CDL HazMat Endorsement study guide
CDL HazMat Endorsement · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CDL HazMat endorsement - shown as "H" on a Commercial Driver's License - is the authorization a commercial driver needs to operate a vehicle carrying hazardous materials that require placarding. It is aimed at drivers hauling fuels, chemicals, compressed gases, and other regulated materials, and at drivers who want to open up those freight lanes. The endorsement is not a standalone license: it adds to an existing CDL and is issued by your state licensing agency. The knowledge test is built around four areas: hazardous materials regulations and the Hazardous Materials Table; communication rules covering shipping papers, marking, labeling, and placarding; loading, unloading, segregation, and cargo securement; and driving and parking rules, emergencies, and security awareness. The CDL HazMat Endorsement study guide has 4 sections and about 2,033 words.
01Hazardous Materials Regulations and the Hazardous Materials Table
This domain tests your ability to work within the Hazardous Materials Regulations in 49 CFR Parts 171-173, 177, and 397, with special attention to the 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table (HMT). You must understand how the table is organized, how to choose a proper shipping name (PSN), and how that choice drives packaging, marking, labeling, and shipping-paper entries.
527 words, about 3 min02Communication Rules: Shipping Papers, Marking, Labeling, and Placarding
49 CFR 172.200-172.205 requires a shipping paper with a basic description in this order: proper shipping name, hazard class or division, identification number, and packing group. For example, "Gasoline, 3, UN1203, PG II." The identification number includes the UN or NA prefix.
504 words, about 3 min03Loading, Unloading, Segregation, and Cargo Securement
49 CFR 177.834 controls loading and unloading of hazardous materials. The vehicle's brakes must be set and wheels chocked when necessary to prevent movement.
486 words, about 2 min04Driving and Parking Rules, Emergencies, and Security Awareness
49 CFR 397.5 restricts parking of vehicles carrying hazardous materials. A vehicle may not be parked within five feet of the traveled portion of a public street or highway, or on the street or highway itself, unless it is attended by a qualified representative.
516 words, about 3 min