Michigan CDL Hazmat cheat sheet

A material is a hazmat for CDL purposes when it meets a DOT hazard class definition or is listed by name in the Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101); the table entry controls the proper shipping name, class, packing group, labels, and special provisions.

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. Class 7 requires a separate radioactive endorsement on top of the H endorsement.

A CDL hazmat endorsement (H) is required to drive any vehicle carrying hazmat that requires placards; the X endorsement combines tank vehicle (N) and hazmat (H). Michigan adds a Transportation Security Administration threat assessment and fingerprint-based background check before the H is issued.

Placard thresholds: 1,001 lb aggregate gross weight for Table 2 materials in non-bulk packages; any amount of a Table 1 material; 1,001 lb for a single class of Table 2 in one vehicle; and 5,001 lb total of all classes combined. Bulk packages always require placards regardless of weight.

Packing groups rank degree of danger within a class: I great danger, II moderate danger, III minor danger. Packing Group I materials are the most restrictive for loading, segregation, and quantity limits.

Shipping papers must accompany the shipment and be within the driver's reach in the cab, kept in a pocket or holder on the driver's door when the driver leaves the vehicle, and preserved for 90 days after delivery.

Emergency response information must accompany every hazmat shipping paper: a 24-hour emergency response telephone number plus a written guidebook page, emergency response information sheet, or MSDS. The phone number must be monitored at all times the material is in transit.

Carrier registration with PHMSA (49 CFR 107.601) is required for certain high-risk shipments, including bulk quantities of Table 1 materials, more than 5,000 lb of a Table 2 material in one vehicle, and highway route controlled quantities of Class 7.

Shipping paper entries must appear in this order: basic description (proper shipping name, hazard class or division, UN/NA identification number, packing group), total quantity, and number and type of packages. The basic description may not be interrupted by other information.

Proper shipping names are shown in Roman type in the Hazardous Materials Table; entries in italics are not proper shipping names and must not be used alone on shipping papers or packages.

Placards are 10.75 inches square, placed on all four sides for bulk packages, and must be readable from the direction they face. Labels are 4 inches square and go on the package itself.

Placard and label hazard classes must match the material's hazard class; subsidiary hazard labels are required when the table shows a subsidiary risk. A DANGEROUS WHEN WET placard is used for materials that react with water to release flammable gas.

The FLAMMABLE placard may be used in place of a COMBUSTIBLE placard for combustible liquids, but a COMBUSTIBLE placard may never be used for a flammable liquid.

The ERG (Emergency Response Guidebook) is organized by guide number, not by material name; the yellow-bordered pages list materials by ID number, the blue-bordered pages by name, and the orange pages give response guides.

Hazmat employees must be trained initially and every three years in general awareness, function-specific, safety, and security awareness; the employer must certify training and keep records for the current period plus three years.

A shipping paper may not use abbreviations other than those authorized in 49 CFR 172.101 and 172.102; the hazard class must be shown as a number, and the word 'or' or 'and' between entries changes whether the shipment is one entry or two.

Never load Division 1.1 or 1.2 explosives with Division 1.3 or 1.4 materials, or with any other hazardous material, unless the segregation table in 49 CFR 177.848 expressly permits it.

Cyanides and acids must never be loaded together: mixing them releases hydrogen cyanide gas. The same rule applies to acids with sulfides and to oxidizers with combustible materials.

Smoking, open flames, and lighted smoking materials are prohibited within 25 feet of a vehicle carrying explosives, flammable liquids, or flammable gases during loading and unloading.

Before loading, inspect the vehicle for leaks, loose fittings, and residue from a previous load; a tank that last carried a hazardous material must be cleaned and purged before a food or feed product is loaded.

Secure packages against movement with dunnage, blocking, or bracing; load heavy containers on the bottom, and never stack packages so that labels or markings are hidden from view.

Cargo heaters, auxiliary power units, and other heat sources must be shut off during fueling and must not be operated where flammable vapors may accumulate.

When unloading a tank vehicle, set the parking brake, chock the wheels, and stay within reach of the controls; never leave a transfer operation unattended.

