ADR Licence for HGV Drivers: What It Is, What It Costs and Is It Worth It?

If you drive Class 1 for long enough, you will see ADR on job adverts. Some drivers ignore it. Others get it done and find a lot more work opens up. Here is the plain version of what it is and whether it is worth your time.

What ADR actually is

ADR is the certificate that lets you carry dangerous goods by road. Think fuel, chemicals, gases and similar loads. It is not a separate licence card. It is a training certificate that sits alongside your Class 1 licence and your digi card.

You need it to move dangerous goods above certain limits. Without it, you simply cannot take those loads.

What the training involves

• →A Core course covers the basics for all dangerous goods: labelling, documents, what to do in an incident.
• →Specialist modules are added on top. Tanker work needs the tanks module. Explosives and radioactive loads have their own modules.
• →You sit multiple-choice exams at the end of the course.
• →The certificate is valid for five years. Before it runs out you do a refresher and re-sit to renew.

Course lengths and prices vary between training providers, so ask a few for a quote before you book. Some employers and clients will contribute towards training for the right driver, so it is worth asking.

Is it worth getting?

For most Class 1 drivers, yes. Fewer drivers hold the ticket, so those who do are easier to place and are often paid more for it. ADR work tends to be steady because clients cannot just swap in any driver.

It will not suit everyone. Some drivers do not want the extra responsibility or paperwork, and that is fair. But if you want more choice of work and a better position when rates are discussed, it is one of the best tickets to hold.

Keep it in date

Put your expiry date in your phone with a reminder a few months ahead. Letting it lapse means a full re-do and weeks of missed work. Keep your digi card, CPC and ADR dates all in one place so nothing catches you out.

How pay works with BWN

At BWN we guarantee a minimum of £1,000 for a five-day week, which is a minimum of £200 per shift across five shifts, Monday to Friday. If a shift runs short you still get your £200. If it runs long, the hourly rate applies, which can be up to £25 per hour depending on the job. You are paid from tacho card in to tacho card out, with no break deductions, and we pay weekly.

“They're honest about the job before you start, answer the phone when you need them and the pay has always been right.”