ADR dangerous goods transport by road across Europe

Need to move dangerous goods (ADR) between the Iberian Peninsula —Spain and Portugal— and the rest of Europe? At InstantFreight we handle the carriage of ADR goods by road to 32 European countries, both inbound and outbound.

We know the regulations, the tunnel and driving restrictions that shape the route, and the customs requirements of destinations outside the European Union. International carriage only: we do not move ADR goods domestically within a single country.

What do you need to move?

B2B transport for businesses.

Choose the type of transport and start your quote.

LTL groupageBoxes, packages, pallets, lots, loose items or by loading meter — you pay for the space you use.Binding price in 5 seconds FTL full loadDedicated vehicles for your goods, whether it's 1 or 50. Tautliners, box trucks and reefers.

Get your ADR quote for Europe

We cover routes from anywhere in Spain and Portugal to the whole of Europe, and back.

For international groupage you get an instant online price; for full truckloads we confirm the rate the same day. Some combinations of class, quantity and destination need operational confirmation before we can give a firm price; if that is your case, we tell you right away.

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European coverage: 32 countries, with and without customs

No customs clearance (European Union)

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden

Customs clearance required

Andorra
Monaco
Norway
Serbia
Switzerland
Türkiye
United Kingdom

Within the European Union goods move in free circulation, but ADR still applies: a customs exemption does not exempt you from the dangerous goods regime. For destinations outside the European Union, export or import clearance is added and, where applicable, T1 transit. More detail in customs procedures.

What we specialise in

Beyond experience, our specialisation translates into direct benefits for your business.

Customs clearance and documentation

We handle the complete documentation for your ADR consignment: the CMR consignment note with the mandatory ADR particulars, the dangerous goods declaration (DGD), the product safety data sheet, UN packaging certification and the instructions in writing for the driver in the required languages. For destinations outside the European Union we add clearance and transit.

Country-by-country regulatory knowledge

ADR is a harmonised agreement, but each country applies its own driving restrictions: tunnel categories, weekend and public holiday bans, limitations on Alpine and Pyrenean passes, and its own documentary requirements in border areas.

Vehicles and drivers

We assign each consignment the approved vehicle its class calls for —curtainsider or box trailer, ventilated when the class requires it—, carrying the safety equipment ADR requires: orange-coloured plates, hazard labels and placards, fire extinguishers and emergency equipment. We work with ADR-approved carriers whose drivers hold a valid certificate for the classes and vehicle types they carry. See our cargo vehicle types.

Transit times by zone

Estimated transit times by European destination zone
Destination zone	Transit
Spain ↔ Portugal	1 – 3 days
France, Benelux, Germany, northern Italy	2 – 5 days
Central and Eastern Europe	5 – 7 days
Scandinavia and the Baltics	5 – 9 days
Southern Italy, Greece, Türkiye	5 – 10 days

We confirm the exact lead time when we quote, with the destination's driving restrictions already factored in.

ADR transport modes

Three ways to move your dangerous goods, according to class, quantity and urgency.

ADR full truckload (FTL)

A dedicated vehicle for your consignment. No intermediate handling and no consolidation with other cargo: it carries the least risk and is the only viable option for certain class and quantity combinations.

ADR groupage (LTL)

We consolidate ADR consignments into groupage where the regulations allow it. ADR sets out mixed loading prohibitions between certain classes, which prevent incompatible substances from travelling in the same vehicle. We always verify compatibility before confirming consolidation.

ADR express

For urgent dangerous goods consignments, with a dedicated vehicle and continuous driving.

ADR classes we carry

We carry all classes except Class 1 (explosives), Class 6.2 (infectious substances) and Class 7 (radioactive material).

ADR classes of dangerous goods we carry, with typical product examples
Class	What it covers	Typical examples
2	Compressed, liquefied or dissolved gases	Aerosols, propane, butane, refrigerant gases
3	Flammable liquids	Paints, solvents, fuels
4	Flammable solids, self-reactive substances and substances liable to spontaneous combustion	Sulphur, phosphorus, activated carbon, ferrous metal turnings
5	Oxidising substances and organic peroxides	Hydrogen peroxide, fertilisers, ammonium nitrate*
6.1	Toxic substances	Pesticides and plant protection products, cyanides, toxic solvents
8	Corrosive substances	Acids, industrial cleaning products
9	Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles: lithium batteries, waste	Electric vehicle batteries, electronics
1 · 6.2 · 7	Explosives · Infectious · Radioactive	Not carried

* Ammonium nitrate: only in grades classified as Class 5.1. Depending on its formulation it may fall under Class 1, which we do not carry.