A driver may not transport a hazardous material in the passenger compartment or in a package that could leak into the cab; keep shipping papers, emergency response information, and a flashlight within reach.

At a hazmat incident, first isolate the area and deny entry; approach from upwind, uphill, and upstream, and establish command from a safe distance before identifying the material.

Use the ERG's initial isolation and protective action distances: the green-bordered pages give small and large spill distances, and the orange guide pages give the guide number for the material's ID number.

Never assume a spilled material is harmless because it looks like water or because the label is missing; identify from shipping papers, placards, labels, and the ERG before acting.

For a flammable liquid fire, use foam, dry chemical, or CO2; water may spread the fire. For a flammable gas fire, do not extinguish the flame unless the flow can be shut off, because unburned gas may re-ignite.

A driver's first duties are to notify emergency responders, keep people away, and provide the shipping paper and emergency response information to responders; the driver is not expected to fight a fire beyond the incipient stage.

Report a hazmat release to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 as soon as practicable; the carrier must also be notified, and a written report may be required for certain releases.

Personal protective equipment must match the material's hazards: structural firefighting gear for flammables, chemical-protective suits and SCBA for toxics and corrosives, and no eating, drinking, or smoking in the exclusion zone.

After an incident, do not move the vehicle or cargo until responders release the scene; preserve placards, shipping papers, and the scene for investigation, and decontaminate before leaving.

A material is a hazmat for CDL purposes when it meets a DOT hazard class definition or is listed by name in the Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101); the table entry controls the proper shipping name, class, packing group, labels, and special provisions.

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. Class 7 requires a separate radioactive endorsement on top of the H endorsement.

A CDL hazmat endorsement (H) is required to drive any vehicle carrying hazmat that requires placards; the X endorsement combines tank vehicle (N) and hazmat (H). Michigan adds a Transportation Security Administration threat assessment and fingerprint-based background check before the H is issued.

Placard thresholds: 1,001 lb aggregate gross weight for Table 2 materials in non-bulk packages; any amount of a Table 1 material; 1,001 lb for a single class of Table 2 in one vehicle; and 5,001 lb total of all classes combined. Bulk packages always require placards regardless of weight.

Packing groups rank degree of danger within a class: I great danger, II moderate danger, III minor danger. Packing Group I materials are the most restrictive for loading, segregation, and quantity limits.

Shipping papers must accompany the shipment and be within the driver's reach in the cab, kept in a pocket or holder on the driver's door when the driver leaves the vehicle, and preserved for 90 days after delivery.

Emergency response information must accompany every hazmat shipping paper: a 24-hour emergency response telephone number plus a written guidebook page, emergency response information sheet, or MSDS. The phone number must be monitored at all times the material is in transit.

Carrier registration with PHMSA (49 CFR 107.601) is required for certain high-risk shipments, including bulk quantities of Table 1 materials, more than 5,000 lb of a Table 2 material in one vehicle, and highway route controlled quantities of Class 7.

Shipping paper entries must appear in this order: basic description (proper shipping name, hazard class or division, UN/NA identification number, packing group), total quantity, and number and type of packages. The basic description may not be interrupted by other information.

Proper shipping names are shown in Roman type in the Hazardous Materials Table; entries in italics are not proper shipping names and must not be used alone on shipping papers or packages.

Placards are 10.75 inches square, placed on all four sides for bulk packages, and must be readable from the direction they face. Labels are 4 inches square and go on the package itself.

Placard and label hazard classes must match the material's hazard class; subsidiary hazard labels are required when the table shows a subsidiary risk. A DANGEROUS WHEN WET placard is used for materials that react with water to release flammable gas.

The FLAMMABLE placard may be used in place of a COMBUSTIBLE placard for combustible liquids, but a COMBUSTIBLE placard may never be used for a flammable liquid.

The ERG (Emergency Response Guidebook) is organized by guide number, not by material name; the yellow-bordered pages list materials by ID number, the blue-bordered pages by name, and the orange pages give response guides.

Hazmat employees must be trained initially and every three years in general awareness, function-specific, safety, and security awareness; the employer must certify training and keep records for the current period plus three years.

A shipping paper may not use abbreviations other than those authorized in 49 CFR 172.101 and 172.102; the hazard class must be shown as a number, and the word 'or' or 'and' between entries changes whether the shipment is one entry or two.

Never load Division 1.1 or 1.2 explosives with Division 1.3 or 1.4 materials, or with any other hazardous material, unless the segregation table in 49 CFR 177.848 expressly permits it.

Cyanides and acids must never be loaded together: mixing them releases hydrogen cyanide gas. The same rule applies to acids with sulfides and to oxidizers with combustible materials.

Smoking, open flames, and lighted smoking materials are prohibited within 25 feet of a vehicle carrying explosives, flammable liquids, or flammable gases during loading and unloading.

Before loading, inspect the vehicle for leaks, loose fittings, and residue from a previous load; a tank that last carried a hazardous material must be cleaned and purged before a food or feed product is loaded.

Secure packages against movement with dunnage, blocking, or bracing; load heavy containers on the bottom, and never stack packages so that labels or markings are hidden from view.

Cargo heaters, auxiliary power units, and other heat sources must be shut off during fueling and must not be operated where flammable vapors may accumulate.

When unloading a tank vehicle, set the parking brake, chock the wheels, and stay within reach of the controls; never leave a transfer operation unattended.

A driver may not transport a hazardous material in the passenger compartment or in a package that could leak into the cab; keep shipping papers, emergency response information, and a flashlight within reach.

At a hazmat incident, first isolate the area and deny entry; approach from upwind, uphill, and upstream, and establish command from a safe distance before identifying the material.

Use the ERG's initial isolation and protective action distances: the green-bordered pages give small and large spill distances, and the orange guide pages give the guide number for the material's ID number.

Never assume a spilled material is harmless because it looks like water or because the label is missing; identify from shipping papers, placards, labels, and the ERG before acting.

For a flammable liquid fire, use foam, dry chemical, or CO2; water may spread the fire. For a flammable gas fire, do not extinguish the flame unless the flow can be shut off, because unburned gas may re-ignite.

A driver's first duties are to notify emergency responders, keep people away, and provide the shipping paper and emergency response information to responders; the driver is not expected to fight a fire beyond the incipient stage.

Report a hazmat release to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 as soon as practicable; the carrier must also be notified, and a written report may be required for certain releases.

Personal protective equipment must match the material's hazards: structural firefighting gear for flammables, chemical-protective suits and SCBA for toxics and corrosives, and no eating, drinking, or smoking in the exclusion zone.

After an incident, do not move the vehicle or cargo until responders release the scene; preserve placards, shipping papers, and the scene for investigation, and decontaminate before leaving.

A material is a hazmat for CDL purposes when it meets a DOT hazard class definition or is listed by name in the Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101); the table entry controls the proper shipping name, class, packing group, labels, and special provisions.

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. Class 7 requires a separate radioactive endorsement on top of the H endorsement.

A CDL hazmat endorsement (H) is required to drive any vehicle carrying hazmat that requires placards; the X endorsement combines tank vehicle (N) and hazmat (H). Michigan adds a Transportation Security Administration threat assessment and fingerprint-based background check before the H is issued.

Placard thresholds: 1,001 lb aggregate gross weight for Table 2 materials in non-bulk packages; any amount of a Table 1 material; 1,001 lb for a single class of Table 2 in one vehicle; and 5,001 lb total of all classes combined. Bulk packages always require placards regardless of weight.

Packing groups rank degree of danger within a class: I great danger, II moderate danger, III minor danger. Packing Group I materials are the most restrictive for loading, segregation, and quantity limits.

Shipping papers must accompany the shipment and be within the driver's reach in the cab, kept in a pocket or holder on the driver's door when the driver leaves the vehicle, and preserved for 90 days after delivery.

Emergency response information must accompany every hazmat shipping paper: a 24-hour emergency response telephone number plus a written guidebook page, emergency response information sheet, or MSDS. The phone number must be monitored at all times the material is in transit.

