What is ADR?
ADR is the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, concluded under the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in 1957 and updated every two years. It classifies, packages, labels and frames the transport of substances posing a risk to health, safety or the environment.
The 9 hazard classes
ADR splits goods into nine classes: explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidisers, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive material, corrosives, and miscellaneous dangerous substances. Each substance receives a UN number that determines its transport conditions.
The driver certificate
Driving an ADR-regulated transport requires an ADR training certificate. It certifies that the driver knows the safety rules, the risks and the right actions in an incident. This certificate must be renewed every five years, via refresher training and an exam.
Documents on board
The driver must carry the required documents in the cab — transport document, written instructions, ADR certificate, approvals — available in paper or immediately accessible electronic form. A key point during roadside checks.
ADR 2025
The 2025 edition of ADR, transposed in the EU by Delegated Directive (EU) 2025/1801, updates UN numbers, thresholds for certain substances and compatibility tables, in line with UN recommendations. Checking the applicable version is part of compliance.
- ADR = UNECE agreement (1957), updated every two years; ADR 2025 via Directive (EU) 2025/1801
- 9 hazard classes, each substance with a UN number
- ADR driver certificate required, renewable every 5 years
- In-cab documents: paper or immediately accessible electronic form
Keep your documents accessible, everywhere. Try dropfleet free for 14 days — no credit card, ready in 5 minutes.
Sources
This article is based on verifiable public sources: