dutch
Required Information and Correct Format
The transport document must clearly state what dangerous goods are being transported. The following information must be included in this specific order:
UN number preceded by the letters “UN” (e.g., UN 1098)
Proper shipping name, supplemented by the technical name in brackets if required
Label number(s) indicating the primary and secondary hazards (in parentheses)
For Class 1 substances, use the classification code instead (column 3b of Table A)
For radioactive materials, use the class number: 7
Packing group (I, II, or III) if applicable
Tunnel restriction code in capital letters and within parentheses (e.g., (C/D))
Standard Format Example: UN 1098 ALLYLALCOHOL, 6.1 (3), I, (C/D)
Additional Required Information
The transport document must also include:
Number and description of packages
Total quantity of each dangerous good (in kg or liters, and for Class 1: net mass of explosive substance)
Name and address of the consignor/sender
Name and address of the recipient(s)
Any declaration required by special provisions
When multiple recipients are involved, their names, addresses, and delivery quantities may be provided in other documents carried on board the vehicle.
Special Cases and Additional Requirements
Environmental Hazards
For substances classified as environmentally hazardous under 2.2.9.1.10 (except UN 3077 and UN 3082), the document must include the word “ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS”. For transport chains including sea transport, “MARINE POLLUTANT” may be used instead.
Empty Uncleaned Packaging
For empty uncleaned containment methods (packaging, tanks, etc.):
Add “EMPTY, UNCLEANED” or “RESIDUE, LAST CONTAINED” before or after the proper shipping name
Quantity information is not required
For empty IBCs, this can be simplified to “EMPTY [packaging type]” followed by required labels
For other containment methods, use “EMPTY [containment type], LAST LOAD:” followed by the standard information
When returning empty uncleaned containment to the sender, the original document may be used with the quantity replaced by “EMPTY, UNCLEANED RETURN”
Small Quantities Provision (1.1.3.6)
For transport under the 1000-points rule (1.1.3.6 ADR), the quantity of dangerous goods per transport category must be specified in the document.
Transport Chain
For transport in a chain involving air or sea transport using provisions of 1.1.3.4.2.1, the document must include the declaration: “Transport in accordance with 1.1.4.2.1”
Electronic Transport Documents
Electronic transport documents are permitted if they comply with section 5.4.0 of ADR and are “at least equivalent to paper documents.” This means:
Information must be accessible to inspection authorities or emergency services without the driver’s assistance
Clear instructions on accessing the information must be visible on the device
If the information is not accessible (e.g., due to a dead battery), it will be treated as if no transport document is present
The document does not need to be printable en route
Compliance and Documentation Solutions
Maintaining proper ADR transport documentation is essential for regulatory compliance and safety. Modern chemical management systems can help simplify the process of creating compliant transport documents while reducing the risk of errors that could lead to regulatory penalties.
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