Carrier registration with PHMSA (49 CFR 107.601) is required for certain high-risk shipments, including bulk quantities of Table 1 materials, more than 5,000 lb of a Table 2 material in one vehicle, and highway route controlled quantities of Class 7.

Shipping paper entries must appear in this order: basic description (proper shipping name, hazard class or division, UN/NA identification number, packing group), total quantity, and number and type of packages. The basic description may not be interrupted by other information.

Proper shipping names are shown in Roman type in the Hazardous Materials Table; entries in italics are not proper shipping names and must not be used alone on shipping papers or packages.

Placards are 10.75 inches square, placed on all four sides for bulk packages, and must be readable from the direction they face. Labels are 4 inches square and go on the package itself.

Placard and label hazard classes must match the material's hazard class; subsidiary hazard labels are required when the table shows a subsidiary risk. A DANGEROUS WHEN WET placard is used for materials that react with water to release flammable gas.

The FLAMMABLE placard may be used in place of a COMBUSTIBLE placard for combustible liquids, but a COMBUSTIBLE placard may never be used for a flammable liquid.

The ERG (Emergency Response Guidebook) is organized by guide number, not by material name; the yellow-bordered pages list materials by ID number, the blue-bordered pages by name, and the orange pages give response guides.

Hazmat employees must be trained initially and every three years in general awareness, function-specific, safety, and security awareness; the employer must certify training and keep records for the current period plus three years.

A shipping paper may not use abbreviations other than those authorized in 49 CFR 172.101 and 172.102; the hazard class must be shown as a number, and the word 'or' or 'and' between entries changes whether the shipment is one entry or two.

Never load Division 1.1 or 1.2 explosives with Division 1.3 or 1.4 materials, or with any other hazardous material, unless the segregation table in 49 CFR 177.848 expressly permits it.

Cyanides and acids must never be loaded together: mixing them releases hydrogen cyanide gas. The same rule applies to acids with sulfides and to oxidizers with combustible materials.

Smoking, open flames, and lighted smoking materials are prohibited within 25 feet of a vehicle carrying explosives, flammable liquids, or flammable gases during loading and unloading.

Before loading, inspect the vehicle for leaks, loose fittings, and residue from a previous load; a tank that last carried a hazardous material must be cleaned and purged before a food or feed product is loaded.

Secure packages against movement with dunnage, blocking, or bracing; load heavy containers on the bottom, and never stack packages so that labels or markings are hidden from view.

Cargo heaters, auxiliary power units, and other heat sources must be shut off during fueling and must not be operated where flammable vapors may accumulate.

When unloading a tank vehicle, set the parking brake, chock the wheels, and stay within reach of the controls; never leave a transfer operation unattended.

A driver may not transport a hazardous material in the passenger compartment or in a package that could leak into the cab; keep shipping papers, emergency response information, and a flashlight within reach.

At a hazmat incident, first isolate the area and deny entry; approach from upwind, uphill, and upstream, and establish command from a safe distance before identifying the material.

Use the ERG's initial isolation and protective action distances: the green-bordered pages give small and large spill distances, and the orange guide pages give the guide number for the material's ID number.

Never assume a spilled material is harmless because it looks like water or because the label is missing; identify from shipping papers, placards, labels, and the ERG before acting.

For a flammable liquid fire, use foam, dry chemical, or CO2; water may spread the fire. For a flammable gas fire, do not extinguish the flame unless the flow can be shut off, because unburned gas may re-ignite.

A driver's first duties are to notify emergency responders, keep people away, and provide the shipping paper and emergency response information to responders; the driver is not expected to fight a fire beyond the incipient stage.

Report a hazmat release to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 as soon as practicable; the carrier must also be notified, and a written report may be required for certain releases.

Personal protective equipment must match the material's hazards: structural firefighting gear for flammables, chemical-protective suits and SCBA for toxics and corrosives, and no eating, drinking, or smoking in the exclusion zone.

After an incident, do not move the vehicle or cargo until responders release the scene; preserve placards, shipping papers, and the scene for investigation, and decontaminate before leaving.

