Exam questions ADR basic course: structure, topics and operational consequences

According to Section 8.2.1 ADR, the ADR basic course is a prerequisite for every driver who transports dangerous goods in quantities above the exemption limits. In Germany, the examination is carried out by the responsible Chamber of Industry and Commerce; the ADR training certificate is valid for five years and can be extended by a refresher course in accordance with 8.2.2.8 ADR. Anyone who transports dangerous goods without a valid certificate risks a fine according to § 10 GGBefG.

This article explains the structure of the test, the typical subject areas, the answer format and the operational consequences for companies that train their drivers. Anyone who ships, stores or transports dangerous goods in their company also needs a dangerous goods officer in accordance with the Hazardous Goods Officer Ordinance (GbV). The two roles, driver and representative, intertwine without being identical.

The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) must be revised every two years. The current version is ADR 2025 and has been in force since January 1, 2025 with a transition period until June 30, 2025. Nationally, ADR is implemented by the Dangerous Goods Ordinance on Roads, Railways and Inland Waterways (GGVSEB). § 13 GGVSEB regulates the training requirements for drivers, § 14 the recognition of the training certificate.

The Dangerous Goods Officer Ordinance requires in § 1 for every company that transports, packs, fills, ships or unloads dangerous goods, one or more dangerous goods officers. The order is made in writing in accordance with Section 3 GbV. Tasks are regulated in Section 8: monitoring of regulations, annual report to company management, accident report and participation in risk analyses.

The dividing line is clear. The driver needs the ADR training certificate according to 8.2 ADR. The company needs the dangerous goods officer according to the GbV. The company is subject to fines if both roles are not filled or are incomplete. Audit-proof, documented, § 8 GbV-proof.

According to Section 8.2.2.3.1 ADR, the ADR basic course includes at least 18 teaching units of 45 minutes each. Mandatory are general requirements for the transport of dangerous goods, main types of dangers, prevention and measures in the event of damage, measures after an accident, marking and labelling, packages and transport documents, behaviour during loading and unloading and responsibilities of those involved.

In addition, ADR 8.2.2.4 requires a practical exercise on first aid measures, fire fighting and measures in the event of a leak or release of dangerous substances. This exercise is shown separately in the training hours account and cannot be replaced by theory.

Advanced courses expand the basic course. Advanced tank course includes 12 teaching units on tank specifics according to ADR chapters 6.7 to 6.10. Advanced course class 1 concerns explosive substances and objects, advanced course class 7 concerns radioactive materials. Each advanced course requires its own examination. The combined certificate is valid for five years, starting with the last module passed.

In Germany, the exam is carried out by the locally responsible Chamber of Industry and Commerce. It is written, lasts 60 minutes and includes 30 multiple-choice questions. The minimum score is 25 out of a maximum of 50 points. The questions come from a nationwide coordinated questionnaire maintained by the DIHK.

Writing utensils are permitted, not aids. Dictionaries for non-German native speakers are permitted in some IHK districts upon prior registration. If you fail, you can repeat the exam as many times as you like. In practice, the repetition period is four weeks, but is set by the IHK.

Advanced courses have shortened exams. Tank and Class 1 exams each consist of 15 questions in 30 minutes, Class 7 also has 15 questions. Refresher courses before the expiry of the five-year certificate have the same examination structure as the initial examination. Anyone who does not complete the refresher course on time will lose the certificate and will have to take the full basic course again. The repetition costs time and money, which can often be avoided operationally through early scheduling.

The questionnaire covers the subject areas mentioned in 8.2.2.3.1 ADR. Dangerous goods classes are frequently tested according to Chapter 2.1 ADR (Class 1 explosive, Class 2 gases, Class 3 flammable liquid, Class 4 flammable solid, Class 5 flammable, Class 6 toxic, Class 7 radioactive, Class 8 corrosive, Class 9 miscellaneous), recognition of UN numbers, large notices according to 5.3.1 ADR and orange boards according to 5.3.2 ADR.

More The focus is on the selection of transport equipment according to 8.1.5 ADR (high-visibility vest, eyewash liquid, fire extinguisher, wheel chock), transport documents according to 5.4.1, written instructions according to 5.4.3, exempt quantities according to chapters 3.4 and 3.5 as well as bans on loading together according to 7.5.2.

The responsibilities according to chapter 1.4 ADR are checked regularly. Senders, packers, carriers, consignees, shippers and unloaders each have their own obligations. Who bears which obligation decides on the amount of the fine in the event of violations. The Dangerous Goods Officer in the company trains drivers and loaders on these responsibilities and documents the training in accordance with 1.3 ADR.

