Kentucky CDL Hazmat cheat sheet

Hazardous material means a substance or material the Secretary of Transportation determines capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce; the DOT Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101) is the controlling list.

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

A material is regulated only when it meets a definition, is listed by name in the Table, or is a hazardous substance, hazardous waste, marine pollutant, or elevated-temperature material above the listed threshold.

Shipper responsibilities: proper classification, selecting the correct basic description, providing compliant packaging, marking, labeling, placarding, and furnishing shipping papers with emergency response information.

Carrier responsibilities: not accepting a shipment that is improperly described, packaged, marked, labeled, or placarded; refusing leaking packages; and providing required placards and emergency response information in the cab.

Basic description order on the shipping paper: UN/NA identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class or division, and packing group (PG is omitted for classes with no packing group, such as Class 2, 7, and most Class 9).

The emergency response telephone number on the shipping paper must be monitored at all times the material is in transportation, including storage incidental to transportation, and must be reachable by collect or toll-free call.

Shipping paper retention: 2 years for hazardous waste, 1 year for other hazardous materials (375 days for some exceptions), and papers must be turned over to a responding official on request.

Shipping papers must accompany each hazardous materials shipment and be within the driver's immediate reach while driving, or on the driver's seat when out of the vehicle.

Required emergency response information: basic description and technical name, immediate hazards to health, risks of fire or explosion, immediate precautions to protect the public, immediate methods for handling fires, initial methods for handling spills or leaks, and preliminary first aid measures.

Emergency response information may be satisfied by the ERG (Emergency Response Guidebook) guide page, a company ERP, or the shipping paper itself when it contains all required elements.

Hazard zone designation (A, B, C, or D) applies to toxic inhalation hazard (TIH/PIH) materials and must appear on the shipping paper in addition to the basic description.

When a shipping paper covers both hazardous and non-hazardous materials, hazardous entries must be distinguished - by highlighting, a separate section, or the letter X in a designated column.

Total quantity must be shown for hazardous waste, for materials offered in bulk packages, and for materials requiring a specific quantity notation such as residue or empty packaging.

The shipper must certify the shipment is properly classified, described, packaged, marked, labeled, and in proper condition for transport; a signature (or electronic equivalent) is required.

If the shipping paper is lost or unavailable, the driver should not continue the shipment without notifying the carrier and shipper; enforcement officers may place the vehicle out of service.

Labels are applied to packages and are shaped as a diamond rotated 45 degrees; placards are applied to vehicles and bulk packages and are square-on-point, at least 250 mm (about 9.8 inches) on each side.

Placards are required when the aggregate gross weight of a Table 2 material in a transport vehicle reaches 1,001 pounds (454 kg), or when any quantity of a Table 1 material is loaded.

DANGER placard may be used instead of separate placards when two or more Table 2 categories are loaded and the aggregate is 1,001 pounds or more - except it may not be used for Table 1 materials, for 1.1/1.2/1.3 explosives, or for certain other forbidden combinations.

The 1,001-pound placarding threshold applies to the aggregate gross weight of all hazardous materials in Table 2 categories; a single category reaching 1,001 pounds requires its specific placard.

Placards must be affixed to both sides and both ends of the vehicle (or bulk package); the front placard may be on the front of the truck or the front of the trailer.

Markings required on non-bulk packages: proper shipping name and UN/NA number (unless the material is excepted), plus the shipper's or offeror's name and address unless the package is excepted.

Orientation arrows are required for combination packagings containing liquid hazardous materials; they must point up and appear on at least two opposite vertical sides.

A placard may be displayed only for the material actually loaded, and placards must be removed or replaced when the material is unloaded, except residue placards on bulk packages.

Before loading, inspect packages for leaks, damage, or staining; refuse damaged packages and notify the shipper; do not load a leaking package onto the vehicle.

Cargo must be secured so it cannot shift, slide, or fall; the aggregate working load limit of tiedowns must be at least 50 percent of the cargo weight, and at least one tiedown per 10 feet of article length for long articles.

Cyanides and acids must not be loaded together in the same vehicle or in a position where leakage could mix; the same separation applies to other incompatible pairs identified by the shipper's segregation instructions.

Poisonous materials (Division 6.1) and foodstuffs must not be loaded in the same vehicle unless separated to prevent contamination; toxic materials may not be loaded with food, feed, or edible products.

Division 1.1 and 1.2 explosives may not be transported in the same vehicle with detonators or detonating devices; blasting caps and explosives are loaded separately.

Do not smoke or carry lighted smoking materials while loading, unloading, or operating a vehicle containing Class 3, 4, or 5 materials, or when the vehicle is placarded for those classes.

Cargo must be loaded so that the driver can see and reach the shipping papers and so that the vehicle's placards are not obscured; do not block doors, vents, or emergency exits.