A material is a hazmat for CDL purposes when it meets a DOT hazard class definition or is listed by name in the Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101); the table entry controls the proper shipping name, class, packing group, labels, and special provisions.

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. Class 7 requires a separate radioactive endorsement on top of the H endorsement.

A CDL hazmat endorsement (H) is required to drive any vehicle carrying hazmat that requires placards; the X endorsement combines tank vehicle (N) and hazmat (H). Michigan adds a Transportation Security Administration threat assessment and fingerprint-based background check before the H is issued.

Placard thresholds: 1,001 lb aggregate gross weight for Table 2 materials in non-bulk packages; any amount of a Table 1 material; 1,001 lb for a single class of Table 2 in one vehicle; and 5,001 lb total of all classes combined. Bulk packages always require placards regardless of weight.

Packing groups rank degree of danger within a class: I great danger, II moderate danger, III minor danger. Packing Group I materials are the most restrictive for loading, segregation, and quantity limits.

Shipping papers must accompany the shipment and be within the driver's reach in the cab, kept in a pocket or holder on the driver's door when the driver leaves the vehicle, and preserved for 90 days after delivery.

Emergency response information must accompany every hazmat shipping paper: a 24-hour emergency response telephone number plus a written guidebook page, emergency response information sheet, or MSDS. The phone number must be monitored at all times the material is in transit.

Carrier registration with PHMSA (49 CFR 107.601) is required for certain high-risk shipments, including bulk quantities of Table 1 materials, more than 5,000 lb of a Table 2 material in one vehicle, and highway route controlled quantities of Class 7.

Shipping paper entries must appear in this order: basic description (proper shipping name, hazard class or division, UN/NA identification number, packing group), total quantity, and number and type of packages. The basic description may not be interrupted by other information.

Proper shipping names are shown in Roman type in the Hazardous Materials Table; entries in italics are not proper shipping names and must not be used alone on shipping papers or packages.

Placards are 10.75 inches square, placed on all four sides for bulk packages, and must be readable from the direction they face. Labels are 4 inches square and go on the package itself.

Placard and label hazard classes must match the material's hazard class; subsidiary hazard labels are required when the table shows a subsidiary risk. A DANGEROUS WHEN WET placard is used for materials that react with water to release flammable gas.

The FLAMMABLE placard may be used in place of a COMBUSTIBLE placard for combustible liquids, but a COMBUSTIBLE placard may never be used for a flammable liquid.

The ERG (Emergency Response Guidebook) is organized by guide number, not by material name; the yellow-bordered pages list materials by ID number, the blue-bordered pages by name, and the orange pages give response guides.

Hazmat employees must be trained initially and every three years in general awareness, function-specific, safety, and security awareness; the employer must certify training and keep records for the current period plus three years.

A shipping paper may not use abbreviations other than those authorized in 49 CFR 172.101 and 172.102; the hazard class must be shown as a number, and the word 'or' or 'and' between entries changes whether the shipment is one entry or two.

Never load Division 1.1 or 1.2 explosives with Division 1.3 or 1.4 materials, or with any other hazardous material, unless the segregation table in 49 CFR 177.848 expressly permits it.

Cyanides and acids must never be loaded together: mixing them releases hydrogen cyanide gas. The same rule applies to acids with sulfides and to oxidizers with combustible materials.

Smoking, open flames, and lighted smoking materials are prohibited within 25 feet of a vehicle carrying explosives, flammable liquids, or flammable gases during loading and unloading.

Before loading, inspect the vehicle for leaks, loose fittings, and residue from a previous load; a tank that last carried a hazardous material must be cleaned and purged before a food or feed product is loaded.

Secure packages against movement with dunnage, blocking, or bracing; load heavy containers on the bottom, and never stack packages so that labels or markings are hidden from view.

Cargo heaters, auxiliary power units, and other heat sources must be shut off during fueling and must not be operated where flammable vapors may accumulate.

When unloading a tank vehicle, set the parking brake, chock the wheels, and stay within reach of the controls; never leave a transfer operation unattended.

