Dangerous Goods Transport Document (ADR Template)

The transport document is the central accompanying document of every dangerous goods transport by road. Section 5.4.1 ADR prescribes exactly which entries it must contain – and in which order. This free template puts all mandatory fields into the prescribed structure.

What does the ADR require?

For each dangerous good, the ADR requires these entries in exactly this order:

1. The UN number preceded by the letters "UN" (e.g. UN 1263)
2. The proper shipping name (e.g. PAINT)
3. The label model number(s) (e.g. 3)
4. The packing group, where assigned (e.g. II)
5. The tunnel restriction code in brackets (e.g. (D/E))

Added to that: sender and consignee with addresses, the number and description of packages, and the total quantity per UN number. The template lists all positions in this structure – one line per good.

When do exemptions apply?

Two cases are worth knowing before you do more work than necessary. The 1,000-points rule (sub-section 1.1.3.6 ADR): if the transport unit stays below the points threshold, the driver's ADR certificate and the orange plates, among other things, are waived – but the transport document remains mandatory, supplemented by the total quantity per transport category. And limited quantities (LQ) under chapter 3.4 ADR: if the goods are packed and marked LQ-compliant, no transport document under 5.4.1 is required.

What the template does not replace

A correct document alone does not make a compliant transport: packaging, marking, mixed-loading prohibitions, and load securing come on top – and the template is no substitute for dangerous goods training. Anyone transporting dangerous goods regularly should involve a dangerous goods safety adviser; for many companies that is mandatory anyway.

Paper or digital?

The transport document itself still travels in the vehicle on paper today. What can go digital is everything around it: which vehicle has the right equipment, which driver holds a valid ADR certificate, which documents belong to which route? The Maxmove TMS manages vehicle and driver data including documents digitally – so a gap shows up before the route starts, not at a roadside check.

Frequently asked questions

When do I need a transport document? For every ADR-regulated carriage – including below the 1,000-points threshold. It is only waived for limited quantities (LQ) under chapter 3.4 and certain exemptions.

What does the tunnel restriction code mean? It appears in brackets after the packing group and defines through which tunnel categories (A to E) the good may be carried. A good with code (D/E), for example, may not pass through category D and E tunnels.

Does the 1,000-points rule apply automatically? No. You have to calculate per transport unit: quantity times the factor of the respective transport category, summed across all goods. Only if the total stays below 1,000 do the exemptions apply – and the calculation basis belongs in the transport document.

Who is responsible? The sender is responsible for complete and correct entries; the carrier for keeping the document on board during the journey. At an inspection, missing or wrong entries hit both.