The transport document according to 5.4.1.1.1 ADR contains the UN number, official name, danger label number, packaging group, number and description of the packages, gross mass or net mass, name and address of sender and recipient. For tunnels, the tunnel restriction coding according to 1.9.5 must be specified. This information is relevant to the exam and is covered in detail in the basic course.

Written instructions in accordance with 5.4.3 ADR must be kept in the driver's cab, in a language familiar to the driver and updated by the carrier before each journey. They contain measures in the event of an accident, a list of dangerous properties per class, personal protective equipment and behaviour in the tunnel.

In the examination part on transport documents, there are often tasks with specific UN numbers (e.g. UN 1203 petrol, UN 1830 sulfuric acid, UN 1950 compressed gas packs). Drivers must be able to assign packaging groups and danger labels. In the company, the dangerous goods officer is responsible for maintaining templates. CIVAC provides 490 ready-to-use audit templates, including transport documents, classification checklists and training records according to 1.3 ADR.

The practical part of the basic course covers firefighting, first aid and measures in the event of a spill or release. The number and minimum capacity of the fire extinguishers in accordance with 8.1.4 ADR that must be carried in the vehicles are relevant to the test. For vehicles with a maximum permissible total weight of over 7.5 tons, at least two portable fire extinguishers are mandatory, one of which contains at least 6 kg of powder or equivalent.

First aid measures include behaviour in the event of skin contact with corrosive substances (immediate rinsing with water, eyewash bottle), inhalation of toxic vapors (fresh air, rest, medical attention) and in the event of a risk of fire (remove sources of ignition, put on a safety vest, traffic). secure). These measures are trained in the practical exercise and tested in the exam.

In the event of an accident involving dangerous goods, Section 9 GbV applies: The entrepreneur prepares a written accident report if people are injured, property damage exceeds 50,000 euros or the environment is polluted. The dangerous goods officer participates in the report. The auditor calls, the evidence is ready. A compliance platform and officer-as-a-service bundles accident reports, proof of training and appointment certificates in the same client space.

According to 8.2.2.8.2 ADR, the ADR training certificate is valid for five years from the day the initial examination is passed. The extension is carried out through a refresher course followed by an examination within twelve months before expiry. Anyone who passes the refresher test within this time window will receive a new certificate that is valid for five years from the old expiry date. The five-year deadline is therefore not postponed.

If the deadline is missed, the certificate expires. Working as a dangerous goods driver again requires the complete basic course, not just the refresher course. In operational terms, this costs several days of training time and the full course fee. Systematic deadline management in the workspace reduces this risk. The deadline runs from the moment you become aware of it - here from the moment you become aware of the expiry date.

Those who take advanced courses must complete the refresher course for each module block separately. Tank and Class 1 refresher each include 8 teaching units plus an exam. In the case of multiple certificates, it is recommended to combine them in one refresher appointment, if the IHK offers this. The compliance platform maintains the deadline calendar for each driver and alerts six months before expiry.

The dangerous goods officer in accordance with Section 1 GbV monitors compliance with the regulations, advises the company management and prepares an annual report in accordance with Section 8 Paragraph 1 No. 9 GbV. He must have a valid training certificate in accordance with Section 4 GbV, which is acquired through an IHK examination and is valid for five years. The dangerous goods officer's training certificate is not identical to the driver's ADR training certificate.

The tasks are broad: monitoring the regulations, participating in classification, labelling, packaging, loading, transport and unloading. The training of personnel in accordance with 1.3 ADR (so-called instructed persons) also falls within the scope of tasks. In the event of an incident, the representative prepares the accident report in accordance with Section 9 GbV.

The order is made in writing in accordance with Section 3 GbV. The appointment certificate, signed, filed and verifiable, is part of the CIVAC client logic. Licence the workspace for your internal representatives, or have our representatives order it. The external order is placed within two working days; traditional consultants typically need two to six weeks. For small senders with individual shipping processes, an external order with a platform connection is often sufficient; for large senders, the internal role with a workspace licence is the usual form.

The ADR basic course tests the drivers' knowledge. The company's obligations begin alongside and extend beyond. Appointment of the dangerous goods officer, proof of training in accordance with 1.3 ADR, transport documents, written instructions, annual report and accident report. Each of these points can be audited and, in an emergency, is subject to a fine.

CIVAC bundles the obligations in a compliance platform and officer-as-a-service. 25 agent roles, 490 audit templates, EU data residency. The appointment certificate for the dangerous goods officer is in the same client area as driver training courses, transport documents and accident reports. Others run compliance like a filing cabinet. We run it like software.

Turn reading into a mandate. If you need a hazardous goods representative for a company or would like to systematically document driver training, send a short request to info@civac.de or use the contact form. An assessment is available within two working days: order requirements, templates for proof of training and accident reports, link to the ADR 2025 status.