A driver may not transport a hazardous material in the passenger compartment or in a package that could leak into the cab; keep shipping papers, emergency response information, and a flashlight within reach.

At a hazmat incident, first isolate the area and deny entry; approach from upwind, uphill, and upstream, and establish command from a safe distance before identifying the material.

Use the ERG's initial isolation and protective action distances: the green-bordered pages give small and large spill distances, and the orange guide pages give the guide number for the material's ID number.

Never assume a spilled material is harmless because it looks like water or because the label is missing; identify from shipping papers, placards, labels, and the ERG before acting.

For a flammable liquid fire, use foam, dry chemical, or CO2; water may spread the fire. For a flammable gas fire, do not extinguish the flame unless the flow can be shut off, because unburned gas may re-ignite.

A driver's first duties are to notify emergency responders, keep people away, and provide the shipping paper and emergency response information to responders; the driver is not expected to fight a fire beyond the incipient stage.

Report a hazmat release to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 as soon as practicable; the carrier must also be notified, and a written report may be required for certain releases.

Personal protective equipment must match the material's hazards: structural firefighting gear for flammables, chemical-protective suits and SCBA for toxics and corrosives, and no eating, drinking, or smoking in the exclusion zone.

After an incident, do not move the vehicle or cargo until responders release the scene; preserve placards, shipping papers, and the scene for investigation, and decontaminate before leaving.

A material is a hazmat for CDL purposes when it meets a DOT hazard class definition or is listed by name in the Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101); the table entry controls the proper shipping name, class, packing group, labels, and special provisions.

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. Class 7 requires a separate radioactive endorsement on top of the H endorsement.

A CDL hazmat endorsement (H) is required to drive any vehicle carrying hazmat that requires placards; the X endorsement combines tank vehicle (N) and hazmat (H). Michigan adds a Transportation Security Administration threat assessment and fingerprint-based background check before the H is issued.

Placard thresholds: 1,001 lb aggregate gross weight for Table 2 materials in non-bulk packages; any amount of a Table 1 material; 1,001 lb for a single class of Table 2 in one vehicle; and 5,001 lb total of all classes combined. Bulk packages always require placards regardless of weight.

Packing groups rank degree of danger within a class: I great danger, II moderate danger, III minor danger. Packing Group I materials are the most restrictive for loading, segregation, and quantity limits.

Shipping papers must accompany the shipment and be within the driver's reach in the cab, kept in a pocket or holder on the driver's door when the driver leaves the vehicle, and preserved for 90 days after delivery.

Emergency response information must accompany every hazmat shipping paper: a 24-hour emergency response telephone number plus a written guidebook page, emergency response information sheet, or MSDS. The phone number must be monitored at all times the material is in transit.

Carrier registration with PHMSA (49 CFR 107.601) is required for certain high-risk shipments, including bulk quantities of Table 1 materials, more than 5,000 lb of a Table 2 material in one vehicle, and highway route controlled quantities of Class 7.

Shipping paper entries must appear in this order: basic description (proper shipping name, hazard class or division, UN/NA identification number, packing group), total quantity, and number and type of packages. The basic description may not be interrupted by other information.

Proper shipping names are shown in Roman type in the Hazardous Materials Table; entries in italics are not proper shipping names and must not be used alone on shipping papers or packages.

Placards are 10.75 inches square, placed on all four sides for bulk packages, and must be readable from the direction they face. Labels are 4 inches square and go on the package itself.

Placard and label hazard classes must match the material's hazard class; subsidiary hazard labels are required when the table shows a subsidiary risk. A DANGEROUS WHEN WET placard is used for materials that react with water to release flammable gas.

The FLAMMABLE placard may be used in place of a COMBUSTIBLE placard for combustible liquids, but a COMBUSTIBLE placard may never be used for a flammable liquid.

The ERG (Emergency Response Guidebook) is organized by guide number, not by material name; the yellow-bordered pages list materials by ID number, the blue-bordered pages by name, and the orange pages give response guides.

Hazmat employees must be trained initially and every three years in general awareness, function-specific, safety, and security awareness; the employer must certify training and keep records for the current period plus three years.

A shipping paper may not use abbreviations other than those authorized in 49 CFR 172.101 and 172.102; the hazard class must be shown as a number, and the word 'or' or 'and' between entries changes whether the shipment is one entry or two.

Never load Division 1.1 or 1.2 explosives with Division 1.3 or 1.4 materials, or with any other hazardous material, unless the segregation table in 49 CFR 177.848 expressly permits it.

Cyanides and acids must never be loaded together: mixing them releases hydrogen cyanide gas. The same rule applies to acids with sulfides and to oxidizers with combustible materials.

Smoking, open flames, and lighted smoking materials are prohibited within 25 feet of a vehicle carrying explosives, flammable liquids, or flammable gases during loading and unloading.

Before loading, inspect the vehicle for leaks, loose fittings, and residue from a previous load; a tank that last carried a hazardous material must be cleaned and purged before a food or feed product is loaded.

Secure packages against movement with dunnage, blocking, or bracing; load heavy containers on the bottom, and never stack packages so that labels or markings are hidden from view.

Cargo heaters, auxiliary power units, and other heat sources must be shut off during fueling and must not be operated where flammable vapors may accumulate.

When unloading a tank vehicle, set the parking brake, chock the wheels, and stay within reach of the controls; never leave a transfer operation unattended.

A driver may not transport a hazardous material in the passenger compartment or in a package that could leak into the cab; keep shipping papers, emergency response information, and a flashlight within reach.

At a hazmat incident, first isolate the area and deny entry; approach from upwind, uphill, and upstream, and establish command from a safe distance before identifying the material.

Use the ERG's initial isolation and protective action distances: the green-bordered pages give small and large spill distances, and the orange guide pages give the guide number for the material's ID number.

Never assume a spilled material is harmless because it looks like water or because the label is missing; identify from shipping papers, placards, labels, and the ERG before acting.

For a flammable liquid fire, use foam, dry chemical, or CO2; water may spread the fire. For a flammable gas fire, do not extinguish the flame unless the flow can be shut off, because unburned gas may re-ignite.

A driver's first duties are to notify emergency responders, keep people away, and provide the shipping paper and emergency response information to responders; the driver is not expected to fight a fire beyond the incipient stage.

Report a hazmat release to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 as soon as practicable; the carrier must also be notified, and a written report may be required for certain releases.

Personal protective equipment must match the material's hazards: structural firefighting gear for flammables, chemical-protective suits and SCBA for toxics and corrosives, and no eating, drinking, or smoking in the exclusion zone.

After an incident, do not move the vehicle or cargo until responders release the scene; preserve placards, shipping papers, and the scene for investigation, and decontaminate before leaving.

A material is a hazmat for CDL purposes when it meets a DOT hazard class definition or is listed by name in the Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101); the table entry controls the proper shipping name, class, packing group, labels, and special provisions.

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. Class 7 requires a separate radioactive endorsement on top of the H endorsement.

A CDL hazmat endorsement (H) is required to drive any vehicle carrying hazmat that requires placards; the X endorsement combines tank vehicle (N) and hazmat (H). Michigan adds a Transportation Security Administration threat assessment and fingerprint-based background check before the H is issued.

Placard thresholds: 1,001 lb aggregate gross weight for Table 2 materials in non-bulk packages; any amount of a Table 1 material; 1,001 lb for a single class of Table 2 in one vehicle; and 5,001 lb total of all classes combined. Bulk packages always require placards regardless of weight.

Packing groups rank degree of danger within a class: I great danger, II moderate danger, III minor danger. Packing Group I materials are the most restrictive for loading, segregation, and quantity limits.

Shipping papers must accompany the shipment and be within the driver's reach in the cab, kept in a pocket or holder on the driver's door when the driver leaves the vehicle, and preserved for 90 days after delivery.

Emergency response information must accompany every hazmat shipping paper: a 24-hour emergency response telephone number plus a written guidebook page, emergency response information sheet, or MSDS. The phone number must be monitored at all times the material is in transit.

