ADR Advice Thanks

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
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With me considering returning to driving, we had a customer in today at work that gave me some good advice…

(He was wearing his haulage companies logoed fleece so we got talking about me returning to driving)…

He’s a big TM for a specialist haulage co’ near me, and he said, if I’m going to return, (I also explained that I need my DCPC first), I should also get my ADR too…

Where do I even start!!■■ :open_mouth: :confused:

All I know so far is, after ringing a training co to enquire about your ADR, certain ‘packages’ count to either 21 or 28 hours toward your DCPC…

So ‘ANY’, other / more info would be grateful too…

Oh, and one thing the customer did end on though, was about this so called ‘driver shortage’…

‘There’s not a shortage of drivers - there’s a shortage of GOOD DRIVERS!!!’…

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When i took my ADR course 3 years ago i took all classes which was a 5 day course including the test.
From this i gained 24 hours towards my DCPC.

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28 hours for packages and tanks, if you do packages only it’s 21 hours towards your DCPC.

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4

Goldfinger:
With me considering returning to driving, we had a customer in today at work that gave me some good advice…

(He was wearing his haulage companies logoed fleece so we got talking about me returning to driving)…

He’s a big TM for a specialist haulage co’ near me, and he said, if I’m going to return, (I also explained that I need my DCPC first), I should also get my ADR too…

Where do I even start!!■■ :open_mouth: :confused:

All I know so far is, after ringing a training co to enquire about your ADR, certain ‘packages’ count to either 21 or 28 hours toward your DCPC…

So ‘ANY’, other / more info would be grateful too…

Hi Goldfinger,

An ADR course is customisable to some extent, so the final choice will come down to how you’ll carry the dangerous goods, which will be in Packages/Bulk OR in tanks. However, you could choose to do both.

Then you’ll need to choose which Classes ( = kinds) of dangerous goods you wish to carry.

Everybody’s ADR course course will usually start with the “Core” module, which is general background knowledge about dangerous goods, then you add your choices from above.

The commonest choice made by most people is Core + Packages + 7 out of the 9 Classes.
(Class 1 Explosives and Class 7 Radioactives are very specialised and quite expensive, so most people don’t do them)

Then we come to DCPC… Once you’ve made your choices (above) you can choose to have either 7, 14, 21 or 28hrs DCPC, or you can choose to just ‘sit in’ some of the ADR lessons for DCPC purposes and not take the ADR exam that goes with that lesson, which makes it cheaper if you wish.

5

So what are you saying Dave…■■?

Do my ADR ‘first’, the go for only the remaining hours needed for my DCPC??

Also, what’s better to have…■■

Packages only, tanks only, or (no doubt) both?

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We put the drivers throuh ADR and with the explosives get the 28 hours and top up with 7 hours on whatever we feel makes the most sense.

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Goldfinger:
So what are you saying Dave…■■?

Do my ADR ‘first’, the go for only the remaining hours needed for my DCPC??

Also, what’s better to have…■■

Packages only, tanks only, or (no doubt) both?

If any drivers taked ADR TRAINING -package,core and all classes (but not tanks) that you can pay extra 75 pound and you get 21 hours CPC.And you get this hours if you pass ADR or not.

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Goldfinger:
So what are you saying Dave…■■?

Do my ADR ‘first’, the go for only the remaining hours needed for my DCPC??

Hi Goldfinger,

That’s one possibility, but you do have other choices.
Doing ADR first would leave you with knowing your target for ‘pure’ DCPC top-up, but you can do a couple of DCPC modules whilst you wait for your ADR start date to come around.

Goldfinger:
Also, what’s better to have…■■

Packages only, tanks only, or (no doubt) both?

That’s absolutely your choice mate.

If you think that there’s a possibility that you need the ‘tanks’ module of ADR, then go for it.

Giving you honest impartial advice, I’d say that the ‘tanks’ module will occupy a couple of days of your time, so if you don’t think you’ll need it, then it might be better to swerve it and go for the cheaper (and probably quicker) option of doing a couple of days ‘pure’ DCPC.

Depending on whereabouts in the country you are, and the competition for DCPC candidates locally, then you might get a decent deal on a couple of days ‘pure’ DCPC.

:bulb: Many drivers complain about the DCPC, but there are a lot of possible choices to do some DCPC that’s actually relevant to your interests. Many providers have got FLT, First-Aid and HIAB courses that you can have DCPC added.

