Dangerous Goods Transport (ADR)
Logisticoo transports dangerous goods under ADR safely and in full compliance — from a single pallet of paints or aerosols to a full load of chemicals, with a fixed-price quote within 30 minutes. We carry the common ADR classes of road transport: Class 2 (gases), 3 (flammable liquids), 4.1, 5.1 (oxidising substances), 6.1 (toxic substances), 8 (corrosive substances) and 9 (miscellaneous dangerous substances, including lithium batteries); excluded classes such as 1 (explosives) and 7 (radioactive material) we assess case by case. The service includes ADR-trained drivers, properly equipped vehicles, the checking of your UN numbers, packing groups and mixed-loading prohibitions, as well as correct transport documents under ADR Chapter 5.4 — overseen by our dangerous goods safety adviser. We frequently save customers effort via the 1,000-point rule (ADR 1.1.3.6): if your shipment stays below the threshold, exemptions apply that your personal dispatcher calculates in advance. Limited-quantity shipments travel within the regular network, correctly marked and documented. Collection in 147 German cities, ADR runs to 55 countries — also as an express direct transport when production is waiting for the material, and with a personal dispatcher who knows your recurring dangerous goods lanes.
Service features
- ADR classes 2, 3, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 8 and 9 in regular service (classes 1 and 7 on request)
- ADR-trained drivers and equipped vehicles (hazard panels, fire extinguishers, protective equipment)
- Checking of UN number, packing group, tunnel code and mixed-loading prohibitions before accepting the order
- 1,000-point calculation and LQ handling to reduce costs
- Transport documents and marking under ADR Chapter 5.4 included
- A dangerous goods safety adviser as the expert authority behind every transport
Or call us directly: +49 30 346 467 850
When an ADR transport applies — and which classes we carry
As soon as a substance is listed in the ADR and exceeds the exempt quantities, dangerous goods law applies — and that covers far more than pure chemicals. Everyday examples are paints, varnishes and thinners (Class 3), spray cans and aerosols (Class 2), cleaning agents and corrosives (Class 8), fertilisers (Class 5.1), crop-protection products and biocides (Class 6.1), as well as lithium batteries and battery packs (Class 9, UN 3480/3481). These classes we carry in regular service. Explosives (Class 1) and radioactive material (Class 7) require special authorisations and we assess them case by case. Decisive for classification is the safety data sheet, section 14: it gives the UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group — the four details with which we determine admissibility and requirements.
Equipment, documents and the 1,000-point rule
Our vehicles are ADR-equipped — orange hazard panels, fire extinguishers with the appropriate extinguishing capacity, wheel chocks, eye rinse and personal protective equipment per equipment list 8.1.5 — and the drivers hold the ADR certificate. Before acceptance we check mixed-loading prohibitions, the tunnel restriction code and the permitted packaging; we prepare the transport documents under Chapter 5.4 correctly, including the transport category. The key lever for costs is the 1,000-point rule under ADR 1.1.3.6: the quantity per transport category is multiplied by a factor (50, 3 or 1); if the total stays below 1,000 points, the hazard-panel requirement, part of the equipment and the vehicle marking requirement no longer apply. Limited quantities (LQ) and exempted amounts even travel within the normal general-cargo network — the dispatcher calculates both in advance.
ADR on the road, IATA in the air, IMDG at sea — the distinction
Dangerous goods rules are mode-specific and vary in strictness. The ADR governs road transport and is the most practical — with reliefs such as the 1,000-point rule and LQ. The IATA-DGR for air freight are considerably tighter: smaller quantity limits, stricter packaging, and some things that travel by road are banned entirely on aircraft (such as loose lithium-ion cells on passenger planes). The IMDG Code governs sea freight with its own packaging and stowage rules. A substance may therefore move by truck without difficulty, by air only under restrictions, and by sea in yet another way. For multimodal shipments we align the classification to the strictest mode involved, so the same packaging and documentation carry across the entire chain.
What does a dangerous goods transport cost?
The base calculation follows the usual kilometre guide prices (±15%): Sprinter van ~€1.10/km from €89, 7.5 t truck ~€1.45/km from €169, 12 t truck ~€1.65/km from €219, articulated truck ~€1.95/km from €379. The ADR surcharge arises from equipment, driver qualification, documentation and, where applicable, mixed-loading restrictions that limit co-loading. Example: a pallet of paints (Class 3, below 1,000 points) from Frankfurt to Berlin (around 545 km) on the 7.5-tonne truck falls roughly in the €850–1,050 range. If the shipment stays below the 1,000-point limit or within LQ, you save the hazard-panel and equipment effort — which is exactly why the dispatcher works through the classification before every booking and quotes the fixed price within 30 minutes.
Common ADR classes in road transport
| Class | Dangerous goods | Typical example | Special feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Gases | Aerosol cans, compressed-gas cylinders | Ventilation, observe tunnel code |
| 3 | Flammable liquids | Paints, varnishes, thinners | Often LQ / 1,000-point eligible |
| 6.1 | Toxic substances | Crop protection, biocides | Mixed-loading prohibition with foodstuffs |
| 8 | Corrosive substances | Acids, alkalis, cleaners | Acid-resistant load securing |
| 9 | Miscellaneous dangerous substances | Lithium batteries UN 3480/3481 | State of charge & packaging checked |
Frequently asked questions
What details do you need for a dangerous goods quote?
The UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group (given in the safety data sheet, section 14), plus quantity, type of packaging and lane. With these we check admissibility, tunnel restrictions and the 1,000-point rule — and you receive the fixed price within 30 minutes.
What does the 1,000-point rule mean for my costs?
Under ADR 1.1.3.6, dangerous goods quantities are converted into points using a factor per transport category. If the load stays below 1,000 points, orange hazard panels and part of the equipment requirement, among others, no longer apply — the transport becomes simpler and cheaper. We work this out for you before every booking.
Do you also transport lithium batteries?
Yes, as Class 9 (UN 3480/3481 for loose cells, UN 3481 in/with equipment). We check the design type, watt-hours, state of charge and the prescribed packaging under the ADR special provisions and mark them correctly. For pure road transport this is well manageable; if the shipment is also to go by air freight, the stricter IATA-DGR apply, which we clarify in advance.
What are limited quantities and what do they gain me?
Limited quantities (LQ) are dangerous goods in small inner packagings below defined quantity thresholds. They are exempt from many ADR obligations, need only the LQ diamond as marking, and may travel within the normal general-cargo network. That makes them considerably cheaper than full dangerous goods — whether your shipment is LQ-eligible we check based on the substance and packaging size.
What does a dangerous goods transport cost?
The basis is the kilometre guide prices (Sprinter van ~€1.10/km, 7.5 t ~€1.45/km, FTL ~€1.95/km, ±15%) plus an ADR surcharge for equipment, qualification and documentation. A pallet of paints (Class 3, below 1,000 points) Frankfurt–Berlin on the 7.5-tonne truck comes to roughly €850–1,050. If the shipment stays below the point limit or within LQ, the surcharge drops — we quote the fixed price within 30 minutes.