The carriage of dangerous goods by road has inherent risks and dangers.  ADR training for drivers aims to reduce the hazards to themselves and to other road users by following industry guidelines and health and safety legislation.

Transporting dangerous goods in the following vehicles will require the driver to hold a valid ADR Vocational Training Certificate:

• A road tanker with a capacity greater than 1,000 litres


• A tank container with a capacity greater than 3,000 litres


• A vehicle having a permissible maximum weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes

The carriage of dangerous goods by road, rail, inland waterway, sea and air is regulated internationally by European agreements, directives and regulations, and parallel legislation in the UK.

UN Regulations recognise nine classes of hazardous material:

• Class 1 – Explosives


• Class 2 – Gases


• Class 3 - Flammable Liquids (Petrol / Oil)


• Class 4 - Flammable Solids


• Class 5 - Oxidising Substances (Fertilisers), Organic Peroxides


• Class 6 - Toxic and Infectious Substances


• Class 7 - Radioactives (Not available)


• Class 8 – Corrosives


• Class 9 - Miscellaneous

 You can read more on dangerous goods classification on the HSE website.

ADR training for drivers is a health and safety requirement to reduce the risks associated with transporting dangerous goods.  It is the minimum legal requirement for individuals responsible for driving vehicles containing dangerous goods and substances in tanks or packages.

Holding an ADR certificate in conjunction with an LGV licence is required to drive certain types of vehicles, for example, oil tankers; chemical lorries; and vehicles used to transport various gases, special wastes or explosives.

Anyone that drives one of the following types of vehicles containing dangerous goods is required to hold a valid vocational training certificate.  ADR training can help to prepare you for the examinations: 

• A road tanker with a capacity greater than 1,000 litres


• A tank container with a capacity greater than 3,000 litres


• A vehicle having a permissible maximum weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes

ADR training at TTS covers all vehicles up to articulated lorry size. Dangerous goods are divided into several classes. The ADR certificate will only cover the classes that the driver trained and was tested on.

Upon completion of an ADR course you will: 

• Understand the dangers associated with the transportation of dangerous goods in tankers and tank containers/packages


• Know how to act in an emergency situation when an incident occurs

Drivers must sit the appropriate exams for materials they wish to carry as follows:

• Module 001 - Core (compulsory)


• Module 002 – Road Tankers and Tank Containers/or Packages (i.e. non-tanker lorry)


• Modules 003 - 012 An exam for each of the classes they wish to carry

Alternatively, most drivers elect to sit the Common Characteristics examination with two additional exams – Group A covering classes 2, 3 6, and 8; and Group B covering classes 4, 5 and 9.

Yes, upon completion of the ADR training and successfully passing the relevant exams, you will achieve an ADR vocational training certificate.

The ADR course durations are as follows:

• 3 Days – Class 3 Flammable Liquids in Road Tankers and Tank Containers


• 4 Days – Packages carrying Classes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 9


• 5 Days – Tankers, Tank Containers and Packages carrying Classes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 9


• 2.5 days – ADR Refresher Course

Yes, we offer ADR refresher training which takes 2.5 days to complete.

The initial ADR certification will expire after five years.  However, if the driver successfully carries out a refresher course before the five years is up then the certificate will be renewed.  Failure to renew within the five years will involve re-sitting the initial course.

The ADR certificate is valid for five years from the date of issue.  This can be extended during the final twelve months of validity for a further period of five years from the date of expiry, by undertaking and passing the appropriate refresher training and examinations.  

To ensure that training and examinations can be processed by SQA in good time to issue a refreshed ADR certificate, the candidate must have a minimum of six weeks left from the expiry date of his/her current certificate.  

ADR training is usually delivered at our training facility in Nutts Corner but on-site training can be arranged on request, however, the premises must be approved prior to the course.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of the registered charity, Transport Training Board for Northern Ireland, TTS has a genuine, longstanding interest in facilitating best practice and the highest levels of compliance for the industries that we serve.

We are recognised as an industry-leading training provider, supporting the Northern Irish transport industry with trusted career development.  Because our sole attention is on the transport and retail motor sectors in Northern Ireland, we have a real depth of knowledge, backed by over 50 years’ experience.

We focus on providing class-leading expertise, purpose-built facilities and modern teaching methods to deliver relevant skills for the 21st century.  

As well as delivering training at our conveniently located and modern Nutts Corner facility, with ample free parking, we can also provide on-site training as required.

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• Understand the dangers associated with the transportation of dangerous substances in tankers and tank containers


• Know how to act in an emergency situation when an incident occurs

This is a tutor-led course which follows a set syllabus by means of lectures and practical demonstrations.

Yes you can add classes to your current ADR certificate.  You can do this by attending the relevant training course and passing the exams.  A new ADR Driver Training Certificate will be issued with the same date of expiry as the original.  The additions will only be valid until this date and can be refreshed along with the other classes at the appropriate time.