ADR Training Courses in Wigan: Dangerous Goods Driver Training
ADR is the qualification you need to carry dangerous goods by road. We deliver initial, refresher, tanker and awareness ADR training from our Wigan centre, with drivers travelling in from across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside and Cumbria. Book a date below, or call 07513 683932 and we will work out exactly which classes you need.
What Is ADR Training?
Ever seen those hazard warning diamonds on vehicles on the motorway and wondered what they mean? That's ADR in action!
ADR translates from the French for the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. It is a strict framework of international regulations ensuring that hazardous materials, such as fuels, industrial gases, bulk chemicals, and explosives, are safely packaged, labelled, and transported by road.
ADR training is the compulsory qualification UK commercial drivers require before they can legally transport dangerous goods above specific threshold limits. To move these regulated hazardous loads, you must hold a valid ADR vocational training certificate. This certificate is fully recognised across the UK and remains valid for five years, after which a refresher training course and formal examinations are required to renew it.
Who Needs ADR Training?
Drivers who carry dangerous goods by road above the threshold limits must hold a valid ADR certificate. Everyone else involved in moving those goods needs training for their role. The regulations require anyone involved in any part of the movement of dangerous goods to be trained, but that training does not have to be the full ADR driver course. Here is how it breaks down by role:
| Role | Responsibility & Compliance Requirements |
|---|---|
| HGV & Tanker Drivers | Professional drivers behind the wheel moving hazardous loads commercially on the UK road network. |
| Owner-Drivers & Subcontractors | Independent hauliers taking on hazardous goods contracts who must be certified before quoting for work. |
| Warehouse & Yard Operatives | Ground staff who load, unload or move packaged dangerous goods. The full ADR driver certificate is not required, but role-specific dangerous goods training is, and the full ADR course is best practice for anyone who handles these goods day to day. We deliver a Dangerous Goods Awareness module, part of our Driver CPC programme, for warehouse and yard staff, and it issues a certificate. |
| Logistics & Transport Managers | Professionals overseeing the safe movement, documentation and compliance of hazardous consignments. Managers do not need the driver certificate, but they do need training that covers their part in the movement of dangerous goods, and the full ADR course is best practice for anyone signing off consignments. The same Dangerous Goods Awareness module covers this and issues a certificate. |
Anyone directly handling dangerous goods, including packers and forklift drivers, gains vital safety insights from this course. If you are uncertain whether your specific vehicle load or job description triggers the legal requirement for ADR, the Submatter team is here to assist. Drivers looking to maintain their professional driving credentials can also combine this classroom training with their periodic Driver CPC training.
The Nine Classes of Dangerous Goods
Dangerous substances are divided into nine separate classes based on the specific type of chemical or physical hazard they present. Our focused, face-to-face ADR training teaches drivers to instantly identify these dangerous goods, respect their inherent risks, and transport them safely:
- Class 1: Explosives
- Class 2: Gases
- Class 3: Flammable liquids (including petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel)
- Class 4: Flammable solids
- Class 5: Oxidising substances and organic peroxides
- Class 6: Toxic and infectious substances
- Class 7: Radioactive material
- Class 8: Corrosives
- Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles
Submatter provides the compulsory Core module, alongside dedicated Packages and Tanker syllabus routes, covering all major class specialisations. Get in touch with our team directly to verify coverage for specific classes, such as Class 3 fuel tanker training or Class 7 radioactive material.
For everyday examples in each class, the small load exemption and what the card costs to replace, read our guide: ADR licence explained: the nine classes, what it costs and who needs it.
ADR Course Types: Initial, Refresher and Tanker
We offer structured, face-to-face ADR training tailored to your specific driving licence, vehicle type, and career pathway:
- Core Module: the mandatory foundation required by every single ADR driver, covering the universal rules and emergency protocols for hazardous transport.
- Packages Route: practical training for drivers carrying dangerous goods in packaged formats, including drums, cylinders, boxes, or Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs).
- Tankers Specialisation: the bulk liquid and gas tanker route, which is highly sought after for high-paying fuel tanker employment.
- Class Specialisations: targeted modules focusing deeply on individual hazard classes, such as explosives (Class 1) or radioactive material (Class 7).
Initial vs Refresher Training
- Initial Qualification: for drivers, hauliers, and warehouse personnel who are completely new to handling dangerous goods.
- Refresher Training: tailored to keep your safety knowledge entirely current. This must be completed every five years before your current certificate expires to officially renew your legal entitlement.
Both pathways are delivered strictly in-person at our training centre and culminate in the official examinations required to grant your vocational certification.
Coming Soon: Consignors and Limited Quantities
Two further courses are nearly ready. A Consignors of Dangerous Goods course for the people who classify, package and sign off consignments before they leave the site, and an online Limited Quantities course for goods carried below the ADR thresholds. Call 07513 683932 to register your interest and we will let you know the first dates.
ADR Training and Your Driver CPC Hours
ADR training at Submatter works efficiently for your professional licence. While you qualify to transport hazardous loads safely, your classroom training days can count directly towards your periodic Driver CPC training requirement.
