ADR

What it means

ADR is the European agreement on the international carriage of dangerous goods by road, which Slovakia also applies to domestic transport. It sets out how dangerous substances such as fuels, gases, chemicals or batteries are classified, packed, labelled and carried.

Everyone in the chain has duties: consignor, packer, loader, carrier and consignee. Vehicles must carry prescribed equipment and markings, drivers need a training certificate, and the consignment travels with a transport document alongside the CMR consignment note.

There are reliefs for small quantities, for example limited quantities of packaged consumer products. The exact thresholds are set by the agreement's tables according to the UN number and transport category of the substance.

How it works in practice

A company that ships or carries dangerous goods usually has to appoint a certified safety adviser, who prepares an annual report, trains staff and investigates incidents.

A contract of carriage or freight forwarding contract must state clearly that the goods are dangerous, or the carrier may refuse them and the consignor is liable for damage. For groupage shipments under LTL, mixed-loading rules also apply.

ADR costs such as training, vehicle equipment, packaging and the adviser are ordinary deductible expenses. Higher cargo and liability insurance often comes on top.

What to watch out for

Breaches discovered in roadside checks can lead to heavy fines for both consignor and carrier, and to criminal liability after an accident. Lithium batteries inside devices are often forgotten, although they are dangerous goods too.

ADR is closely tied to health and safety and handling substances in the warehouse. When a company starts handling a new product, its safety data sheet should be checked so no obligation arises that nobody knows about.