ADR Training

Our ADR courses include packaged goods, tanker options, specialist classes, and Driver CPC-approved training, helping you choose the right ADR licence course for your work.

1. What is an ADR licence?

An ADR licence is a legal certification required for drivers who transport dangerous goods by road in the UK. It confirms that you have completed approved ADR License Training and understand how to handle hazardous materials safely, following all required regulations.

How Do I Get an ADR Licence?

In order to obtain an ADR licence in the UK, drivers must complete a recognised ADR course and pass the required exams. The type of ADR licence you need depends on the goods you transport, such as packaged goods or tanker loads.

The course teaches essential safety topics, including emergency procedures, fire precautions, and handling hazardous substances, making it a key qualification for professional HGV drivers.

2. Who needs an ADR licence?

While ADR is most commonly associated with HGV drivers, it is not exclusively limited to them. Holders of motorcycle or car licences may also require an ADR certificate in specific circumstances. For example, transporting radioactive isotopes (Class 7) where a large goods vehicle is neither required nor practical. So the assumption that an HGV licence is a prerequisite for ADR is a myth. In practice, however, over 98% of ADR certificate holders are HGV drivers.

Do All Drivers Need an ADR Licence?

However, not every driver who moves DG requires a full ADR licence. Drivers must exceed a minimum quantity threshold before ADR regulations apply. For example, up to 1,000 litres of diesel may be carried without an ADR licence; below that threshold, periodic DG awareness training may suffice.

What is a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA)?

Separately, the ADR regulations also require any company involved in the carriage of DG (that falls within the scope of ADR) to appoint a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA). The DGSA is responsible for advising on all matters relating to regulatory compliance. In summary: the driver needs the ADR licence; the carrier, freight forwarder, and consignor need a DGSA.

3. ADR regulations in the UK

The relevant authorities publish ADR as the ‘orange books’, releasing two updated volumes every two years. These cover every aspect of moving DG by road, including classification of hazards, limited quantities, PPE, special provisions, fire regulations, transport categories, mixed loading, training requirements, and the role of the DGSA.

Do ADR Regulations Still Apply After Brexit?

When the UK joined the EU, the UK largely aligned its domestic DG regulations with European ADR. Even so, ADR rules continue to apply  to nearly all UK and cross-border European journeys. Safety improvements in driver training, road infrastructure, and vehicle technology have made the transport of DG on UK roads safer than ever. The number of serious incidents has declined, even as overall DG volumes and road use have grown.

4. The nine classes of dangerous goods

There are a total of 9 classes of Dangerous Goods listed in the ADR regulations – these include:

• Class 1: Explosives.  A very niche class typically moved by a finite number of companies including for example firework display organisations or the military.
• Class 2: Gasses.  Required by BOC Gases, Calor Gas etc.
• Class 3: Flammable Liquids. By far the most common class of dangerous goods transported worldwide. Includes petrol and diesel.
• Class 4: Flammable Solids. This would include oily rags!
• Class 5: Oxidising Substances. Including, for example, organic peroxides and fertilizers.
• Class 6: Toxic Substances. This class includes infectious substances. Many chemists, vets and hospitals will require their drivers to have this module.
• Class 7: Radioactives. Again, like Class 1, a very specialist class. Many non-HGV licence holders will still require an ADR licence when moving this substance.
• Class 8: Corrosives.                      
• Class 9: Misc. substances. In summary, Class 9 is for DGs that do not fit the criteria of any of the other 8 Classes.

Only a very small number of specialist operators handle Classes 1 and 7, and standard ADR courses do not cover them. EP Training is one of only a small number of approved organisations in the UK to offer Class 1 and Class 7 tuition.

5. ADR training course types, duration, and cost

The modules and exam combinations you need depend on the goods you transport and whether you carry them in packages or tanks. The table below sets out the most common course types, their content, typical market costs, and Driver CPC hours available when training with an approved provider such as EP Training:

 A Note on ADR Training Costs

The 5-day combined course generates a maximum of 28 CPC hours (the Thursday exam half-day is excluded). EP Training tops this up to 35 hours by providing an additional 7-hour CPC session free of charge at a later date.

Additionally, all costs shown are typical UK market ranges and include tuition, VAT, exam fees, and Driver CPC registration where applicable. Be cautious of intermediaries and brokers who misrepresent themselves as training providers and charge inflated prices. Providers with transparent published pricing such as EP Training offer greater assurance.

6. ADR training: course structure and approach

What Does the ADR Core Module Cover?

Every candidate, regardless of the classes they need, must complete the Core module first. Running across Monday and Tuesday (approximately 1.5 days), the Core covers: basic health and safety, fire precautions, emergency procedures, vehicle markings and documentation, and the regulatory framework.

Understanding the Packages Module

Tuesday afternoon is dedicated to the Packages module required by anyone transporting DG in anything other than a tank (curtainsiders, box vehicles, skips, etc.). It covers how ADR classes must be packed, stored, labelled, and marked for road transport.

 How Are Hazard Classes Taught?

The standard 3.5-day and 5-day courses cover seven of the nine hazard classes: Classes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9. Class 2 (Gases) and Class 3 (Flammable Liquids) each take 1.5 hours; the remaining classes are covered in 45-minute sessions.

Do You Need the Tanker Module?

Specifically, this module is required by any driver transporting DG in a tank with a capacity exceeding 3,000 litres. Tanks below this threshold are treated as packages. The tanker module runs Thursday afternoon and all day Friday, adding 1.5 days to the standard packaged goods course. A typical candidate requiring this element would be a petrol tanker delivery driver, who needs the Core, Tanker, and Class 3 modules.