Up to 28 hours of Driver CPC periodic training can be added to your ADR course as an optional extra at £20 per seven hour day, chosen when you book. If you have already completed some periodic training modules, you may need fewer hours. Submatter arranges the certificates and registers the hours after the course, so there is nothing for you to claim yourself.
How ADR Training Works at Submatter
Our flagship ADR training is delivered entirely in person through interactive, tutor-led classroom instruction. Because of the strict, highly technical nature of the examinations and the practical safety elements required, we do not offer remote or online ADR courses. We believe face-to-face learning gives our candidates the absolute best preparation to pass first time.
The curriculum balances comprehensive theory with practical emergency response scenarios, culminating in the standard ADR examinations set under DVSA oversight, with Qualifications Scotland managing the assessment framework. Once passed, your official ADR vocational training certificate will be securely issued.
If you are aiming to upgrade your logistics skills further, Submatter can map out career pathways across our other professional qualifications, including HGV licence training and Transport Manager CPC courses.
Why Choose Submatter for ADR Training in Wigan & The North West?
Submatter Ltd is an established, specialist transport training provider based in Wigan. ADR is our core flagship discipline, a highly technical qualification that is not readily available at every standard driver training school.
Our fully equipped classroom facilities provide a convenient, accessible hub for drivers and fleet operators across the entire region, saving you the time and expense of travelling to distant venues:
- Greater Manchester & Merseyside: Seamlessly serving candidates from Bolton, Bury, Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale, St Helens, and Liverpool.
- Lancashire & Cheshire: Easily accessible for hauliers based in Preston, Blackburn, Burnley, Blackpool, Lancaster, and Warrington.
- Cumbria & Beyond: A direct training route for long-distance drivers coming from Carlisle, Kendal, and Penrith.
- Expert Tutors: Our instructors bring genuine, real-world transport and compliance backgrounds to the classroom, blending examination technique with practical on-the-road insights.
- B2B Fleet Operator Services: For logistics managers with multiple drivers requiring certification, we can arrange bespoke, face-to-face ADR training blocks, block-booked around your rota patterns to keep your fleet compliant with minimal downtime.
ADR Training FAQs
What is ADR training and who needs it?
ADR training is the legally required certification for drivers who transport dangerous goods by road in the UK above set threshold quantities. It applies to HGV and tanker drivers carrying fuels, chemicals, gases, explosives and other hazardous loads. Drivers must hold a valid ADR vocational training certificate, which is valid for five years before a refresher is needed.
Is ADR training the same as a Driver CPC?
No. ADR is a separate dangerous goods qualification, while the Driver CPC is the general professional competence requirement for all HGV, bus and coach drivers. However, up to 28 hours of Driver CPC periodic training can be added to your ADR course as an optional extra, so completing ADR training keeps your dangerous goods certificate current and can contribute to your 35 hour CPC requirement at the same time.
How many Driver CPC hours does an ADR course give me?
Up to 28 hours, as an optional extra at £20 per seven hour day, chosen when you book. If you have already completed some periodic training modules you may need fewer hours. Submatter arranges the certificates and registers the hours after the course, so there is nothing for you to claim yourself.
What is the difference between ADR initial and refresher training?
Initial ADR training is for drivers qualifying for the first time and covers the full syllabus across the core module and any class or tanker specialisations. Refresher training is taken before the certificate expires, every five years, to renew the qualification. Both routes end in an examination administered under DVSA oversight, with Qualifications Scotland managing the assessment framework on behalf of the Department for Transport.
What are the ADR classes and which ones does Submatter cover?
Dangerous goods are split into nine classes, from explosives (Class 1) and gases (Class 2) through flammable liquids (Class 3) to corrosives (Class 8) and miscellaneous dangerous substances (Class 9). Submatter delivers the compulsory core module plus packages and tanker routes and the common class specialisations. Contact us to confirm cover for a specific class such as Class 3 fuel or Class 7 radioactive material.
Can I do ADR training online or remotely?
No. Submatter does not offer remote or online ADR courses. Because of the technical complexity of the regulations and the mandatory practical safety modules, all of our ADR training is delivered strictly via face-to-face classroom instruction at our approved training centre.
How long is an ADR certificate valid?
An ADR vocational training certificate is valid for five years. To stay qualified, drivers must complete refresher training and pass the examination before the expiry date. If the certificate lapses, full initial training and examination may be required again, so it is best to book refresher training in good time.
Where is Submatter's ADR training delivered?
ADR training is delivered from Submatter's training centre at 11 Beecham Court, Goose Green, Wigan, WN3 6PR, serving drivers across Wigan, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the wider North West. We are perfectly situated just off the M6 motorway at Junction 25, making us highly accessible for drivers travelling from Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, and Cumbria.
Do you offer corporate ADR training for fleets at our premises?
Yes. For transport companies and fleet operators with multiple drivers needing certification, we can deliver face-to-face ADR training directly at your depot. We tailor the schedule around your active fleet shift patterns to ensure complete compliance with minimal disruption to your operations.
How do I book an ADR course at Submatter?
You can book ADR courses through the booking calendar on this page, or call 07513 683932 to discuss dates and requirements. For class-specific training, tanker routes, or fleet bookings, use the bespoke enquiry form and the team will confirm availability across our schedule and partner network.