Hazardous freight
SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” offers safe delivery of various types and sizes of cargo within short deadlines throughout Europe and Asia, including oversized, chemical, explosive, and heavy freight. Alongside transportation, we offer professional assistance in arranging all necessary documents, licenses, permits, and customs formalities to transport hazardous cargoes safely (ADR) outside the European Union.
Depending on the specific properties of the dangerous goods and the transportation route, there are several types of transportation for hazardous cargo. SIA “RITLOGISTIKA”’s transportation offer includes various hazardous cargo transportation options: hazardous cargo transportation by road, dangerous cargo transportation by air, and hazardous cargo transportation by sea.
What are dangerous goods or ADR goods?
ADR or dangerous cargo transportation involve cargoes in various states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) that can pose a threat to human health, cause damage to the environment, and harm property. Hazardous cargoes are explosive. They can cause illness, poisoning, burns, or even death to any living being. Dangerous cargo ADR transportation is a widespread mode of transportation for various industry companies and is also encountered by farmers and foresters (for example, transporting nitrogen fertilizers or fuel).
Hazardous cargo transportation has stringent safety requirements and ADR rules, as transportation is only permissible with special vehicles, obtaining appropriate permits and licenses for both the vehicle and the driver licensed to carry out this transportation.
Types of hazardous freight transportation
One of the services SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” offers its clients is delivering dangerous goods. Throughout our company’s operation, we have accumulated considerable experience in the safe transportation of hazardous cargoes (ADR), which requires strict compliance during transportation and cargo trans-loading and storage.
International ADR transportations
The knowledgeable transport managers of SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” provide professional, free consultation on hazardous cargo (ADR) transportation methods, carrying out both local ADR transportation and unsafe cargo transportation in the Baltics, elsewhere in Europe, or outside the European Union. ADR cargo transportation from European countries is realized following the European agreement on the international carriage of hazardous goods by road (ADR).
Hazardous cargo road transportations
SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” services include hazardous cargo road transportation with appropriately equipped, marked, and ADR-compliant vehicles for both full and mixed ADR cargoes. All vehicles designated for dangerous transportation and their qualified drivers have experienced experts in their speciality with a high sense of responsibility and long-term tested professional skills, carrying out various types of ADR transportation.
Marine ADR cargo transportations
To minimize threats to the environment and people, hazardous cargo transportation by sea follows transportation safety measures. Containers with ADR cargo are specially marked with labels indicating the ADR class and the identification number of the substance in the cargo (UN number). If you want to transload hazardous cargo marine transportation in port terminals, you must have a work permit with hazardous cargo.
Dangerous air cargo
During flight, ADR cargoes can be affected by air pressure and temperature fluctuations, so not all types of hazardous cargo transportation by air are permitted. However, with appropriate cargo packaging and if the dangerous cargo class-specific ADR cargo transportation rules are followed, hazardous cargo air transportation can be carried out by cargo aeroplanes and passenger aeroplanes.
Hazardous freight classification
Due to their properties, hazardous cargoes can harm the environment, including all living beings. Dangerous loads are classified or divided into nine classes, depending on the aggressive nature of the substances they contain and their state of matter. International conventions regulate ADR transportation within each cargo transportation type and according to the specificity of each hazardous cargo class.
ADR Class 1 – Explosive substances and articles
The first class includes explosive substances that can cause an explosive chemical reaction under certain pressure and/or temperature and can cause a fire when exploding. In most cases, this class includes products intended for blasting operations or pyrotechnics (for example, fireworks or signal flares).
The first class is divided into six (6) subclasses:
1.1. Subclass – Explosive with a mass explosion hazard, which spreads throughout the load in case of an accident;
1.2. Subclass – Substances with projection hazard but do not present a mass explosion hazard;
1.3. Subclass – Substances with risks of ignition, flash and minor explosion hazard;
1.4. Subclass – Substances with minor explosion hazards that do not cause damage to packaging and/or equipment in case of flash or initiation during transportation;
1.5. Subclass – Substances with very low sensitivity and characterized by mass explosion hazards. Under normal transportation conditions, these substances are so insensitive that their initiation or transition from combustion to detonation is unlikely;
1.6. Subclass – Particularly inert articles, not posing a mass explosion hazard. They are particularly insensitive products against detonation, with a negligible probability of accidental initiation or spread of explosion.