Unloading: chock wheels, set parking brake, use wheel blocks, and keep the vehicle attended; never leave a placarded vehicle unattended on a public street unless the engine is off, brakes set, and keys removed.

A bulk package has a capacity greater than 119 gallons (450 liters) for liquids, greater than 882 pounds (400 kg) for solids, or greater than 1,000 pounds of water capacity for gases; it is not a non-bulk package.

Cargo tank motor vehicles must be marked with the proper shipping name and UN/NA number on both sides and rear, and placarded as required; the specification plate must match the material being carried.

Portable tanks (IM and UN portable tanks) require a valid periodic inspection and test date; do not load a portable tank whose inspection has expired or whose data plate is missing or illegible.

Before loading a cargo tank, verify that the tank is the correct specification and that the material is compatible with the tank lining and fittings; check the data plate and the shipping paper.

Cargo tanks must not be loaded above the maximum filling density or outage limit; liquids expand with heat and an overfilled tank can vent or rupture.

Bulk packages require placards on both sides and both ends; the UN/NA number must appear on the placard or on an orange panel adjacent to the placard.

While loading or unloading a cargo tank, the engine must be off unless the pump is powered by the engine; brakes must be set, wheels chocked, and the area attended.

A tank that has been unloaded may retain a residue placard; the shipping paper must show the word 'Residue' when the packaging is empty but not cleaned.

Never smoke or carry a lighted smoking device in a placarded vehicle or within 25 feet of a placarded vehicle being loaded or unloaded; no smoking in the cab of a placarded vehicle.

A placarded vehicle may not be parked within 5 feet of the traveled portion of a public street or highway, and must be attended at all times unless it is parked in a secure area.

When parking a placarded vehicle, set the parking brake, place the transmission in gear or park, turn off the engine, remove the key, and chock the wheels if the vehicle is on a grade.

Placarded vehicles must stop before crossing a railroad crossing at grade, unless the crossing is exempted by the jurisdiction, and must stop at least 15 feet but not more than 50 feet from the nearest rail.

Do not drive a placarded vehicle through a tunnel or over a bridge posted against hazardous materials; follow posted routes and local restrictions.

Use of a handheld mobile phone is prohibited while operating a placarded commercial motor vehicle, and texting is prohibited for all CMV drivers.

Route restrictions: carriers must use routes designated for hazardous materials where required, and drivers must follow the shipper's or carrier's routing instructions and local permits.

A placarded vehicle must not be left unattended on a public street unless it is parked in a designated secure location; when unattended, the vehicle must be locked and placards visible.

Immediately after an incident involving a hazardous material, the driver must notify local emergency responders (911), then notify the carrier; the carrier notifies the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 when a reportable quantity is released.

Reportable incident triggers include a person hospitalized, death, an evacuation of the public for more than one hour, a release of a reportable quantity, fire, or a vehicle accident with a hazardous material.

The written incident report (Form 5800.1) is prepared by the carrier and submitted to PHMSA within 30 days of the incident.

The ERG (Emergency Response Guidebook) is organized by UN/NA number and by material name; the yellow-bordered pages list ID numbers, the blue-bordered pages list names, and the orange-bordered pages give response guides.

ERG response guides give protective actions: isolate the area, evacuate or shelter in place, and use the initial isolation and protective action distances in the green-bordered pages for TIH materials.

If a leak or spill occurs, do not attempt to stop a large leak; move upwind and uphill, keep people away, and let trained responders handle the release.

Placarded vehicles must carry a fire extinguisher rated at least 10 BC (or 10 B:C) and a warning device such as reflective triangles; the extinguisher must be inspected and charged.

Drivers must be trained in emergency response and must carry a certificate of training; training covers general awareness, function-specific, safety, and security awareness.

A hazardous materials safety permit (HMSP) is required for certain high-risk materials: Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives; more than 25 kg of Division 2.3 (poison gas); more than 1 liter of Division 6.1 PG I liquid or 1 kg of PG I solid; and highway route controlled quantities of Class 7 radioactive material.

The HMSP is issued by FMCSA and must be carried in the vehicle; it is valid for 2 years and is not transferable between carriers.

The carrier must maintain a written security plan covering personnel security, unauthorized access, and en route security for shipments of high-risk materials.

Drivers must receive security awareness training covering recognition of suspicious behavior, reporting of security threats, and procedures for securing the vehicle and cargo.

Vehicle and cargo must be secured when unattended: lock the cab and cargo area, remove keys, and park in a secure, well-lit location approved by the carrier.

Suspicious activity or a security threat should be reported to the carrier and to local law enforcement; the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center or FBI may be contacted for credible threats.

Unauthorized persons must not be allowed access to the vehicle or cargo; verify identity and paperwork before releasing a shipment.

A security plan must be in writing and retained; it must be reviewed and updated as needed, and drivers must be trained on it before handling covered materials.