Im currently driving for a agriculture supplier, do I need a adr license for delivering fertiliser?. Been told I do by another driver but never been mentioned before.
The forum expert is Diesel Dave. I expect he’ll be along shortly. Sorry I cant help; it’s a very specialised field and I prefer to stay out of it!
Pete 
ytre:
Im currently driving for a agriculture supplier, do I need a adr license for delivering fertiliser?. Been told I do by another driver but never been mentioned before.
Hi ytre,
I will be able to give you a good answer, but I need a little more info please…
Could you please tell me the following:
The four-digit UN number and name of the fertiliser?
The size/type of the package(s) in kgs
(Eg, bottles in boxes, drums or poly bulk bags aka IBCs)
How many packages will you carry on your vehicle at one time?
Hello Dave, majority of it is in poly 600kg bags, most id carry would be 4 bags, also carry the odd load of 50 kg plastic fertiliser bags cant see the 4 digit number you talk about but ive included a few pics to let you see the bags. Hope this helps.
ytre:
Hello Dave, majority of it is in poly 600kg bags, most id carry would be 4 bags, also carry the odd load of 50 kg plastic fertiliser bags cant see the 4 digit number you talk about but ive included a few pics to let you see the bags. Hope this helps.
Hi ytre,
What the other driver told you isn’t quite true…
It’s a bit too simplistic to say that “you need an ADR licence for fertiliser.”
It’s more accurate to say that an ADR lice is need for some fertiliser(s) and even when that’s true, it depends on the quantity carried on board your vehicle.
From the pics you’ve posted and the info you’ve given, it looks like we’re dealing with the kinds of fertiliser that doesn’t count as dangerous goods, so no ADR licence would be needed for the fertiliser in your pics, regardless of the quantity carried.
ADR only regulates ‘proper’ dangerous goods that have UN numbers and a diamond-shaped label on the package.
You’ve looked and found no UN number, and you’ve not mentioned seeing any diamond-shaped labels on the bags, so the fertiliser isn’t legally regarded as ‘proper’ dangerous goods.
From what you’ve said, you’re in the clear. 
As an example of a fertiliser that IS regulated by ADR, we can think of Ammonium Nitrate.
Delivery documentation for that should be written as follows…
UN 2067 AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILISER, 5.1, PGIII
The “UN 2067” identifies it as a dangerous substance.
The “AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILISER” is its correct legal name for transport.
The “5.1” is it’s UN danger class. ( 5.1 means that it is an Oxidising Agent)
The “PGIII” means that it presents a low danger.
The “5.1” on the documentation also means that this label must be shown on the packages:
Even though the stuff in the example above counts as ‘proper’ dangerous goods, you are allowed to carry 1,000kg of it at a time without an ADR licence.
Now you know what to look for, please post up if you find anything written on paperwork or on the bags.
I use a couple of apps to help me along, ADR Free and Hazchem
Thanks Dave that’s brilliant and a great help, the other driver must be carrying ammonium nitrate and assumed that all drivers carrying fertiliser must have adr. Thanks again Dave.
dieseldave:
ytre:
Hello Dave, majority of it is in poly 600kg bags, most id carry would be 4 bags, also carry the odd load of 50 kg plastic fertiliser bags cant see the 4 digit number you talk about but ive included a few pics to let you see the bags. Hope this helps.Hi ytre,
What the other driver told you isn’t quite true…
It’s a bit too simplistic to say that “you need an ADR licence for fertiliser.”
It’s more accurate to say that an ADR lice is need for some fertiliser(s) and even when that’s true, it depends on the quantity carried on board your vehicle.
From the pics you’ve posted and the info you’ve given, it looks like we’re dealing with the kinds of fertiliser that doesn’t count as dangerous goods, so no ADR licence would be needed for the fertiliser in your pics, regardless of the quantity carried.
ADR only regulates ‘proper’ dangerous goods that have UN numbers and a diamond-shaped label on the package.
You’ve looked and found no UN number, and you’ve not mentioned seeing any diamond-shaped labels on the bags, so the fertiliser isn’t legally regarded as ‘proper’ dangerous goods.
From what you’ve said, you’re in the clear.
As an example of a fertiliser that IS regulated by ADR, we can think of Ammonium Nitrate.
Delivery documentation for that should be written as follows…
UN 2067 AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILISER, 5.1, PGIII
The “UN 2067” identifies it as a dangerous substance.
The “AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILISER” is its correct legal name for transport.
The “5.1” is it’s UN danger class. ( 5.1 means that it is an Oxidising Agent)
The “PGIII” means that it presents a low danger.The “5.1” on the documentation also means that this label must be shown on the packages:
0
Even though the stuff in the example above counts as ‘proper’ dangerous goods, you are allowed to carry 1,000kg of it at a time without an ADR licence.
PaulNowak:
I use a couple of apps to help me along, ADR Free and Hazchem
Hi Paul,
I can’t comment on whether “apps” are accurate because I don’t use them.
I’m guessing here, but your apps probably don’t cover ytre’s question.
ADR apps have no legal validity and probably contain some kind of disclaimer, so they’re pretty much worthless tbh.
A consignor (= sender) and a carrier (= vehicle owner) both have a legal duty to appoint a properly qualified (= certificated) DGSA whose duty it is to deal with the monitoring and advising of ADR matters at a company.
Please be careful mate, cos your apps won’t carry any weight if you’re stop-checked by Police/VOSA/HSE and found not to be compliant.