Class 1 and Class 7 — Specialist Course Additions

Class 1 and Class 7 courses are standalone additions. Each takes one day, with the 1.5-day Core module as a prerequisite making the total training time 2.5 days for either of these specialist classes. The Packages module is not required for drivers who move only explosives or radioactives.

 Which ADR Course Is Right for You?

As a general guide:

• Class 2 (Rigid, Cat C) HGV licence holders typically complete the 3.5-day Packaged Goods course, as rigid vehicles are rarely used for tanker transport.
• Class 1 (Articulated, Cat C+E) HGV licence holders more commonly undertake the 5-day combined course, since artic drivers are more likely to pull road tankers.
• Motorcycle and car licence holders may need only the Core and the relevant specialist class (most commonly Class 7).

Classroom delivery is strongly recommended over online tuition. While online theory sessions became permitted following Covid, EP Training returned to full classroom delivery because face-to-face learning produces significantly higher exam pass rates.

7. ADR examinations
Paper vs Online ADR Examinations

Unlike Driver CPC periodic training which requires attendance only an ADR certificate requires candidates to both attend the course and pass examinations. Candidates sit exams at the end of the training week in multiple-choice format, pitched at NVQ Level 2 standard, with a pass mark of 70%.

Paper vs Online ADR Examinations

Exams can be completed on paper or online. Candidates must post paper-based tests to the SQA in Glasgow for marking. This can take up to six weeks for results and certificate issue, with further delays if a resit is needed. In contrast, online examinations deliver immediate results, allow instant free resits where required, and result in the ADR card being issued significantly faster.

ADR Exam Pass Rates and Resits

EP Training conducts all ADR examinations online and offers a complimentary free resit on the day should a candidate need one. Their current pass rate stands at 97%, well above the national average. Sample examination questions are also available through dedicated apps to help candidates prepare.

8. ADR training and Driver CPC

Most professional HGV drivers who require ADR are also subject to the Driver CPC requirement: 35 hours of formal training every five years (equivalent to five 7-hour sessions). Attending an approved ADR course simultaneously satisfies a portion or all of this requirement, provided the training provider holds JAUPT approval.

Does ADR Training Count Towards Driver CPC?

However, not all ADR training providers hold JAUPT approval. Always confirm CPC eligibility before booking. The hours breakdown with EP Training is as follows:

• 5-day Packaged Goods course: 21 CPC hours (exam half-day excluded).
• 5-day Packaged Goods and Tanker course: 28 CPC hours (exam half-day excluded) + 7 hours free supplementary CPC session = 35 hours total.
• Refresher/renewal course: 7 CPC hours maximum.

Maximise Your ADR Training Time

Earning the full 35 CPC hours alongside the 5-day ADR course effectively fulfils the entire periodic CPC requirement in one training week a significant efficiency saving.

9. Renewing your ADR licence

An ADR licence is valid for five years. Renewal is possible within the final 12 months of validity, provided at least six weeks remain before expiry. There are two renewal routes:

• Refresher course (2.5 days): shorter and lower cost (typically £450–£600), but earns only 7 Driver CPC hours.
• Full initial course (3.5 or 5 days): higher cost but earns up to 28–35 Driver CPC hours, effectively satisfying the full five-year CPC cycle.

Which ADR Renewal Route Should You Choose?

As a result, the majority of drivers choose to repeat the full initial course rather than the refresher, because the CPC hours gained far outweigh the modest additional cost. Completing the full course every five years neatly aligns the ADR renewal with the Driver CPC cycle.

10. The vocational training certificate (ADR card)

Once you successfully complete all required examinations, the SQA issues a Vocational Training Certificate (VTC) the physical ADR licence. The reverse of the card lists the specific classes and transport modes (packaged goods and/or tanks) the card authorises the holder to carry.

The SQA sends the VTC directly to the address you gave your training company it is no longer sent via the DVLA. Drivers must carry the VTC when transporting DG that falls within the scope of ADR regulations.

11. Benefits of ADR certification

Obtaining an ADR licence is a sound career investment for professional drivers. Key benefits include:

• Access to a wider range of specialist driving roles, including fuel tanker, chemical, gas, and pharmaceutical logistics.
• Higher earning potential: Class 2 ADR drivers typically earn £37,000–£43,000; Class 1 ADR drivers can command £40,000–£52,000 notably above non-ADR equivalents.
• Valuable health and safety training covering fire precautions, basic first aid, and emergency procedures applicable beyond the cab.
• ADR-qualified drivers remain in high demand, as only a small proportion of the overall HGV driver population holds the certification.

Is an ADR Licence Worth It?

Ultimately, you realise the value of an ADR licence only when you actively use it. The course makes most sense when you have a role that directly involves DG responsibilities whether immediately or in the near future.

12. Why choose EP Training?

EP Training has delivered ADR tuition from its purpose-built training centre in Great Bookham, Surrey since the 1980s, and has trained over 15,000 ADR drivers. Furthermore, courses run most weeks of the year, covering Packaged Goods and Tanker elements for seven of the nine DG classes, with specialist Class 1 and Class 7 sessions also available a rare offering among UK providers.

Key reasons drivers and employers choose EP Training:

• 97% first-attempt pass rate well above the national average.
• Online examinations with immediate results and a complimentary free resit on the day.
• Full transparency: all ADR course prices are published openly, with no hidden charges.
• JAUPT-approved: all courses count towards Driver CPC hours.
• Instructors hold DGSA qualifications the highest relevant professional accreditation.
• Finance options available: ‘Train Now, Pay Later’ schemes to remove funding barriers.

Therefore, to book a course or discuss your requirements, call EP Training on 01372 450 800 or book securely online.