Completing the transport document from the ADR point of view

When dangerous goods are carried, in addition to the documents that allow access to the occupation of transport operator, the ADR agreement provides for certain documents specific to these transports.

Completing the transport document from the ADR point of view

• the transport document covering all the dangerous substances carried.

• the large container or vehicle packing certificate. It is required when the carriage precedes a sea voyage (the multimodal form may be used),

• the instructions in writing.

• a means of identification. It must include a photograph, for each member of the vehicle crew. For example: identity card, driving licence, professional certificate, etc.

• the certificate of approval for each transport unit or element thereof. When dangerous goods are carried in tanks, or for the carriage of explosive goods,

• the driver's vocational training certificate appropriate to the type of transport or to the dangerous goods carried

• a copy of the competent authority approval, when organic peroxides or self-reactive substances for which approval is required are carried.

Below, we present the basic rules and the minimum conditions for completing the transport document. In particular, we focus on the declaration of the dangerous goods in the transport document.

The basic rules and minimum conditions for completing the transport document

Unless otherwise specified, any carriage of goods governed by ADR must be accompanied by the documentation needed to identify the dangerous goods precisely.

The use of electronic data processing (EDP) or electronic data interchange (EDI) techniques is permitted as an aid to, or instead of, written documentation. The condition is that the procedures used for the capture, storage and processing of electronic data meet the legal requirements as regards evidential value and the availability of the data during transport in a manner at least equivalent to that of written documentation.

When the information relating to the carriage of the dangerous goods is given to the carrier by EDP or EDI techniques, the consignor must be able to give this information to the carrier as a printed document as well, in which it will appear in the sequence below:

(some of the information is read from Table A of Chapter 3.2 of the ADR 2021 Agreement, starting on page 252, which you can access via the link: https://www.adradviser.ro/lib/pgjvt7/ADR-2021—vol-II-ku9p8xav.pdf)

1. The UN No., preceded by the letters “UN” – col.(1) of Table A

Example: UN 1263

2. The proper shipping name, supplemented, where applicable, with the technical name in brackets – col.(2) of Table A

• The text in CAPITAL LETTERS in column (2) is regarded as the proper shipping name,

• Where the proper shipping name ends with the letters N.O.S., the technical name of the dangerous goods or of the mixture (for example, the components of the mixture) must be added in brackets,

Example: UN 1263, PAINT

UN 3257, ELEVATED TEMPERATURE LIQUID, N.O.S. (BITUMEN)

ELEVATED TEMPERATURE LIQUID – proper shipping name

(BITUMEN) – technical name

c. For substances and articles of Class 1: the classification code given in column (3b) of Table A of chapter 3.2.

Example: UN 0337, FIREWORKS, 1.4S

If column (5) of Table A of chapter 3.2 shows label model numbers other than models 1, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6, these label model numbers must follow the classification code, in brackets;

Example: UN 0301, AMMUNITION, TEAR-PRODUCING, 1.4G (6.1, 8)

– For radioactive material of Class 7: the class number: “7”;

Example: UN 2915, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL, TYPE A PACKAGE, 7

– for lithium batteries of UN Nos. 3090, 3091, 3480 and 3481: the class number, “9”;

– For other substances and articles: the label model numbers shown in column (5) of Table A of chapter 3.2.

Example: UN 1263,PAINT, 3

Where there are several model numbers, the numbers following the first one must be given in brackets. They may also be indicated as applicable according to a special provision referred to in Column (6).

Example: UN 1045, FLUORINE, COMPRESSED, 2.3(5.1,8).

For substances and articles for which no label model is given in column (5) of Table A of chapter 3.2, their class according to column (3a) must be given instead.

Example: UN 3314 PLASTICS MOULDING COMPOUND, 9.

d. where applicable, the packing group assigned to the substance, which may be preceded by the letters “PG” (for example, “PG II”). It may also be preceded by the initials corresponding to the words “Packing group” in the languages used in accordance with the specifications on the language in which the transport document is drawn up.

