Getting Your Dangerous Goods Training

As a haulier you may be asked to transport dangerous materials by your employer. Having proper training and certification completed not only helps maintain a high industry standard in haulage and logistics, but is also a legal requirement.

Your employer is responsible for ensuring that all of their drivers are trained in ADR, and receive their Driver Training Certificate (DTC), before allowing them take on haulage jobs that involve transporting hazardous goods. Companies that do not comply can face stiff penalties if caught.

As a driver, it would be prudent to do your part to make sure you are up to date on your DTC and to confirm your paperwork has not expired before accepting hazardous loads. This will go far to provide peace of mind to you, your family and your company.

Getting Certified

The Freight Transport Association offers certification and refresher courses in dangerous goods transportation. These are designed to support drivers and the companies that employ them. The first course, the ADR Initial, must be completed if your haulage jobs will include the carrying of hazardous materials. The four or five day course includes information on dangerous goods classification, the risks of carrying hazardous materials and the current and relevant legislation. You also learn the ways you can prevent incidents that could threaten the safety of your own person, the public and the environment, along with the steps you would follow if an accident were to occur. This course will earn you the DTC certification upon successful completion of the course and exam, and is issued by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

ADR Refresher Course

If you have already completed your ADR Initial but your certification is soon to expire, you must take the ADR Refresher course to bring your qualifications up to date and continue accepting haulage jobs that involve the transport of dangerous goods. Make sure you schedule your ADR Refresher at least six weeks before the expiration of your DTC to prevent your old certificate from expiring before you are issued with a new one.

Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser

In some cases, haulage and logistics companies involved in the transport of dangerous goods must appoint a qualified Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser. This person is responsible for dangerous goods compliance and ensuring incidents or accidents that may occur on haulage jobs are properly investigated and reported. If you are considering this role at your company, the Freight Transport Association offers a five-day course and exam towards certification.

Non-Driver Responsibilities

A couple of half-day courses are offered for non-driver employees called Dangerous Goods Awareness and Receiving Deliveries of Petroleum Products. Employees such as packers, loaders, warehouse workers and supervisors may not be driving dangerous load haulage jobs but are involved in other ways – such as the handling and loading of hazardous cargo onto trucks. These courses involve specific safety training based on individual functions to inform and prepare employees to handle dangerous goods legally and safely.

Hauling dangerous goods is an important job, and not to be taken lightly. Regulations and certifications are in place to ensure the haulage and logistics industry runs smoothly and that you can do your job both efficiently and safely.

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulage jobs with available drivers. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.