How to transport dangerous goods, including guidance notes, authorisation notices, exception notices and multilateral agreements.
Contents
- Guidance notes
- Authorisation notices
- Exception notices
- Multilateral agreements (MA)
- Report an accident involving the carriage of dangerous goods
HGVs carrying dangerous goods through the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel
Drivers of HGVs carrying certain types of dangerous goods must get tested for COVID-19 before arriving in Kent.
The terms of use at Manston Airport and Ashford Sevington prohibit the following loads:
-
explosives
-
polymerizing substances
-
infectious substances
-
radioactive substances
-
goods that are high consequence from a terrorism point of view
Drivers of HGVs carrying any of these goods will be refused access to these sites and must get tested for COVID-19 at alternative sites before arriving in Kent.
If you’re not sure whether your load falls into one of these categories of dangerous goods, confirm with your company or consignor before departing from the depot.
Testing is available at various information and advice sites across the UK.
Check whether the motorway service station or truck stop you plan to visit has any restrictions for certain dangerous goods before you travel.
Some companies are also providing private testing for their drivers. Check with your company if this is being offered.
Dangerous goods are assigned different classes ranging from 1 to 9.
These classes cover goods from the highly dangerous, such as explosives, flammables and fuming acids, to everyday products such as paints, solvents and pesticides.
You can receive updates relating to the carriage of dangerous goods from the Department for Transport (DfT) by joining our mailing list.
Transporting dangerous goods securely
Recommendations on the secure carriage of dangerous goods are contained in chapter 1.10 of both the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID).
The security provisions of ADR and RID apply in the UK through Regulation 5 of the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations (CDG) 2009. Regulations 7 and 8 contain additional security provisions that apply in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). DfT has published detailed guidance on the security requirements for the carriage of goods by road and rail.
DfT is responsible for the enforcement of the secure carriage of dangerous goods requirements (excluding class 7 radioactive materials).
DfT has an expert stakeholder group called the Industry Advisory Group to develop and monitor the implementation of these security requirements and any supporting guidance.
Dangerous goods security enquiries
Contact DfT if you have a question about government policy and regulations for the secure carriage of dangerous goods. You can:
- email: [email protected]
Transporting dangerous goods safely
When transported, dangerous goods need to be packaged correctly to comply with international and national regulations for each transport mode, to ensure they are carried safely.
The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) Dangerous Goods Office is responsible for the certification of dangerous goods packaging within the UK.
ADR/RID packaging and technical enquiries
Contact the VCA Dangerous Goods Office if you have a packaging or technical question about how requirements contained in ADR or RID may affect you. You can:
- email [email protected]
- call 01372 226 111
Safe carriage of dangerous goods enquiries
Contact DfT if you have a question about government policy and regulations for the safe carriage of dangerous goods. You can:
- email: [email protected]
- call 020 7944 2271 or 2058
Enforcement of the safe carriage of dangerous goods
The enforcement for the safe carriage of dangerous goods is undertaken by several authorities (excluding Class 7 radioactive materials). The authority responsible for enforcing the regulations depends on the mode of transport:
- for road transport, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the police are responsible
- or rail transport the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) are responsible
- for sea transport the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are responsible
- for air transport the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are responsible
Guidance notes
Dangerous goods are assigned classes ranging from 1 to 9.
Guidance on the carriage of radioactive material (class 7) is published by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
The Department for Transport provides guidance on all other classes, which supports the regulations for the carriage of dangerous goods.
Further guidance on the carriage of dangerous goods is available from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
A simple overview of how to ship, package and label dangerous goods is available on GOV.UK.