Example: UN 3375, AMMONIUM NITRATE, 5.1, II

e. the number and a description of the packages, where applicable. UN packaging codes may be used only to supplement the description of the kind of package, (e.g. one box (4G));

We will describe the TYPES of packaging and their codes that may be used in the transport document in another article, dedicated to this subject.

Note: – The number, type and capacity of each inner packaging contained within the outer packaging of a combination packaging need not be indicated.

For example: a box contains 6 bottles of 1 litre:

• do not indicate the number and type of the inner packagings 6 bottles of 1 litre
• do indicate the number, type and capacity of the outer packaging: one box, 6 kg in total

f. the total quantity of dangerous goods bearing the same UN No. and proper shipping name. Where applicable, the packing group (expressed as a volume, as a gross mass or as a net mass, as appropriate);

Example: UN 3375, AMMONIUM NITRATE, 5.1, II ……………………..5 bags(5M) total 100 kg

NOTE 1: Where it is intended to apply section 1.1.3.6, the total quantity and the calculated value of the dangerous goods for each transport category must be indicated in the transport document in accordance with 1.1.3.6.3 and 1.1.3.6.4.

Example: UN1230 METHANOL, 3(6.1),II, (D/E) 3 jerricans 150 litres Transport category 2: 450 points

NOTE 2: For dangerous goods contained in machinery or equipment specified in this Annex, the quantity indicated must be the total quantity of dangerous goods contained therein, in kilograms or litres as appropriate.

g. the name and address of the consignor or consignors;

h. the name and address of the consignee(s). With the agreement of the competent authorities of the countries concerned by the carriage, when dangerous goods are carried for delivery to multiple consignees who cannot be identified at the start of the carriage, the words “Delivery Sale” may be entered instead.

i. a declaration as required by the terms of any special agreement;

j. for carriage that involves passage through tunnels with restrictions on the passage of vehicles carrying dangerous goods, the tunnel restriction code in capital letters and in brackets, or the mention “(-)”, as shown in column (15) of Table A of Chapter 3.2.

The location and order in which the elements of information required appear in the transport document may be freely chosen. However, those in (a), (b), (c), (d) and (j) shall be shown in the order listed, with no information interspersed other than that provided for in ADR.

Example of a description:

UN 1263, PAINT, 3, II, (D/E), 5 drums total 1000 litres

Recap: declaring or describing dangerous goods is relatively easy. It is done by reading the information. This step is followed by entering in the transport document the information from columns (1), (2), (5),(4) and (15).

The penalties are highest when this information, which allows the dangerous goods carried to be identified as precisely as possible, is missing. They can be ≈over 8000 RON, that is ≈ 2000€!

Note: more examples and special provisions for different classes and packagings are available here.

Format and language of the document

The document containing the above information may be the one already required by other regulations in force for carriage by another mode of transport.

In the case of multiple consignees, the name and address of the consignees, as well as the quantities delivered which make it possible to assess at any time the nature and the quantities being carried, may be entered on other documents which are used or on any other documents made mandatory by other special regulations, and which must be on board the vehicle.

The particulars to be entered in the document shall be drawn up in an official language of the consignor's country. In addition, for international transport, if that language is not English, French or German, in English, French or German. The exception is cases in which international road transport tariffs provide otherwise. Agreements concluded between the countries involved in the transport that provide otherwise are also an exception.

What do you do when, because of its size, a consignment cannot be loaded on a single transport unit? At least as many separate documents shall be drawn up. Otherwise, as many copies of the single document shall be drawn up as there are transport units loaded.

In addition, in all cases, separate transport documents shall be drawn up for consignments that cannot be loaded together on the same vehicle because of the prohibitions.

The information on the hazards presented by the substances to be carried may be incorporated in or combined with a transport document. A cargo handling document is also accepted. The layout of the information in the document must comply with the indications described above.

When a transport document cannot be used as a multimodal dangerous goods transport document, a document such as the one below is used.

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