New Jersey CDL HazMat Endorsement Test cheat sheet

HazMat is a material meeting any of the nine hazard class definitions in 49 CFR 173; the class determines packaging, marking, labeling, placarding, and shipping paper rules.

HazMat employees need general awareness/familiarization, function-specific, safety, and security awareness training under 49 CFR 172 Subpart H, with recurrent training at least every 3 years.

The shipper (offeror) certifies the shipping paper; the carrier must keep the papers accessible in the cab and, when the driver is out of the vehicle, in a holder on the driver's door or within reach.

Emergency response information accompanies every HazMat shipping paper and must include a 24-hour emergency phone number, plus a description of the material's hazards, fire/health risks, and initial response guidance.

Shipping paper basic description order: proper shipping name, hazard class or division, UN/NA identification number, and packing group (PG is not shown for classes without packing groups).

Emergency response telephone must be monitored at all times the material is in transportation; a number that is not answered during the shipment is a violation.

The hazardous materials table (49 CFR 172.101) lists the proper shipping name, class, ID number, label codes, packing group, packaging exceptions, and special provisions.

A material with multiple hazards is described by its primary hazard class first, with subsidiary hazards labeled but not necessarily listed in the basic description.

Total quantity and number of packages must be shown on the shipping paper, with units of measurement; net explosive weight is used for Class 1.

Shipping papers must show the total quantity for each hazardous material, and for a mixed load, the total quantity of all hazardous materials must be shown.

Carrier must keep shipping papers in a pouch or holder that is visible and within reach of the driver while seated, and must be able to hand them to an emergency responder.

When a HazMat shipment is in a vehicle, the shipping paper must include the emergency response telephone number and the material's basic description.

Shipping paper entries must be legible, in English, and must be distinguishable from non-HazMat entries; shipping papers must be retained for 2 years by the shipper.

The emergency response information must be immediately available to the driver and must be in a form that can be used in an emergency, such as an ERG or a written document.

For a hazardous material requiring a placard, the shipping paper must show the total quantity and the number of packages, unless the material is in a package with a capacity of 119 gallons or less and is in a quantity less than 1,001 pounds.

The shipping paper must identify the shipper's certification statement, which certifies that the material is properly classified, described, packaged, marked, labeled, and in proper condition for transport.

Class 1 explosives are divided into divisions 1.1 through 1.6; compatibility groups are assigned letters A through S.

Class 2 gases are division 2.1 flammable, 2.2 nonflammable, and 2.3 toxic; Class 3 is flammable liquids, Class 4 is flammable solids, spontaneously combustible, and dangerous when wet.

Class 5 is oxidizers (5.1) and organic peroxides (5.2); Class 6 is toxic (6.1) and infectious substances (6.2); Class 7 is radioactive; Class 8 is corrosive; Class 9 is miscellaneous.

Placards must be displayed on both sides and both ends of the vehicle, and must be visible from the direction they face; a placard is required for 1,001 pounds or more of a material in a single class.

The 1,001-pound placarding threshold applies to the aggregate gross weight of all packages of a material in a single hazard class; the DANGEROUS placard may be used for two or more classes in some cases.

Labels are 4 inches by 4 inches (100 mm) and must be on the package; placards are 10.5 inches by 10.5 inches (273 mm) and must be on the vehicle.

The FLAMMABLE placard is used for Class 3 flammable liquids; the FLAMMABLE GAS placard is used for Division 2.1; the OXIDIZER placard is used for Division 5.1.

A material's hazard class is determined by its physical and chemical properties, not by its name; the proper shipping name and class must match the 49 CFR 172.101 table.

Cargo must be secured with tiedowns and blocking so it cannot shift, and the securement system must withstand the forces of the load in all directions.

HazMat packages must be loaded so that they are not damaged by other cargo, and incompatible materials must be segregated according to the segregation table in 49 CFR 177.848.

Cyanides and acids must not be loaded together; oxidizers must be segregated from flammable materials; Class 1 explosives must be segregated from other classes per the table.

The segregation table uses codes: X means no segregation required, O means must be separated, and * means segregation is required unless the materials are in separate compartments.

Packages must be loaded with labels and markings visible, and must not be loaded on top of or against packages that could damage them.

Cargo must be loaded so that the vehicle's doors can be opened and the load can be inspected; the load must not block the driver's view or access to emergency equipment.

When loading or unloading, the vehicle must be attended by a qualified person, and the engine must be shut off except when necessary for the operation.

The aggregate gross weight of HazMat packages in a vehicle must be known to determine placarding; the total of all HazMat packages is used for the 1,001-pound threshold.

Before each trip, inspect tires, brakes, lights, coupling devices, and the cargo securement system; a defect that affects safe operation must be corrected before driving.

