Vehicle Inspection, Equipment, and Communication Devices
Vehicle inspection and equipment questions test the hazmat-specific checks that go beyond the ordinary pre-trip. The exam draws on 49 CFR 392.7, 392.9, 397.17, and 393.95.
Required inspections
- Pre-trip: check tires, brakes, lights, coupling devices, cargo securement, and the hazmat load itself: leaks, valve position, dome covers, labels, and placards.
- En route: inspect tires and the rear wheel and axle area at least every 2 hours or 200 miles, and each time you park. Check the load for shifting or leakage.
- Post-trip: report defects that affect safe operation; do not make repairs you are not qualified to make.
Equipment
- At least one fire extinguisher rated 10 BC or greater, properly charged and mounted.
- Three bidirectional reflective triangles, spare fuses if the vehicle uses them, and a communication device.
- No texting or handheld phone use while driving. A radar detector is prohibited in a CMV.
Worked example
At a 200-mile en route check, you find a rear tire with a bulge and a strong gasoline smell near the cargo tank. You should not continue. Park safely, keep ignition sources away, notify your dispatcher, and get the tire and leak evaluated. A bulge is a tire failure waiting to happen, and the smell suggests a product release.
Traps that cost marks
The hazmat en route interval is 2 hours or 200 miles, not the general 150-mile or 3-hour cargo check. A 5 BC extinguisher does not meet the 10 BC requirement. Warning devices must be used when you stop on the shoulder, and placards must be replaced if they become illegible.