I pass my class 1 in February this year, is it worth getting the ADR under my belt or should I hang on for a bit till I’ve got a bit more experience ?
More driving experience is good, but If doesn’t hurt if you got the spare cash and don’t mind forking out anywhere from £500 plus for the course which runs over five days ,its valid for 5 years once passed
It can be handy to have if you intend on specialising, try and get a course that incorporates tankers … then you can generally drive none hazardous tanker stuff … certainly widens up the opportunities
This may help pal…
Swampey2418:
… try and get a course that incorporates tankers … then you can generally drive none hazardous tanker stuff …
Hi Swampey2418,
I’m not sure I follow your quoted comment… 
A tanker is no different to any other kind of vehicle, the driver just needs the correct category of driving licence to drive it.
Tankers can be of licence categories B, C1, C or C+E.
A tanker driver only needs an ADR licence if the ‘stuff’ being carried in the tanker actually counts as dangerous goods.
A driver driving a tanker that’s not carrying dangerous goods doesn’t need an ADR licence.
My advice to anybody taking an ADR course (based on teaching ADR for 10+ years) is that the tanker module is optional and should only be considered by those who have a realistic prospect of needing to drive a tanker that will carry dangerous goods.
Given that this is the Newbies’ Forum, my general advice to newbies is that they can save some money (and 1.5ish days of being off the road in a classroom) by opting not to take the tanker module, because they’re unlikely to need it whilst they’re so new to the industry.
Some ADR providers don’t explain this point very clearly (if at all,) and actually tell people that an ADR course lasts for 5 days, which is NOT true.
newboy23:
I pass my class 1 in February this year, is it worth getting the ADR under my belt or should I hang on for a bit till I’ve got a bit more experience ?
Hi newboy23,
That’s a good idea you’ve had, but the likelihood of you actually using an ADR card will depend on several factors, such as the type of work you’re going to do, as well as your location. Some parts of the country have a greater or lesser need for ADR drivers than other parts.
Having said that, it then needs saying that having an ADR card can give you an advantage when you’re looking for work, because it would allow you to consider work which would not be an option without you having the ADR card.
Sorry mate, but there’s no easy answer to your question…
… unless you live somewhere like Runcorn, Teesside or Southampton (as examples.)
Dave
My bad… and thanks for putting me right on what I’ve misinformed Newboy…I do view having an ADR course as an additional string to anyone’s bow but your right it really depends on location location location…and your right, who’s really going to let a newly qualified driver out on the road with a tanker of hazardous material… just like giving a kid a grenade to play with if you know my meaning
But in the same respects you’ve clarified a point,
A few months ago I applied for a job at a water company who advertised for a Class 1 tanker driver, advert proceeded to state transporting non hazardous material and further down the stated that an ADR was requirement for the role… contacted them for an interview and wasn’t offered on due to the fact I didn’t have a ADR…but when I stated there wasn’t a need for one… some office jockey told me it was a legal requirement…which I said was BS
Maybe I should have message you when I had the challenge…
As a Newbie who is using their ADR every day, that is only because the palletised delivery company I work for, is part of the HazChem pallet network (if that’s it correct name) And it is a useful string to my bow, as I do feel that if the company had to let some of the agency guys go, I don’t think I would be the first, as i’m one of the few with ADR! 
It also give me a good excuse when I’m anally retentive, and strap the crap out of a load i don’t like the look of! 
I carry some pretty nasty stuff some days, but not in massive quantities, as it’s generally one pallet, and less than a cubic metre…