Indiana CDL HazMat Endorsement Test cheat sheet

HazMat is a material capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported; 49 CFR Parts 100-185 govern it, and Indiana adopts the federal rules for intrastate movement.

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

A placardable quantity is 1,001 lb (454 kg) or more aggregate gross weight of a single hazard class in one vehicle; 1.1/1.2/1.3 explosives and poison-inhalation-hazard materials require placards at any quantity.

Hazardous materials are assigned to one of three packing groups by degree of danger: I great danger, II medium danger, III minor danger; not all classes use packing groups.

Forbidden materials may not be offered or transported in commerce; the DOT Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101) lists the proper shipping name, class, ID number, packing group, label codes, and special provisions for each entry.

A reportable quantity (RQ) is the amount of a hazardous substance released that triggers notification; RQ values appear in 49 CFR 172.101 Appendix A and on the shipping paper as the letters RQ.

A hazardous waste manifest accompanies hazardous waste; it is a shipping paper with additional EPA-required fields and is not the same as a standard HazMat shipping paper.

Elevated temperature material, marine pollutants, and hazardous substances each carry special shipping paper and marking requirements beyond their hazard class.

Shipping paper order: the basic description must appear as proper shipping name, hazard class or division, UN/NA identification number, and packing group (for example, Gasoline, 3, UN1203, PG II).

The ID number may be placed before or after the proper shipping name, but it must not be separated from it by other information; the class and packing group may be placed on the same line as the shipping name.

Emergency response telephone number must appear on the shipping paper, be monitored at all times the material is in transit, and belong to a person or agency with knowledge of the material.

The number of packages and total quantity, including unit of measure, must be shown with the basic description; the total quantity is required before transport.

Placards are 250 mm square diamond-shaped; labels are 100 mm square; both display the hazard class number at the bottom point (except some class 7 and 9 designs).

A placard must be affixed to all four sides of a freight container, motor vehicle, or rail car when required; a DANGEROUS placard may be used for two or more classes when 1,001 lb or more of each is loaded.

Marking includes the proper shipping name and UN number on non-bulk packages and the orientation arrows on combination packages containing liquids; the UN packaging symbol shows the package is certified.

Shipping papers must be within reach of the driver while driving, kept in a pouch on the driver's door, or in clear view on the dashboard; they must be accessible in an emergency.

Never load hazardous materials in the same space as food, feed, or anything intended for human or animal consumption; keep them separated from foodstuffs entirely.

Cyanides and acids must never be loaded together; acid spills on cyanide generate deadly hydrogen cyanide gas.

Do not load Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives with any other hazardous material unless specifically authorized; check the segregation table in 49 CFR 177.848.

Poison inhalation hazard (PIH) materials must be loaded so that the driver can see the packages from the cab and reach them without entering the cargo area.

Secure packages against movement; load heavy items on the bottom, and never stack packages so that labels and markings are hidden from view.

Before loading, inspect packages for leaks, damage, or missing labels and refuse damaged packages; report damage to the shipper.

Keep the vehicle's cargo heater and engine off during loading and unloading of flammable liquids or gases unless the material is specifically approved for such conditions.

Cargo tanks must be loaded only with materials the tank is designed and marked for; check the specification plate and the material's compatibility with the tank lining.

A bulk package has a capacity greater than 119 gallons (450 L) for liquids, more than 882 lb (400 kg) for solids, or more than 1,001 lb water capacity for gases.

Cargo tanks must be marked with the specification number, the material's proper shipping name, and the UN/NA number; markings must be visible on both sides and the rear.

A tank vehicle carrying a flammable liquid must have at least one fire extinguisher with a minimum 20 BC rating; a combination vehicle needs one 20 BC unit.

Tank vehicles transporting flammable liquids require protection against static electricity; bond and ground the tank to the receiving container before transfer.

Cargo tank piping, valves, and fittings must be inspected for leaks before each trip; a leaking tank or fitting must be repaired before loading.

The tank's maximum filling density limits how full a tank may be loaded, leaving outage (vapor space) for expansion; never fill beyond the marked fill limit.

A tank vehicle transporting Division 2.1 or 2.2 gases must have the tank marked and placarded; the driver must know the tank's design pressure and the liquid's vapor pressure.

Before unloading, set the parking brake, chock the wheels, and shut off the engine; attend the transfer at all times unless the equipment is designed for unattended operation.

Stop before railroad crossings, look both ways, listen, and proceed only when clear; this applies to all vehicles carrying placardable quantities of hazardous materials.

Do not park within 5 feet of a roadway or within 300 feet of an open flame, bridge, tunnel, or occupied building when carrying explosives or flammable materials.

When parking a placardable HazMat vehicle, keep it attended or parked in a secure area; if unattended, set the brake, remove the key, and leave the vehicle in a safe location.

Never smoke or carry a lit smoking material near a vehicle containing flammable or combustible materials, and keep the engine off during loading and unloading.

Use the shortest practical route and obey local route restrictions; some tunnels, bridges, and Indiana highways restrict HazMat vehicles, and the driver must follow posted signs.

Maintain a safe following distance; a placardable HazMat vehicle needs extra stopping distance, and the driver must reduce speed in adverse weather.

Never leave a placardable HazMat vehicle unattended on a public roadway unless it is parked in a designated area; when in doubt, keep it attended or secured.

If the vehicle is involved in a collision or breakdown, move it off the road if possible, warn traffic, and notify authorities before leaving the scene.

Immediately after a HazMat release, notify the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 and local emergency responders; the shipping paper gives the emergency response phone number.

Use the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG): find the guide number by the material's ID number or name, then follow the orange guide page for protective actions and evacuation distances.

If the material is on fire, isolate the area, keep upwind, and do not attempt to fight a fire involving explosives, compressed gases, or large flammable liquid pools.

For a spill, stop the leak if safe, contain the material with dikes or absorbents, and prevent it from entering drains, sewers, or waterways.

Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling a spill; wear the protective clothing and equipment specified in the ERG and the shipping paper.

Report the incident to the carrier and to the shipper; federal rules require a written report for certain releases, and the driver must preserve the shipping paper and package labels.

Remove the vehicle from the scene only after authorities release it; if the vehicle is contaminated, it must be decontaminated before returning to service.

Keep a written record of the incident, including time, location, material, quantity released, and actions taken, for the carrier's report.

The HazMat endorsement (H) requires a Transportation Security Administration security threat assessment, including fingerprinting and a background check, before the endorsement is issued.

The TSA security threat assessment must be renewed; the endorsement is valid for the length of the CDL but the threat assessment must be current, and a disqualifying offense can prevent issuance.

Drivers must complete the required HazMat training and carry proof of it; the training covers general awareness, function-specific, and safety/security awareness.

A security plan is required for carriers offering certain high-consequence hazardous materials; drivers must follow the plan's procedures for reporting suspicious activity and securing the vehicle.

Report suspicious persons, vehicles, or activity near a HazMat load to the carrier and to local law enforcement; never confront a suspicious person.

Keep shipping papers and vehicle keys secure; do not disclose the nature of the load to unauthorized persons.

A driver with a HazMat endorsement must notify the employer and the licensing agency of a disqualifying conviction or loss of the endorsement.

Indiana issues the H endorsement through the BMV after TSA clearance; the endorsement appears on the CDL and must be carried with the license.