ADR Class 2 – Gases
The second class includes pure gases, gas mixtures, mixtures of one or more gases with one or more other substances, and products containing such substances. ADR class 2 also includes compressed, liquefied, dissolved gas cylinders, and spray aerosols. Gases are classified as asphyxiating, oxidizing, flammable, toxic, and corrosive based on their hazardous properties.
Six (6) subclasses are assigned to the second class:
2.1. Subclass – Non-flammable gases (e.g., aerosols or camping gas cylinders);
2.2. Subclass – Non-flammable and toxic gases (e.g., compressed oxygen);
2.3. Subclass – Flammable gases (e.g., oxygen difluoride);
2.4. Subclass – Flammable toxic gases;
2.5. Subclass – Chemically unstable gases;
2.6. Subclass – Chemically unstable toxic gases.
ADR Class 3 – Flammable liquids
The third class includes flammable liquids, liquid mixtures, as well as liquids containing solids in solution or suspensions that emit flammable vapours. These can also be melted solid substances (flash point >60°C) or substances dissolved in water intended to suppress explosive properties (e.g., solvents or paints).
Three (3) subclasses are assigned to the third class:
3.1. Subclass – Flammable liquids with low flash point – in a closed crucible, the flash point is lower than minus 18 degrees Celsius, or with a flash point along with other hazardous properties;
3.2. Subclass – Flammable liquids with medium flash point – in a closed crucible, the flash point is from minus 18 to plus 23 degrees Celsius.
3.3. Subclass – Flammable liquids with high flash point – in a closed crucible, the flash point is from plus 23 to plus 61 degrees Celsius (inclusive).
ADR Class 4 – Flammable solids
The fourth class includes flammable solids and materials (excluding those classified as explosives) that are prone to easy ignition from external ignition sources, friction, moisture absorption, spontaneous chemical transformation, or heating.
Three (3) subclasses are assigned to the fourth class:
4.1. Subclass – Solid and flammable substances, which actively burn, and are capable of igniting from external ignition sources, such as sparks, flame, or friction (e.g., matches);
4.2. Subclass – Substances that may spontaneously heat up and ignite under normal transportation conditions. Self-heating substances (e.g., phosphorus);
4.3. Subclass – Substances that emit flammable gases when in contact with water (e.g., calcium carbide).
ADR Class 5 – Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides
The fifth class includes oxidizing substances and organic peroxides, which, by releasing oxygen, can sustain or cause combustion or, in mixture with other substances, cause an explosion.
Two (2) subclasses are assigned to the fifth class:
5.1. Subclass – Oxidizing substances, which promote easy ignition of other substances and release oxygen during combustion, thereby increasing fire intensity. These substances are not combustible themselves (e.g., fertilizer).
5.2. Subclass – Organic peroxides, which in several cases are combustible, can act as oxidizing substances and are dangerous in contact with other substances. Many of them are easily ignitable and sensitive to impact and friction (e.g., fiberglass repair kits).
ADR Class 6 – Toxic and infectious substances
The sixth class includes substances known or reasonably assumed to contain pathogens, are infectious or toxic. These substances can cause death, poisoning, or illness.
Two (2) subclasses are assigned to the sixth class:
6.1. Subclass – Toxic (poisonous) substances, which, when inhaled as vapor, dust, absorbed through the skin, or ingested, can cause death (e.g., compressed oxygen);
6.2. Subclass – Substances and materials containing pathogenic organisms, which are dangerous to humans and animals (e.g., blood tests or medical research materials).