Carrier registration with PHMSA (49 CFR 107.601) is required for certain high-risk shipments, including bulk quantities of Table 1 materials, more than 5,000 lb of a Table 2 material in one vehicle, and highway route controlled quantities of Class 7.

Shipping paper entries must appear in this order: basic description (proper shipping name, hazard class or division, UN/NA identification number, packing group), total quantity, and number and type of packages. The basic description may not be interrupted by other information.

Proper shipping names are shown in Roman type in the Hazardous Materials Table; entries in italics are not proper shipping names and must not be used alone on shipping papers or packages.

Placards are 10.75 inches square, placed on all four sides for bulk packages, and must be readable from the direction they face. Labels are 4 inches square and go on the package itself.

Placard and label hazard classes must match the material's hazard class; subsidiary hazard labels are required when the table shows a subsidiary risk. A DANGEROUS WHEN WET placard is used for materials that react with water to release flammable gas.

The FLAMMABLE placard may be used in place of a COMBUSTIBLE placard for combustible liquids, but a COMBUSTIBLE placard may never be used for a flammable liquid.

The ERG (Emergency Response Guidebook) is organized by guide number, not by material name; the yellow-bordered pages list materials by ID number, the blue-bordered pages by name, and the orange pages give response guides.

Hazmat employees must be trained initially and every three years in general awareness, function-specific, safety, and security awareness; the employer must certify training and keep records for the current period plus three years.

A shipping paper may not use abbreviations other than those authorized in 49 CFR 172.101 and 172.102; the hazard class must be shown as a number, and the word 'or' or 'and' between entries changes whether the shipment is one entry or two.

Never load Division 1.1 or 1.2 explosives with Division 1.3 or 1.4 materials, or with any other hazardous material, unless the segregation table in 49 CFR 177.848 expressly permits it.

Cyanides and acids must never be loaded together: mixing them releases hydrogen cyanide gas. The same rule applies to acids with sulfides and to oxidizers with combustible materials.

Smoking, open flames, and lighted smoking materials are prohibited within 25 feet of a vehicle carrying explosives, flammable liquids, or flammable gases during loading and unloading.

Before loading, inspect the vehicle for leaks, loose fittings, and residue from a previous load; a tank that last carried a hazardous material must be cleaned and purged before a food or feed product is loaded.

Secure packages against movement with dunnage, blocking, or bracing; load heavy containers on the bottom, and never stack packages so that labels or markings are hidden from view.

Cargo heaters, auxiliary power units, and other heat sources must be shut off during fueling and must not be operated where flammable vapors may accumulate.

When unloading a tank vehicle, set the parking brake, chock the wheels, and stay within reach of the controls; never leave a transfer operation unattended.

A driver may not transport a hazardous material in the passenger compartment or in a package that could leak into the cab; keep shipping papers, emergency response information, and a flashlight within reach.

At a hazmat incident, first isolate the area and deny entry; approach from upwind, uphill, and upstream, and establish command from a safe distance before identifying the material.

Use the ERG's initial isolation and protective action distances: the green-bordered pages give small and large spill distances, and the orange guide pages give the guide number for the material's ID number.

Never assume a spilled material is harmless because it looks like water or because the label is missing; identify from shipping papers, placards, labels, and the ERG before acting.

For a flammable liquid fire, use foam, dry chemical, or CO2; water may spread the fire. For a flammable gas fire, do not extinguish the flame unless the flow can be shut off, because unburned gas may re-ignite.

A driver's first duties are to notify emergency responders, keep people away, and provide the shipping paper and emergency response information to responders; the driver is not expected to fight a fire beyond the incipient stage.

Report a hazmat release to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 as soon as practicable; the carrier must also be notified, and a written report may be required for certain releases.

Personal protective equipment must match the material's hazards: structural firefighting gear for flammables, chemical-protective suits and SCBA for toxics and corrosives, and no eating, drinking, or smoking in the exclusion zone.

After an incident, do not move the vehicle or cargo until responders release the scene; preserve placards, shipping papers, and the scene for investigation, and decontaminate before leaving.