Kansas CDL Hazmat key terms

A CDL endorsement required to drive a vehicle carrying placarded amounts of hazardous materials. It requires a knowledge test, a TSA security threat assessment, and ELDT theory training before testing.

A diamond-shaped warning sign placed on the outside of a vehicle that identifies the hazard class and material being carried. Placarding thresholds are set by regulation and trigger many hazmat driving rules.

One of nine numbered categories used to group hazardous materials by their dominant risk, such as explosives, flammable liquids, or corrosives. The class number appears on placards and shipping papers.

A subdivision within a hazard class that further narrows the type of risk, such as Class 1 explosives being split into divisions 1.1 through 1.6. It appears with the class number on placards and papers.

A letter assigned to explosives that groups materials considered safe to store or transport together. Explosives in different compatibility groups generally may not be loaded together without specific rules being met.

A four-digit number, often preceded by UN or NA, that identifies a specific hazardous material on shipping papers and placards. It lets emergency responders look up the material's hazards.

The transport document that must accompany a hazardous materials shipment. It lists the identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group, quantity, and emergency contact information.

The required sequence on a shipping paper listing the identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class or division, and packing group in that order. It is the core information drivers check first.

The official name of a hazardous material as listed in the hazardous materials table. It must be used on shipping papers and is often what responders search to find emergency guidance.

A rating of I, II, or III assigned to many hazardous materials to reflect the degree of danger, with I being the greatest. It affects packaging, quantity limits, and some loading rules.

A reference book carried by hazmat drivers that gives initial response guidance for incidents by guide number, plus tables linking identification numbers and shipping names to guides. It is used before expert help arrives.

A three-digit number in the Emergency Response Guidebook that points to a page of initial isolation, protective action, and first aid guidance for a material. It is found from the material's identification number.

A vehicle displaying hazard warning placards. It is subject to extra rules on parking, smoking, routing, attendance, and stopping, and generally may not be left unattended except under specific conditions.

A person who stays with a placarded vehicle when required, is awake and aware of the hazards, and is authorized to move the vehicle in an emergency. Attendance rules vary by location and cargo.

A designated place where a driver may park a placarded vehicle when required attendance cannot be maintained, such as a secure terminal or approved lot. It must meet the conditions given in the regulations.

The rule that certain hazardous materials must not be loaded, transported, or stored together because mixing or reacting could create a greater hazard. It is checked before loading and on the shipping papers.

A hazardous material that may not be offered or transported in commerce under any circumstances. A driver who suspects a forbidden shipment should refuse it and report the situation.

A TSA background check required before a hazardous materials endorsement is issued or renewed. It screens for terrorism-related concerns and must be passed before the state can grant the endorsement.

Mandatory training requirements that new CDL applicants, upgrades, and first-time endorsements must complete through a registered training provider before taking the knowledge or skills test.

The federal list of training providers approved to deliver entry-level driver training. A candidate must use a listed provider for training to count toward the ELDT requirement.

The knowledge portion of entry-level driver training that a candidate must pass before being allowed to take the CDL knowledge test for a hazardous materials endorsement. It covers required curriculum topics.

A document signed by a qualified medical examiner stating that a driver meets the physical qualification standards for commercial driving. The driver must carry it and provide it to the licensing state.

The federal list of medical examiners certified to perform commercial driver physical examinations. A certificate generally counts only if issued by an examiner listed on this registry.

An exemption or skill performance evaluation certificate that allows a driver who does not meet a physical standard to drive commercially. It must be carried with the medical certificate and reported to the state.

The driver's declaration to the licensing state of the type of commercial operation performed, such as non-excepted interstate. It determines whether a medical certificate must be on file.

A self-certification category for drivers who operate across state lines but qualify for a regulatory exception from certain medical requirements. Drivers in this category do not need to keep a medical certificate on file.

A federal database that records drug and alcohol program violations for CDL drivers. Employers query it before hiring and annually, and drivers must register to respond to those queries.

A check an employer runs in the Clearinghouse to see whether a driver has recorded violations. A full query requires the driver's consent and is required before employment and at least annually.

A Clearinghouse check that reveals only whether any information exists, not its details. Employers use it for current employees, and a full query is needed if the limited query shows a record.

A driver's authorization for an employer to run a full Clearinghouse query or to obtain details of a record. Employers must have it before accessing the driver's violation information.

The required steps a driver must complete after a drug or alcohol violation before performing safety-sensitive functions again, including evaluation, treatment, and a negative return-to-duty test.

A qualified professional who evaluates a driver after a violation, recommends education or treatment, and determines readiness for return-to-duty testing. The SAP's recommendations must be followed before the driver returns.

A Clearinghouse designation meaning a driver has a violation and has not completed the return-to-duty process. A driver in this status may not perform safety-sensitive functions.

Additional drug or alcohol tests required after a driver returns to duty, as directed by the substance abuse professional. The tests continue for a set period and are separate from random testing.