ADR transport of dangerous goods

Mainfreight transports almost all ADR goods. The exceptions are shipments of ADR Class 1 (Explosive), ADR Class 2.3 (Toxic Gases), ADR Class 5.2 (Organic Peroxides), ADR Class 6.2 (Infectious Substances) and ADR Class 7 (Radioactive). Also excluded are goods with a high hazard potential, which can be found in the appendix.

If the principal presents dangerous goods for transport, these must meet the legally imposed requirements. The principal has the following obligations:
•    To check whether the dangerous goods are accepted for transport in accordance with ADR;
•    Provide the transport and accompanying documents necessary for the transport;
•    Only use packaging, large containers and IBCs that are authorized and suitable for the transport of the goods in question;
•    Attach proper labeling to both the goods themselves and the truck (if necessary);
•    If applicable, making available the consignor's declaration. 
Furthermore, the goods should be packed on pallets in such a way that they cannot move. In the case of obsolete or non-movable goods, they should always be palletized. For five packages or more, the shipment must always be palletized. If the shipment concerns a hazardous substance, the UN number and name of the substance in question must be stated in the order to Mainfreight Forwarding Netherlands B.V. 

If the above is not complied with, Mainfreight may impose a fine of at least €50 per shipment.

Due to legally imposed ADR/ IMDG restrictions and co-loading prohibitions for certain UN numbers, the duration of your shipment may deviate from our standard duration.
 

Dangerous goods shall be packed in good quality packagings strong enough to withstand the shocks and stresses normally encountered during carriage and transshipment. They shall also be of such quality as to preclude any loss of contents from the package. There shall be no dangerous residue on the outside of the packagings during carriage. Damaged packagings must be repaired and re-inspected for reuse for dangerous goods. Damaged, defective or leaking packages and non-compliant packages may be transported in a salvage packaging. The following requirements must be met:- Disposal packaging is used for transport with the ultimate purpose of recovering or destroying the released substance or packaging;
•    Measures shall be taken against excessive movement of the damaged or leaking packages in the salvage packaging. If the disposal packaging contains liquid, an amount of absorbent material shall be added to exclude the presence of free liquid;
•    Suitable measures shall be taken to ensure that no dangerous increase in pressure occurs;
•    The transport document must contain the word “Salvage Packaging” after the description of the goods.
 

Packaging containing hazardous substances must be labeled. These provide information about the hazards of the substance. The substance list indicates which labels are prescribed for which UN number. The color, layout and symbols of the labels are stipulated in the regulations. Labels must also be able to withstand weather and wind. Labels must be at least 100mm by 100mm in size and clearly visible on a package. Labels may be reduced in size if the size of the packaging makes this necessary. However, they must still remain clearly visible. 

The following marking and labeling are mandatory if applicable (all clearly legible and free-floating):
•    Hazard class label;
•    UN number (LQ excepted);
•    Overpack;
•    Environmentally hazardous;
•    Directional arrows.
 

Limited quantities of dangerous goods packed in such limited quantities do not have to comply with the entire ADR. In terms of labeling, the following labels must be visible:
•    LQ label;
•    Overpack if applicable. 

The ADR does not require the dangerous goods information to be on the documentation. However, Mainfreight does need this information in the system. This is to provide insight into exactly what we have in the truck and in our Crossdock. So always include this information when booking the shipment.
 

The ADR prescribes a number of restrictions which must be stated on the transport document:
1.    The UN number, preceded by the letters “UN”;
2.    The correct transport name, supplemented, where appropriate, by the technical name in parentheses;
3.    The danger class number. In the case of UN numbers 3090,3091, 3480 and 3481: the number of Class “9”;
4.    If assigned, the packing group for the substance, which may be preceded by the letters “VG” or initials in accordance with the word “Packing Group” in English, German or French;
5.    The number and description of the packages, as applicable;
6.    The total quantity of each dangerous substance bearing a different UN number, proper shipping name or, where applicable, packing group;
7.    The name and address of the consignor; 7;
8.    The name and address of the consignee.
9.    For transportation through tunnels with restrictions on transportation of hazardous materials, the tunnel restriction code as capital letters in parentheses or listed as (-).no hour

To ensure ADR in the correct prescribed order on the documents, the following example can be followed:

UN 3077 ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, SOLID, N.O.S. (2,6-DI-TERT-BUTYL-P-CRESOL), 9, III, (-)

If a shipment is exempted under a special provision, no ADR data should appear on the transport document. Instead, the consignment will appear “transport exempted under special provision ...” on it. This does not apply as soon as the IMDG also applies. There may be other rules attached to this.

If a consignment is not dangerous for road transport, but must be transported under the IMDG for maritime transport, the sentence “Transport in accordance with ADR 1.1.4.2.1.” should be entered on the transport document for road transport. should be stated.
 

Mainfreight Forwarding Netherlands B.V. offers transport of new lithium batteries (packing regulation P903). If the goods offered are other than lithium batteries packaged under packing instruction P903 (such as P908, P909, P910, P911), alternative forms of transport can be coordinated with Mainfreight Forwarding Netherlands B.V. The customer of the transport is obliged to reimburse Mainfreight Forwarding Netherlands B.V. for all damage which the batteries received for transport or their treatment may cause to Mainfreight Forwarding Netherlands B.V.. V. to compensate all damage caused to Mainfreight Forwarding Netherlands B.V. by the batteries received for transport or the handling thereof, as well as to compensate all damage resulting from incorrect packaging, labeling or entries on the packages and/or in the transport documents. In addition, the customer of the transport is obliged to indemnify and hold Mainfreight Forwarding Netherlands B.V. harmless against third-party claims for damage caused by the batteries received for transport, the handling thereof, or by incorrect packaging, labeling or entries on the packages and/or in the transport documents. 
 

Packaging regulation	Explanation of packaging regulation
P903	New/regular working products that have been tested and approved (with certificate)
P908	Defective / damaged batteries (stable)
P909	Battery for destruction / recycling
P910	Battery not yet tested, transport for the purpose of testing
P911	Defective / damaged batteries (not stable)

 

Within ADR, various substances have been assigned special provisions. Here, substances may require additional handling instructions. A specific one is CV36. This requires goods to be transported in open or ventilated vehicles. If this is not possible, one of the requirements is to prevent gas escaping from the cargo compartment into the driver's cabin. 

In Germany, we cannot guarantee the above within our groupage network. For this reason, special transport is arranged for the transport of substances with special provision CV36. Get in touch with our team, customerservice.shb@mainfreight.com, for the possibilities.
 

Mainfreight also offers warehousing of dangerous goods. In 's-Heerenberg, we have a state of the art warehouse. By using separate compartments it is possible to store dangerous goods from several ADR classes. The site in Born offers over 20.000 square metres of warehousing capacity. We also offer various services regarding the handling and storage of environmentally dangerous goods. 

Click here for more information regarding the storage of dangerous goods.