This is also very true…

Andrejs:
If any drivers taked ADR TRAINING -package,core and all classes (but not tanks) that you can pay extra 75 pound and you get 21 hours CPC.And you get this hours if you pass ADR or not.

In other words, you’d get your DCPC hours for an ADR course even if you were (very unlikely) to completely fail all of the ADR exams.

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Interesting info Dave, thanks…

Can you ‘define’ the ‘tanks’ class please?

Just to see if it is worth doing that class…?

BTW, I’m based in SE Northumberland, Just outside Newcastle upon Tyne.

I’m just weighing my options on what classes to do, and then seeing who may need them classes to then be ‘more’ employable…

That’s if you understand what I mean - no use taking the tanks class, if there’s no one round here that needs a tanker driver… :confused:

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Goldfinger:
Interesting info Dave, thanks…

Can you ‘define’ the ‘tanks’ class please?

Just to see if it is worth doing that class…?

Hi Goldfinger,

The ADR tanks module is needed on a driver’s ADR card for when a driver needs to drive a tank-vehicle ( = tanker **>1,000L) or tank-container (>**3,000L) that carries any amount of dangerous goods, whether loaded or empty.

The ADR tanks module will always take longer than one calendar day to complete, because there is a rule in the SQA Manual of Practice (= ADR tutor’s bible) that says that an ADR tanks module must contain one overnight break.

Timetabling is a matter for an ADR provider to adjust to suit themselves, as long as the syllabus and programme are followed.
An (initial) ADR tanker module cannot be less than 10 X 45min lessons.

Goldfinger:
BTW, I’m based in SE Northumberland, Just outside Newcastle upon Tyne.

There are a number of ADR providers within easy distance of you.
Do you have enough contact details for different providers to allow you to make a good choice?

Goldfinger:
I’m just weighing my options on what classes to do, and then seeing who may need them classes to then be ‘more’ employable…

That’s if you understand what I mean - no use taking the tanks class, if there’s no one round here that needs a tanker driver… :confused:

IMHO, that’s a very wise way of going about it, if you don’t mind me saying so. :smiley:

My honest advice is that you take ADR Core, Packages and Classes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, which will give you a very general qualification to carry dangerous goods in packages (Drums, IBCs, boxes, jerricans, crates etc) and loose loaded in bulk tippers and skips.
I’d advise that you opt for 21hrs DCPC to go with it, because you’ll get the 21hrs DCPC just for turning up, which kills two birds with one stone!! This is the option that most people take.

The tanker module and its possible 7hrs (not all providers offer 7hrs DCPC with the tanker module, so it’s best to ask) is entirely your choice to make, but I’d advise you to consider whether you’ll actually need the tanker qualification.
Just for completeness, it is possible to add the tanker qualification at any time later if it turns out that you need it, and you’re not even tied to using the same provider.

On the other hand, some providers offer their tanker module with 7hrs DCPC for silly (cheap) money if you’ve taken the options I’ve suggested above.

I’ve never worked for any of the providers up your way so I couldn’t say who’s better/cheaper than another, so all I can do is to offer some contact details for them if you need them.

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Brilliant info Dave…

Even more questions though… :blush: :blush: :blush:

Would I need the tank module for carrying ‘several’ IBC’s of whatever substance??

Or does the meaning ‘tank module’ mean just that - ‘for a ‘wheeled / driven’ tanker’■■

As I said, why get the tanker module, if there’s no need for it…■■?

(As an example, I live about an hours drive from the Hartlepool / Seal Sands chemical plants etc - and that’s on a good day / clear road…)

And as for ADR and DCPC training providers…

I’ve only contacted one (so far). Tyneside Training Services (TTS) at Kingston Park, Newcastle. They’re the easiest for me to get to from where I live.

After that, I need to ‘travel’…

TTS have emailed some prices for different packages, do you want me to PM or post them up so you can see if they’re reasonable??

Have I missed anything here…■■?

I’d rather ask too many questions, than not enough and get it wrong! :open_mouth:

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Goldfinger:
Brilliant info Dave…

Even more questions though… :blush: :blush: :blush:

Would I need the tank module for carrying ‘several’ IBC’s of whatever substance??

Hi Goldfinger,

If you have another look at my post above, IBC’s count as packages (no matter how many you carry…) and I’ve been careful to define when an ADR tanks licence is needed.

