Alabama CDL HazMat cheat sheet

Hazardous material means a substance or material the Secretary of Transportation determines capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce.

HazMat employees must be trained in general awareness/familiarization, function-specific duties, safety, and security awareness; recurrent training is required at least every 3 years.

Shipping paper records must be retained for 2 years (hazardous waste manifests for 3 years) and made available to authorized persons.

The four communication elements are shipping papers, package marking, package labeling, and vehicle placarding.

A HazMat employer must certify each employee's training and provide a certificate with the employee's name, completion date, and a description of training.

Emergency response information must accompany every hazardous materials shipment and be immediately available during transport.

Carriers must report certain HazMat incidents to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.

Registration with PHMSA is required for carriers of high-hazard materials such as large quantities of certain explosives and poisons.

Basic description order: proper shipping name, hazard class or division, UN/NA identification number, and packing group.

The UN/NA number may be placed before or after the basic description; when after, it follows the packing group.

Total quantity must be shown by unit of measurement (weight, volume, or number of pieces) and by hazard class.

The shipper's certification statement and emergency response telephone number must appear on the shipping paper.

When a shipping paper covers both hazardous and non-hazardous materials, HazMat entries must be distinguished (for example, by an X or the word HazMat).

Shipping papers must be within the driver's reach while driving, visible to a person entering the cab, and kept on top of or with other papers.

The proper shipping name must be the one shown in the Hazardous Materials Table, not a trade or brand name.

A label is a 4-inch square diamond; a placard is a 10 3/4-inch square diamond on point.

Placards are required for 1,001 pounds or more aggregate gross weight of a hazard class in one vehicle, and for any quantity of Table 2 materials.

Table 1 materials require placarding regardless of quantity; Table 2 materials require placards only at 1,001 pounds or more.

DANGEROUS placard may be used for two or more Table 2 categories totaling 1,001 pounds or more when no single category reaches that amount.

The UN/NA identification number must appear on placards or as orange panels for bulk packages, and on both sides and both ends of tank vehicles.

Non-bulk packages require the proper shipping name and UN/NA number marked on the package, plus required labels.

Placards must be affixed on both sides and both ends of the vehicle, and must be removed or turned when no longer carrying the material.

Hazard class labels communicate the primary and subsidiary hazards; subsidiary labels are placed to the right of the primary label.

Never load hazardous materials into a trailer containing food or animal feed unless they are adequately separated and protected.

Cyanides and acids must be kept apart; acid spills on cyanides can release deadly hydrogen cyanide gas.

Poisonous materials must not be loaded with or near foodstuffs or animal feed.

Explosives may not be loaded with detonators or other initiating devices in the same vehicle.

Chlorine and ammonia must not be carried together; mixing can produce a violent reaction.

Before loading, check for leaks, damaged packages, and improper labels or markings; refuse damaged packages.

Cargo must be secured against shifting; use blocking and bracing appropriate to the package type.

When loading or unloading explosives, turn off the engine, set the parking brake, and do not smoke or allow open flame.

A bulk package holds more than 119 gallons for liquids, more than 882 pounds for solids, or more than 1,001 pounds water capacity for gases.

Cargo tanks must have internal or external valves that close automatically in case of fire, and must be marked with the UN/NA number and placards.

Before loading a cargo tank, verify that the tank is the correct type for the material and that it is clean and free of incompatible residue.

Tank vehicles must have at least one placard on each side and each end, plus the UN/NA number displayed.

The driver must ensure tank hatches are closed and secured before moving and that unloading lines are disconnected.

Cargo tank rollover protection and baffles help prevent surge and protect the tank in a crash.

Never smoke or use flame near cargo tanks; check for leaks around valves, hoses, and fittings before and after loading.

A tank vehicle carrying a Division 2.1 flammable gas or Division 2.3 poison gas requires special handling and placarding regardless of quantity.

Never park within 5 feet of a roadway, and never park a placarded vehicle within 300 feet of an open flame or bridge, tunnel, or other restricted area.

When parking a placarded vehicle, keep it attended, or if unattended, secure it and set the parking brake and chock the wheels.

Avoid tunnels, bridges, and heavily populated areas when routing a placarded load; follow designated routes.

Do not smoke or allow smoking within 25 feet of a placarded vehicle.

Use the engine brake and lower gears on downgrades; do not ride the brakes.

Stop before railroad crossings and check both directions; do not shift gears while crossing the tracks.

Reduce speed in curves and on wet or icy roads; hazardous loads have a higher center of gravity.

If a placarded vehicle is involved in a crash, stop, secure the scene, and notify authorities immediately.

Immediately report any spill, leak, fire, or accident involving hazardous materials to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.

Use the Emergency Response Guidebook: identify the material by UN/NA number or name, then follow the guide number's initial actions.

The ERG guide pages give protective actions: isolation distances, protective clothing, and fire/ spill response.

Call for help from a safe distance and upwind; do not attempt to fight a fire involving explosives, gases, or unknown materials.

Keep people away and upwind; establish an isolation zone per the ERG guide number.

A written incident report and follow-up may be required; retain copies of shipping papers and incident records.

Do not move a leaking package unless necessary to prevent further damage; contain and absorb spills if trained and equipped.

After an incident, do not return to the vehicle until authorities declare it safe.

Class 1 explosives (divisions 1.1-1.6), Class 2 gases (2.1 flammable, 2.2 nonflammable, 2.3 toxic), Class 3 flammable liquids.

Class 4 flammable solids (4.1), spontaneously combustible (4.2), dangerous when wet (4.3); Class 5 oxidizers (5.1) and organic peroxides (5.2).

Class 6 toxic (6.1) and infectious substances (6.2); Class 7 radioactive; Class 8 corrosives; Class 9 miscellaneous.

Packing groups: I = great danger, II = moderate danger, III = minor danger.

A hazard class number identifies the primary hazard; subsidiary hazards are shown on labels and in the shipping description.

Division 2.3 toxic gas and Division 6.1 toxic materials require special handling and placarding regardless of quantity.

The UN/NA number and proper shipping name identify the specific material; the class number identifies the hazard type.

Class 7 radioactive materials require special routing, securement, and dose-rate limits.

Security awareness means recognizing and reporting suspicious behavior, tampering, or unusual inquiries about hazardous loads.

Do not discuss the contents of a hazardous load with unauthorized persons; share information only on a need-to-know basis.

Keep shipping papers and vehicle keys secure; lock the vehicle when unattended.

Report suspicious activity to the carrier and to local authorities; do not confront suspicious persons.

A safe haven is a pre-identified secure location where a driver can stop if concerned about security or safety.

Verify the identity of anyone requesting to inspect or take custody of a hazardous load.

Watch for signs of tampering with seals, valves, or placards, and report them before moving.

Plan routes and stops in advance; avoid unplanned stops in high-crime or isolated areas with hazardous loads.