Hazardous Materials Endorsement
Hazardous Materials Endorsement
The Hazmat (H) endorsement test covers 49 CFR Parts 171–180: shipping papers, placarding, loading and segregation, emergency response, vehicle parking, and security. Kansas requires the H endorsement on the CDL, plus a TSA threat assessment, before you can drive a placarded load.
Core rules
- A shipping paper basic description follows this order: proper shipping name, hazard class or division, identification number, and packing group. Example: Gasoline, 3, UN1203, PG II.
- Placards are required for Table 1 materials at any quantity and for Table 2 materials when the aggregate gross weight is 1,001 lb or more. Placards show the hazard class and, for many materials, the four-digit UN number.
- No smoking within 25 feet of a placarded vehicle. Park away from people, bridges, tunnels, and congested areas; attend the vehicle and keep it secure.
- The H endorsement does not authorize tank vehicles; that requires the N endorsement. X combines H and N.
Worked example
A shipper offers 1,200 lb of gasoline in drums. Gasoline is a Table 2 flammable liquid. The 1,001-lb threshold is exceeded, so the load must be placarded on both sides and both ends with the Flammable Liquid placard and UN1203. The shipping paper must read: Gasoline, 3, UN1203, PG II. If the drums were empty and purged, the rules differ, but for this load the driver must not accept it without the required placards and papers.
Traps
Do not confuse the H and N endorsements. Do not accept a shipping paper that lists the ID number before the hazard class. Do not park a placarded load near a restaurant, bridge, or tunnel. Do not rely on the placard alone; check the shipping paper and emergency response information.