ADR Class 7 – Radioactive materials
The seventh class includes radioactive materials (objects that spontaneously decay and release radiation in the process), which can cause biological changes when in contact with living cells, including human cells. Depending on the type of tissue affected, the nature of the radiation, and other factors, the resulting biological changes can vary. Customs operations for checking the radioactive content of cargo must be conducted only by experts with appropriate qualifications (e.g., smoke detectors).
ADR Class 8 – Corrosive substances
The eighth class includes corrosive and caustic substances (forming corrosive vapors or mists in the presence of air moisture), which can cause damage to the respiratory system, mucous membranes, and skin. In case of leakage, these substances can also corrode metals, damaging the vehicle. In contact with organic materials or various chemical substances, these substances can also cause fires (e.g., bleach or chemical cleaning agents).
Three (3) subclasses are assigned to the eighth class:
8.1. Subclass – Acids;
8.2. Subclass – Alkalis;
8.3. Subclass – Various caustic and corrosive substances.
ADR Class 9 – Various dangerous goods and products, including environmentally hazardous substances
The ninth class includes other dangerous substances not listed in the previous classes’ categories and are considered to have a conditionally low transportation hazard level. However, their transportation conditions require special transportation and storage regulations (e.g., safety airbags or magnets, lithium batteries in phones or laptops, asbestos, environmentally polluting substances, genetically modified microorganisms, substances containing allergens, and others).
Two (2) subclasses are assigned to the ninth class:
9.1. Subclass – Liquid and solid fuels and materials not included in classes 3 and 4, but in some cases can be dangerous (e.g., combustible liquids with a flashpoint from +61°C to +100°C in a closed crucible, fibers, and other similar materials);
9.2. Subclass – Substances that can become caustic and corrosive under certain conditions.
Reduce ADR cargo risks
When transporting hazardous cargoes, special attention must be paid to their packaging, eliminating risks that could threaten the lives and health of personnel, as well as cargo safety. Most of these cargoes are transported by road transport, and these shipments are designated as ADR cargo transportations.
According to the ADR convention, all vehicles under SIA “RITLOGISTIKA” that transport dangerous cargoes are properly equipped and comply with all necessary safety standards. Drivers who are assigned to transport dangerous cargoes have ADR certificates.
Frequent questions about hazardous freight transport
Cargoes considered dangerous (ADR) are those that, when in contact with living organisms or transported incorrectly (high-risk accidents), can harm human health, as well as other living beings or cause damage to the surrounding environment and property. According to the guidelines defined by the United Nations (UN), cargoes that meet the UN’s criteria for dangerous goods are considered as ADR cargoes.
A company that carries out dangerous goods (ADR) transportations must be equipped with appropriately categorized and marked vehicles, and with drivers who have obtained a special transport driver certificate for transporting ADR cargoes. Also, there must be a dangerous goods transportation safety advisor in the company – a person who has passed and holds a valid Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor certificate.
The internationally recognized designation for dangerous goods transportation is ADR, short for “Accord Dangereux Routier” in French. ADR is an international set of regulations for the transportation of dangerous goods, which include 9 types of dangerous goods (classes), and each type of dangerous goods (ADR) has individual transportation rules, certificates, and other specific requirements necessary for safe transportation (applied labels, markings, techniques, packaging, and other requirements).
Vehicles transporting ADR cargoes are marked with orange plates, placed on the front and rear of the vehicle. If the dangerous cargo is a liquid, additional dangerous goods labels or markings, indicating information about the dangerous substances in the cargo and risks that could arise in an accident, are placed on the sides of the tanker. If a vehicle, weighing > 12 tons, transports ADR cargo in a limited quantity, it is marked with a recognition sign: a white diamond with a black top and bottom corner.
Need a consultation or ADR cargo transportation?
If your company plans to transport dangerous goods and requires professional consultation, send a request to the experienced transport managers of SIA “RITLOGISTIKA.” We will provide free consultation on essential issues for you and ensure that the dangerous cargo (ADR) is safely delivered to the desired destination, adhering to all regulations and guidelines for transporting ADR cargoes to Europe, across the Baltics and outside the European Union.
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