Packaging and transport requirements for patient samples – UN3373
Guidance
Security requirements for moving dangerous goods by road and rail
Guidance
Driving dangerous goods and special loads abroad
Guidance
Moving dangerous goods
Guidance
Carriage of dangerous goods: approved derogations and transitional provisions
Guidance
ADR instructions in writing
Guidance
Transporting category A pathogens
Form
Transporting diesel, petrol or kerosene by road
Guidance
Packaging for transporting dangerous goods
Guidance
The definition of a ‘closed vehicle’ for the purpose of transporting dangerous goods by road
Guidance
Carriage of dangerous goods: the application of multilateral agreements
Guidance
Transporting infectious substances
Guidance
Classing biofuels as dangerous goods
Guidance
Transporting oxygen cylinders
Guidance
Employing a dangerous goods safety adviser
Guidance
Transporting gunpowder and smokeless powders
Guidance
Retail distribution of small quantities of dangerous goods
Guidance
Classifying bird flu specimens for transportation
Guidance
Transporting machinery or equipment containing dangerous goods by road or rail
Guidance
Testing and inspecting intermediate bulk containers
Guidance
The testing, certification and marking of dangerous goods packaging
Guidance
Approval scheme for bulk containers
Guidance
Interpretation of transport related unloading
Guidance
Transporting electrical and electronic waste
Guidance
Authorisation notices
The Secretary of State for Transport for transport, can issue written authorisations that allow for deviations from ADR requirements and RID requirements. These authorisations carry conditions and time limits, and apply to carriage within Great Britain only.
The authorisations can be withdrawn by the competent authority at any time by means of a written notice.
Authorisation notices about transporting radioactive materials
Authorisations concerning the transport of radioactive materials are published by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.
Remote delivery of dangerous goods driver training extension: authorisation 992
Notice
Dangerous goods driver licence extension: authorisation 990
Notice
The testing of PRVs fitted to LPG road tankers (Authorisation 948)
Notice
Annual inspection waiver for MOT exempt vehicles
Notice
The carriage by road of firework lancework as unpackaged articles
Notice
Annual inspection waiver for tank vehicles
Notice
Tanks below the minimum thickness
Notice
First inspection deferral for new dangerous goods vehicles entering into service
Notice
Transporting certain ship or aircraft cylinders
Notice
Transporting dangerous goods by post
Notice
Using breathing apparatus cylinders for their full design life
Notice
Exception notices
Under the carriage regulations, the Department for Transport can issue exception notices, which make various provisions to the dangerous goods regulations.
Transporting quick release valve assemblies
Notice
Transporting supressor valve head assemblies
Notice
Transporting container valves used in fixed firefighting systems
Notice
Pressure vessel codes for portable tanks
Notice
Steel tanks transporting liquefiable gases by road
Notice
Transportable gas cylinders technical code
Notice
Steel cylinder inspections
Notice
Transporting low sulphur fuel (LSF) porous mass for acetylene
Notice
Maximum fill for transporting liquefied petroleum gas
Notice
Multilateral agreements (MA)
ADR and RID allow contracting parties to agree temporary exemptions between themselves.
If carrying dangerous goods in accordance with an MA, a copy of it must be carried on the vehicle.
Transporting fireworks
Notice
Transporting class 2 gases in refillable pressure receptacles authorised by the US Department of Transportation
Guidance
Transporting armed forces' explosives and items to be destroyed
Notice
Transporting ammonia solution
Notice
Report an accident involving the carriage of dangerous goods
You can use our form to report an accident or incident involving the carriage of dangerous goods.
Report an accident involving the transportation of dangerous goods
Form
From: Department for Transport
Published 11 May 2013
Last updated 28 September 2021
Added Remote delivery of dangerous goods driver training extension: authorisation 992.
Added Dangerous goods driver licence extension: authorisation 990.
Added information on HGVs carrying dangerous goods through the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel.
Added the document 'The testing of PRVs fitted to LPG road tankers (Authorisation 948)' to the collection.
Annual inspection waiver for tank vehicles added.
Guidance on the transport of patient specimens suspected of containing Coronavirus (COVID-19) added to page.
Tanks below the minimum thickness: Authorisation 839 added to collection.
'Transporting fireworks multilateral agreement M322' published.
'Approval of the early use of EN 12972:2018' exception notice.
Transporting of solid medical or clinical waste, category A (ADR M317).
Added Multilateral agreement M318: the carriage of class 2 gases in refillable pressure receptacles authorised by the United States of America Department of Transportation.
Carriage of dangerous goods guidance note 16.
Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 34.
Updated links to latest ADR and RID regulations.
Carriage of dangerous goods exception notices 30 and 31 revised.
Carriage of dangerous goods authorisation 476.
Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 33.
Carriage of dangerous goods exception notice 32 added.
Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement ADR M299 added to page.
Multilateral agreement ADR M291.
Carriage of dangerous goods multilateral agreement ADR M296 added.
List of authorisations to carry dangerous goods updated.
First published.
