What is ADR?
ADR is the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road; the acronym comes from its French title, Accord relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route. Administered by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and updated every two years, it sets the rules for moving dangerous goods by road in its contracting parties, Türkiye included: from classification and packaging to labelling, vehicles and driver training.
The same cargo follows different rulebooks at sea and in the air:
| Mode | Rules | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Road | ADR | ADR transport document, instructions in writing for the crew, orange plates and hazard labels, ADR-trained driver |
| Sea | IMDG Code (IMO) | Dangerous goods declaration (DGD), container packing certificate, segregation rules, shipping line approval |
| Air | IATA DGR (based on the ICAO Technical Instructions) | Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods, tighter quantity limits; some substances are cargo-aircraft only or forbidden altogether |
When road and sea are combined, each leg is planned under its own rules. For dangerous goods in containers see our sea freight page, and for urgent consignments our air freight page.
ADR classes
ADR sorts dangerous goods into nine classes by their main hazard, with some classes split into divisions:
| Class | Hazard | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explosive substances and articles | Fireworks, detonators, ammunition |
| 2 | Gases | LPG, industrial gas cylinders, aerosols |
| 3 | Flammable liquids | Paints, thinners, varnishes, alcohol-based products, fuels |
| 4.1 | Flammable solids and self-reactive substances | Matches, sulphur, naphthalene |
| 4.2 | Substances liable to spontaneous combustion | White phosphorus, some activated carbons |
| 4.3 | Substances which emit flammable gases in contact with water | Calcium carbide, sodium |
| 5.1 | Oxidising substances | Hydrogen peroxide solutions, some nitrate fertilisers |
| 5.2 | Organic peroxides | Some resin hardeners |
| 6.1 | Toxic substances | Some pesticides, cyanide compounds |
| 6.2 | Infectious substances | Clinical waste, biological specimens |
| 7 | Radioactive material | Medical and industrial radioisotopes |
| 8 | Corrosive substances | Acids, sodium hydroxide, wet-cell batteries |
| 9 | Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles | Lithium batteries, environmentally hazardous substances, airbag inflators |
For goods that need special permits, packaging or equipment, such as class 1 explosives, class 6.2 infectious substances and class 7 radioactive material, we assess feasibility separately for each consignment. Where a substance also needs temperature control, as certain organic peroxides do, we plan the ADR rules together with the requirements of refrigerated transport.
What we need from the shipper
A fast, accurate dangerous goods quote depends on complete information from the shipper:
- UN number: the four-digit number identifying the substance or article (for example UN 1263 for paint).
- Proper shipping name: the official transport name under ADR.
- Class and subsidiary hazards: the primary hazard class and any additional risks.
- Packing group: I (high danger), II (medium) or III (low); some classes have no packing group.
- Quantity and packaging: number of packages, packaging type and UN approval code, net and gross quantity.
- Safety data sheet (SDS / MSDS): up to date, with the transport information in section 14 fully completed.
- Special conditions: any temperature control, and whether limited quantity (LQ) or excepted quantity (EQ) rules apply.
In Türkiye, businesses that consign, pack or load dangerous goods may have further national obligations, such as appointing a dangerous goods safety adviser (known locally as a TMGD); we recommend confirming yours with your adviser.
How an ADR shipment works
- Information review: the UN number, class, packing group, quantity and SDS are checked.
- Compliance assessment: quantity exemptions, packaging, mixed-loading prohibitions and tunnel restrictions on the route are reviewed.
- Vehicle and driver: a vehicle with the equipment the load requires and an ADR-certified driver are planned.
- Documents: the ADR transport document and instructions in writing are prepared; if there is a sea or air leg, the relevant dangerous goods declarations are issued.
- Loading and checks: package labels, vehicle plates, stowage and securing are checked.
- Transit and delivery: the shipment is monitored from one operations desk through to delivery.
Can ADR cargo travel as groupage?
Yes, with conditions. ADR prohibits certain classes from being loaded together in the same vehicle and restricts carrying dangerous goods alongside food and animal feed. Whether an ADR consignment can be combined with other cargo under groupage transport therefore depends on its class, its quantity and the rest of the load. If it cannot, we propose a full truck or an express option.
What affects the price?
- class, packing group and quantity, including whether the load stays below exemption thresholds
- whether groupage is possible or a full truck is needed
- route choice driven by tunnel restrictions
- temperature control or special equipment
- shipping lines’ and airlines’ acceptance conditions and surcharges for dangerous goods on sea and air legs
- customs and transit formalities
Why Multitransport?
- Three modes, one desk: road (ADR), sea (IMDG) and air (IATA DGR) shipments are planned by the same team.
- Focused on chemicals and ADR: careful transport built on international safety standards, specialised equipment and close regulatory monitoring.
- Assessment first: a load does not move until its compliance is clear.
- Customs under the same roof: see our customs clearance service for declarations and regulation.
- Certified management systems: four ISO certificates, including ISO 14001 (environment) and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety).