Illinois CDL HazMat Endorsement Test cheat sheet

49 CFR Parts 100-185 govern HazMat; Part 172 covers communication (shipping papers, marking, labels, placards), Part 173 covers shippers/packaging, Part 177 covers highway carriage.

The Hazardous Materials Table (172.101) columns: (1) symbols, (2) proper shipping name, (3) hazard class/division, (4) UN/NA identification number, (5) packing group, (6) labels, (7) special provisions, (8) packaging exceptions, (9) packaging requirements, (10) quantity limits.

Symbols in Column 1: '+' means the name must be used as written; 'A' means a domestic-only entry; 'D' means the entry applies only if the material is not regulated by another entry; 'G' means a technical name is required in parentheses; 'I' means a hazardous substance; 'W' means the entry applies only to water shipments.

Nine hazard classes: 1 Explosives, 2 Gases, 3 Flammable/Combustible Liquids, 4 Flammable Solids, 5 Oxidizers/Organic Peroxides, 6 Toxic/Infectious Substances, 7 Radioactive, 8 Corrosives, 9 Miscellaneous.

Packing Group I = great danger, II = moderate danger, III = minor danger; PG is shown in Column 5 only for Classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and some 9.

A material is a hazardous substance if it appears in Appendix A to 172.101 at or above its reportable quantity in one package; it is a hazardous waste if subject to EPA waste manifest rules.

Forbidden materials may not be offered or carried; a carrier must refuse a shipment whose shipping paper or packaging does not match the material.

HazMat employees require general awareness, function-specific, safety and security awareness training, and recurrent training every 3 years (172.704).

Shipping paper order: basic description = proper shipping name, hazard class/division, UN/NA ID number, and packing group (PG may be omitted for Classes 1-8 if 'PG' precedes it or it is an explosive with a 1.1-1.6 compatibility group).

Emergency response telephone number must be on the shipping paper with the name of the person or agency; it must be monitored at all times the material is in transport.

Shipping papers must be kept within immediate reach while driving (or in a holder on the driver's door) and be readily visible to a person entering the cab; they must be retained 3 years by the carrier.

Placards are required when 1,001 lb or more aggregate gross weight of a Table 2 material is loaded, or any quantity of a Table 1 material; the 1,001 lb threshold does not apply to Table 1.

Placards are placed on all four sides for bulk packages; for non-bulk, front and rear plus both sides when required by quantity. Placards are 250 mm square with text at least 12.5 mm high.

DANGER placard may replace specific placards only when: at least two Table 2 categories are loaded, all are Table 2, and total is under 1,001 lb per category; it may not be used with Table 1, 1.1/1.2/1.3 explosives, or 2.3/6.1 PG I.

Labels (100 mm square) go on non-bulk packages; markings include the proper shipping name and UN number on non-bulk packages and on bulk packages, plus orientation arrows for liquids in combination packagings.

A vehicle carrying hazardous materials must display the required placards before loading is complete and until unloading begins; placards must be removed or changed before the vehicle is released for other use.

Do not load Division 1.1 or 1.2 explosives with Division 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 or 1.6 in the same vehicle; do not load Division 6.1 PG I (poison inhalation) with food or animal feed.

Cyanides and acids must be separated; oxidizers must be separated from flammable liquids and combustible materials; keep corrosive liquids away from metals and organic materials.

Radioactive yellow-II and yellow-III labels require the transport index to be considered: keep packages separated from people and film, and never load with food or feed.

Cargo must be secured so it cannot shift, slide or fall; use tiedowns rated for the load, and secure every package so it cannot move into the driver's compartment.

Bulk packages must be closed and checked for leaks before movement; do not top-load a package unless its packaging is designed for stacking.

Never load a leaking package; if a leak is discovered, isolate it, do not continue loading, and follow the emergency response information.

When loading, check that labels are correct and legible; if a label is missing or wrong, the shipment may not be accepted until the shipper corrects it.

The driver must know the segregation requirements before loading; if the load requires separation and the vehicle cannot provide it, the load must not be accepted.

A vehicle carrying a quantity requiring placards must stop before every railroad crossing, look both ways, listen, and proceed only when clear; do not shift gears while crossing.

Never park within 5 feet of a roadway or on a shoulder unless necessary; when parking a placarded vehicle, park away from bridges, tunnels, buildings and crowds, and set the parking brake.

A placarded vehicle may not be left unattended unless the brakes are set and the vehicle is attended by a qualified person, or the load is secured and the vehicle is parked where it will not be a hazard.

Never smoke or allow smoking near a placarded vehicle; keep fire away from the load during fueling, loading and unloading.

Tunnels: placarded loads are prohibited in certain tunnels (for example, some urban tunnels restrict flammable or explosive loads); obey posted signs and follow the required alternate route.

Routing: carriers must use routes designated for HazMat where local or state rules require it; avoid populated areas, tunnels and narrow streets when a designated route exists.

Use the highest safe gear and steady speed on grades; avoid hard braking and sharp turns because shifting loads can rupture packaging.

If the vehicle is involved in a crash with a placarded load, stop, secure the scene, notify authorities, and do not move the vehicle unless necessary to prevent further danger.

The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) is organized by ID number (yellow pages), material name (blue pages) and response guide number (orange pages); the green pages give isolation and protective-action distances.

First step in an incident: identify the material from the shipping paper or placard, then find the guide number in the ERG; never approach a leak or spill without knowing the material.

For a spill or leak, stop, park away from the incident, keep people away, and call for emergency help; do not attempt to clean up a large or unknown spill yourself.

Fire: if the cargo is involved in fire, evacuate and call for help; do not fight a fire involving explosives, oxidizers or unknown materials.

Isolation: use the ERG green pages for the initial isolation distance and protective action distance for the specific material and container type.

Report the incident to the carrier and to the National Response Center (1-800-424-8802) when required; the shipping paper provides the emergency response telephone number.

Personal protection: use the protective clothing and equipment specified in the ERG guide; do not enter a contaminated area without proper respiratory protection.

After an incident, do not resume the trip until the vehicle and load have been inspected and the material is properly secured or removed.