Driving and parking rules, emergencies, and incident response
Driving and parking rules, emergencies, and incident response
This domain tests how to move a placarded vehicle, where it may be parked, and what to do when a release, fire, or other incident occurs.
Core rules
- Follow the parking and attendance rules in 49 CFR 397. Park a placarded vehicle away from congested areas, bridges, tunnels, and places where crowds gather. Set the parking brake, chock wheels when needed, and do not smoke or carry a lighted cigarette within 25 feet of a placarded vehicle.
- While driving, obey route restrictions and railroad-crossing rules, and watch for leaks, tire problems, and shifting cargo. Never leave a placarded load unattended unless the rules allow it.
- In an emergency, stop at a safe distance, keep people away, and call 911 and the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 when required. Use the Emergency Response Guidebook: find the guide number from the shipping paper or placard, then follow isolation and protective-action advice. Give responders the shipping paper and placards. Do not touch spilled material or use water unless the guide says to.
Worked example
A placarded tanker begins leaking at a truck stop. The driver should stop away from buildings and people, shut off the engine, avoid smoking, call 911 and the NRC, and keep others upwind and uphill. The driver should provide the shipping paper and ERG guide number to responders, but should not attempt cleanup without training and equipment.
Traps
Do not drive a leaking vehicle to a repair shop, use water on an unknown material, or re-enter the area for personal items. Do not rely on smell to identify a hazard. Failing to notify authorities or to secure the scene costs marks.