The vehicle must carry a fire extinguisher rated at least 10 BC, and it must be securely mounted and accessible; a HazMat vehicle must also carry a spill kit appropriate to the material.

The vehicle must carry warning devices: three bidirectional reflective triangles, or six fuses, or three liquid-burning flares, and they must be placed when stopped on a roadway.

A HazMat vehicle must be equipped with a communication device that allows the driver to contact emergency services; a cell phone or two-way radio is acceptable.

The driver must have the shipping papers, emergency response information, and a copy of the ERG or equivalent within reach while driving.

The vehicle must be inspected after loading and before departure, and the driver must verify that placards are correct and visible and that labels are not damaged.

A HazMat vehicle must have a properly functioning ABS if required, and the driver must check the air brake system if equipped.

The vehicle must carry a fire extinguisher with a minimum 10 BC rating, and the driver must know how to use it and where it is mounted.

A HazMat vehicle must not be parked within 5 feet of a roadway or within 5 feet of a bridge, tunnel, or railroad track unless the vehicle is attended.

A vehicle carrying HazMat must not be parked within 300 feet of an open flame or other source of ignition, and must not be parked in a tunnel or under a bridge.

When stopped on a roadway, the driver must place warning devices within 10 minutes: triangles at 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet from the vehicle, or at 100 feet and 200 feet on a divided highway.

The driver must not smoke or allow smoking within 25 feet of a vehicle carrying flammable or combustible materials.

A HazMat vehicle must not be left unattended unless the parking brake is set, the engine is off, and the vehicle is on a level surface or the wheels are chocked.

A vehicle carrying Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives must not be parked within 5 feet of a roadway and must be attended at all times.

The driver must obey all railroad crossing rules and must not stop on a railroad track; a HazMat vehicle must stop at all railroad crossings unless the crossing is exempt.

A HazMat vehicle must not be driven through a tunnel if the material is prohibited, and must obey tunnel restrictions for flammable and explosive materials.

A HazMat incident must be reported immediately to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802, and the carrier must be notified.

A written report is required for an incident involving a death, injury requiring hospitalization, property damage over $50,000, or a release of a hazardous material.

The driver must not attempt to clean up a spill unless trained and equipped; the driver must secure the scene, warn others, and call for emergency response.

The ERG's initial isolation distances and protective action distances must be used to set up a perimeter; the guide number is found from the UN number or material name.

The driver must report the incident to the carrier and must provide the shipping paper, emergency response information, and the material's name and quantity.

A release of a hazardous material must be reported to the National Response Center if it meets the reportable quantity (RQ) for that material.

The driver must not move a vehicle involved in a HazMat release unless it is necessary to protect life or property, and must keep the shipping papers available for responders.

The written incident report must be filed within 30 days of the incident and must include the material, quantity, and circumstances of the release.

A HazMat endorsement (H) requires a TSA Security Threat Assessment (STA), which includes fingerprinting and a criminal history check.

The STA must be renewed every 5 years, and the driver must submit fingerprints and pay the fee; a disqualifying criminal offense results in denial.

Disqualifying offenses include terrorism, murder, arson, kidnapping, and certain drug offenses; a driver may appeal a denial and request a waiver.

The driver must carry the HazMat endorsement on the CDL and must comply with the security plan of the carrier, including reporting suspicious activity.

A security plan must be in place for carriers that transport certain quantities of hazardous materials, and must address personnel security, unauthorized access, and en route security.

The driver must not allow unauthorized persons to access the vehicle or the HazMat cargo, and must report suspicious persons or activities to the carrier and law enforcement.

A driver with a HazMat endorsement must not transport HazMat if the endorsement is suspended or revoked, and must surrender the license if required.

The TSA STA is valid for 5 years, and a driver must complete the assessment before the endorsement is issued or renewed.

A tank vehicle endorsement (N) is required to drive a vehicle with a tank capacity of 1,000 gallons or more, or a vehicle carrying a portable tank.

A tank vehicle must have a cargo tank that is marked with the material's proper shipping name and ID number, and must have the correct placards.

The driver must inspect the tank, valves, and fittings before loading, and must ensure that the tank is not overloaded and that the outage (ullage) is correct.

A cargo tank must have a manifest or shipping paper that shows the material, quantity, and the tank's capacity, and the driver must know the tank's design and limitations.

A tank vehicle carrying flammable liquids must have a fire extinguisher and must not be loaded or unloaded with the engine running unless the pump is powered by the engine.

A portable tank must be secured to the vehicle and must be marked and labeled as required; the driver must check that the tank is not damaged and that the valves are closed.

A tank vehicle must not be driven with a leaking tank or fitting, and the driver must stop and repair or report the leak before continuing.

A tank vehicle carrying a material requiring a placard must display placards on all four sides, and the driver must ensure the placards match the material in the tank.