Dave’s ADR trivia…
:bulb: An IBC can be as big as 3,000L, but even then, it’s still a package (no matter how many you carry.) :smiley:

The ADR exams are a bit like that too… very careful reading is needed because there are (very often) some very good clues in the questions. :wink:

Goldfinger:
Or does the meaning ‘tank module’ mean just that - ‘for a ‘wheeled / driven’ tanker’■■

From above:
The ADR tanks module is needed on a driver’s ADR card for when a driver needs to drive a tank-vehicle ( = tanker >1,000L) or tank-container (>3,000L) that carries any amount of dangerous goods, whether loaded or empty.

Goldfinger:
As I said, why get the tanker module, if there’s no need for it…■■?

My point exactly!!
However, some providers will offer their tanker module at a silly (cheap) price, so it might pay you to consider it.

Goldfinger:
And as for ADR and DCPC training providers…

I’ve only contacted one (so far). Tyneside Training Services (TTS) at Kingston Park, Newcastle. They’re the easiest for me to get to from where I live.

After that, I need to ‘travel’…

TTS have emailed some prices for different packages, do you want me to PM or post them up so you can see if they’re reasonable??

Have I missed anything here…■■?

I’d rather ask too many questions, than not enough and get it wrong! :open_mouth:

Ahh, OK… understood.

I couldn’t comment on prices up your way because they do vary around the country due to competition and geography, but I’d imagine that there’s good competition in your area, so prices probably won’t be too expensive.

An extra tip:

When you discuss money with the chosen provider, not all of them make things as clear as they could do, so please make sure that you specifically ask about whether the following are quoted:

  • Exam fees
  • DCPC fees
  • VAT

That will help you to avoid nasty surprises. :wink:

13

Well, just rang TTS, and they’ve quoted £513.75…

Now that’s for… ADR, core, packages, 7 classes AND the remaining two days needed for your DCPC…

£396.25 INCLUDING test fees

£117.50 for two days DCPC

£513.75 NO vat

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Goldfinger:
Well, just rang TTS, and they’ve quoted £513.75…

Now that’s for… ADR, core, packages, 7 classes AND the remaining two days needed for your DCPC…

£396.25 INCLUDING test fees

£117.50 for two days DCPC

£513.75 NO vat

Hi Goldfinger,

I’ve no idea how they can do it without VAT, but you know what they say about gift horses… :wink:

That’s a very good price indeed, so it looks like you’re sorted!! :smiley:

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Going to talk it over with the wife…

(NOT ASK IF I CAN DO IT!!), but if ‘we*’ can do it…

*Work around her job / hours, kids, school etc…

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There are not many companies up here that do ADR the other would poss be Tyne & Wear HGV Training but that is on the Felling By pass ( Not far from me Dave )

They would prob charge the same but my advice is only do what you need to & make the rest of dcpc with other i.e. for you Drivers hours as a recap not saying that you don’t know them but a recap is alway good

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animal:
There are not many companies up here that do ADR the other would poss be Tyne & Wear HGV Training but that is on the Felling By pass ( Not far from me Dave )

They would prob charge the same but my advice is only do what you need to & make the rest of dcpc with other i.e. for you Drivers hours as a recap not saying that you don’t know them but a recap is alway good

That sounds like great advice!!

I’ve done my best, but I can’t compete with ‘native’ knowledge. :wink: :laughing: :laughing:

18

Well…

I’m going to go for it.

And as for which course to go for, I’m going to take a bit of a ‘gamble’, and do 7 classes AND the tanks! :open_mouth:

Too many people I’ve spoke to so far have said to do everything - not either / or…

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Goldfinger:
Well…

I’m going to go for it.

And as for which course to go for, I’m going to take a bit of a ‘gamble’, and do 7 classes AND the tanks! :open_mouth:

Too many people I’ve spoke to so far have said to do everything - not either / or…

My honest advice…

If you don’t think there’s much prospect of you needing to drive a tanker or tank-container, then I’d say leave out the tanker module because you can save appox 1.5 days and at least £100 and one round trip to the training provider if you do. :bulb:

If you’re thinking of IBCs of up to 3,000L, they count as packages, so you wouldn’t need the tanker module, because they’re NOT tanks in spite of what others might tell you. (They’re wrong, trust me! :wink: )

BTW, don’t let a training provider tell you that an ADR course is 5 days, cos it isn’t. :smiley:

I’d honestly say that you could get away with 3.5 days if there’s no realistic prospect of you needing to be involved with tanks.

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As an example, I know these guys want you to have both packages and tanks…

lubbers.net/

I don’t think they have any ‘tankers’ though…