See the full classification in our guide to the 9 classes of dangerous goods, and what the UN number and Kemler code mean in our UN numbers and labels guide.

Is your cargo exempt from ADR?

Dangerous goods do not always travel under the full ADR regime. There are three routes to partial or total exemption:

Limited quantities (LQ)

Product in small inner packagings within packages that do not exceed a maximum gross mass. It reduces documentation and vehicle requirements, while packaging and marking obligations remain.

Excepted quantities (EQ)

Very small quantities per inner packaging and per package. The simplification is almost total.

The 1,000-point rule

Each substance carries a multiplier based on its hazard. If the load's total does not reach 1,000 points, requirements such as orange-coloured plates or the driver certificate are waived.

If you are not sure whether your consignment falls into one of these categories, tell us when you request a quote and we will check: it can change the cost significantly.

Mandatory documentation for an ADR consignment

Allocation of documentary responsibilities in an ADR consignment
Document	Who provides it
CMR consignment note with ADR particulars	InstantFreight
Dangerous goods declaration (DGD)	The consignor, with our review
Product safety data sheet (SDS)	The consignor
Instructions in writing for the driver	The carrier
UN packaging certification	The consignor or the manufacturer
Driver's ADR certificate	The carrier
Vehicle certificate of approval (where the vehicle requires one)	The carrier
Customs documentation (destinations outside the European Union)	InstantFreight
Waste shipment notification	Case by case

Driving restrictions in Europe

Tunnels

European tunnels are graded in categories A to E according to the goods they admit. The tunnel restriction code appears on the consignment note and shapes the route: certain class and quantity combinations cannot pass through particular mountain tunnels.

Driving bans

Several countries restrict the movement of dangerous goods at weekends, on public holidays and during specific time windows. Those windows vary by country and affect the delivery date.

Dangerous goods insurance

A carrier's liability under the CMR Convention is capped by weight, not by the value of your goods. For products such as chemicals or lithium batteries that gap can be very wide. We arrange dedicated cargo insurance for the declared value of the consignment. More information in our transport insurance guide.

Chemical transport

We move industrial chemical product to and from the Peninsula's main chemical clusters — Tarragona, Huelva, Puertollano, Sines and Estarreja — to destinations across Europe. See our chemical and dangerous goods transport page.

Sectors we serve

Chemicals and petrochemicals

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Pharmaceutical and high-value cargo

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Automotive and heavy manufacturing

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Technology products

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Raw materials and construction

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Dangerous goods resources

Dangerous goods declaration (DGD) · UN numbers and hazard labels · The 9 classes of dangerous goods · CMR consignment note · Road transport documentation · Transport insurance · Customs · Incoterms · Goods packaging

Frequently asked questions about ADR transport in Europe

01.Which ADR classes does InstantFreight carry?

All except Class 1 (explosives), Class 6.2 (infectious substances) and Class 7 (radioactive material): gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidising, toxic and corrosive substances, lithium batteries and hazardous waste.

02.What documentation do I need to export dangerous goods to Europe?

A CMR consignment note with the ADR particulars, a dangerous goods declaration, the product safety data sheet and UN packaging certification. For destinations outside the European Union, customs documentation is added. We prepare the transport side; as consignor, you provide the safety data sheet and the packaging certification.

03.How long does ADR transport to Europe take?

Between 1 and 10 days depending on the destination zone. We confirm the exact lead time when we quote, with driving restrictions already factored in.

04.Can dangerous goods be consolidated with other cargo?

Sometimes. ADR prohibits mixed loading of certain class combinations. We verify compatibility before confirming groupage; where it is not possible, the alternative is a full truckload.

05.Could my cargo be exempt from ADR?

It could. There are exemptions for limited quantities (LQ), excepted quantities (EQ) and the 1,000-point rule. Give us the UN number and the quantities and we will check: it changes the cost.

06.Do the drivers hold ADR certificates?

Yes. We work only with ADR-approved carriers whose drivers hold a valid certificate, with the specialisation matching the class and vehicle type.

07.Does the insurance cover the value of my goods?

Liability under CMR is capped per kilo, so for high-value cargo it does not cover the real amount. We arrange dedicated insurance for the declared value of the consignment.

08.Do you carry ADR goods domestically?

No. International carriage only, between Spain or Portugal and the rest of Europe.

09.Do I need a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser?

If you consign, load or unload dangerous goods, most likely yes. The obligation stems from ADR chapter 1.8.3 and depends on the type and quantity of goods you handle. If you are unsure, ask us when you request a quote.