Virginia CDL HazMat cheat sheet

Hazardous material: a substance or material DOT determines is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, listed in the 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table.

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

Divisions refine a class: 1.1 mass explosion hazard, 1.5 very insensitive explosives, 2.1 flammable gas, 2.3 toxic gas, 4.3 dangerous when wet, 5.2 organic peroxide, 6.2 infectious substance.

Packing Group I, II, or III ranks degree of danger: I is great danger, II is moderate danger, III is minor danger.

Driver duties: confirm the shipping papers and placards match the load, confirm packages are labeled and not leaking, and refuse any package that is broken, leaking, or improperly marked.

HazMat employee: a person who directly affects hazardous materials transportation safety, including drivers, loaders, packagers, placarders, and those who prepare shipping papers or test packaging.

The shipper, not the driver, classifies the material, selects the packaging, and furnishes the shipping papers with emergency response information.

Never move a placarded vehicle without shipping papers within arm's reach; never accept a load whose papers are missing, illegible, or inconsistent with the freight.

Any release, leak, or accident involving hazmat is reported to the carrier and, when it meets DOT thresholds, to the National Response Center.

Basic description order on a shipping paper: proper shipping name, hazard class or division, UN or NA identification number, then packing group in parentheses, e.g. 'Gasoline, 3, UN1203, PG II'.

A shipping paper also carries total quantity, number and type of packages, shipper and consignee, and a 24-hour emergency response telephone number.

The emergency response number must be monitored at all times the shipment is in transit and answered by a person who knows the hazards, the response information, and the first aid.

While driving, keep shipping papers within reach: on the seat beside you, or in a door pocket with the seat belt over them, visible to anyone who enters the cab.

Markings go on the package (proper shipping name, ID number, RQ if a reportable quantity); labels go on non-bulk packages; placards go on vehicles and bulk packages.

Labels are 4-inch diamonds applied to packages; placards are 10.75-inch diamonds mounted on the front, rear, and both sides of the vehicle.

Table 1 materials require placards at any quantity; Table 2 materials require placards at 1,001 pounds or more aggregate gross weight in the vehicle.

Mixed loads of Table 2 materials at or above the 1,001-pound threshold that do not need a specific placard use the DANGEROUS placard.

Remove or obscure placards when the vehicle no longer holds the material; a placarded vehicle must never be operated without matching shipping papers.

Do not smoke or carry lighted smoking materials within 25 feet of a vehicle containing explosives, oxidizers, or flammable materials while loading, unloading, or stopped.

Never load Division 6.1 poisonous materials in the same vehicle with food intended for human or animal consumption.

Keep cyanides and acids apart so a leak from one container cannot mix with the other and generate deadly gas.

Do not load Division 1.1 or 1.2 explosives together with detonators or other initiating devices.

Secure every package against motion by bracing, blocking, or tie-down so it cannot slide, shift, or fall in transit.

Refuse and report any package that is leaking, damaged, or improperly marked or labeled; never open a package to inspect the hazmat inside.

Before loading or unloading, set the parking brake, chock the wheels, and shut off the engine unless the pump or equipment requires the engine running.

Load so markings and labels remain visible, placards can be read, and heavy freight is not stacked on labeled packages.

Recheck the load and its securing devices after the first few miles and again at each stop.

The N (tank) endorsement is required when the vehicle carries liquids or gases in tanks of 119 gallons or more each, with an aggregate capacity of 1,000 gallons or more.

Cargo tanks must show the ID number on the front, rear, and both sides, and must be placarded while loaded.

Never fill a cargo tank beyond its outage limit; liquid expands as temperature rises and needs space above the surface.

An unbaffled (smooth bore) tank lets liquid surge forward and backward, which can push the vehicle through a stop and worsen rollover risk on curves.

Bulk packages include cargo tanks, portable tanks, tank cars, hoppers, and dump trucks; a non-bulk package holds 119 gallons or less of liquid, 882 pounds or less of solid, or 1,000 pounds or less water capacity of gas.

Cargo tanks must be inspected and retested on a fixed schedule (commonly every 5 years, some every 2.5 years) with the test date marked on the tank.

Before loading or unloading, inspect the tank, valves, hoses, and fittings for leaks; keep the transfer attended the entire time.

High center of gravity plus liquid surge makes rollover the leading hazard in tank vehicles, so slow down well before curves, ramps, and turns.

Determine outage and filling limits from the tank markings and the shipper's instructions, never by eye or by sound alone.

A vehicle required to be placarded must come to a complete stop before every railroad crossing, whether or not a train is visible.

Park off the traveled portion of the roadway and at least 5 feet from the edge of the road.

Do not park within 300 feet of a bridge, tunnel, or occupied building when carrying explosives or flammable materials.

Choose routes that avoid congested areas, tunnels, and heavily populated zones, and follow posted designated hazmat routes where they exist.

Never park near an open flame, fire, or smoke source; never smoke in or near a hazmat vehicle.

When leaving the vehicle, shut off the engine, set the brakes, take the key, and keep the unit in sight or in a secure lot.

Check tires at least every 2 hours or 100 miles; underinflation and heat build-up are the leading causes of tire fires.

Reduce speed for curves, ramps, and wet pavement; liquid surge and a high center of gravity raise rollover risk.

Obey tunnel and bridge restrictions posted for placarded vehicles; some structures absolutely prohibit hazardous materials.

Notify the carrier immediately of any release, leak, fire, or accident involving hazardous materials, and notify the shipper or consignee of damaged packages.

Call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 as soon as a hazardous materials release, fire, or serious accident occurs in transportation.

DOT reportable incident criteria include death, injury requiring hospitalization, property damage over $50,000, evacuation, closure of a major transport artery, or a release of hazardous material.

Use the Emergency Response Guidebook: find the ID number in the yellow pages or the material name in the blue pages, then follow the orange guide page.

The ERG's initial isolation and protective action distances tell you how far to keep people away at the start of a spill.

DOT Form 5800.1, the written hazardous materials incident report, must be submitted to the agency within 30 days of the incident.

Emergency response information must accompany the shipping paper and state the hazards, protective measures, and immediate first aid.

At a spill, keep people away, stay upwind and uphill, and do not attempt cleanup unless trained and equipped for the material.

Record the time, location, material, quantity released, injuries, and actions taken while the details are fresh.

Required hazmat training has four parts: general awareness/familiarization, function-specific, safety, and security awareness; in-depth security training is added when a security plan is required.

A new hazmat employee must be trained within 90 days of employment and may perform hazmat duties only under direct supervision until training is complete.

Recurrent training is required at least every 3 years, and the employer must keep a training record for each employee.

A security plan is required for high-consequence loads including Division 1.1-1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 3 PG I, 4.2, 4.3, 6.1 PG I, and highway route controlled quantities of Class 7.

Security awareness means recognizing and responding to possible threats such as suspicious persons, tampering, or unusual questions about the load.

Never discuss the nature of a hazmat load with strangers or over unsecured radios and telephones.

Verify the identity of anyone who picks up or signs for a hazmat shipment, and require proper identification.

Keep shipping papers and load information secured and out of sight; lock the vehicle and the cargo space when unattended.

Report suspicious activity to the employer and to local authorities, and act on anything that feels like a threat.

The H (hazardous materials) endorsement is required on the CDL to drive a vehicle carrying placarded quantities of hazmat; the N endorsement is also needed for tank vehicles.

Applicants must hold a valid CDL, be at least 21 for interstate driving, have legal presence in the United States, and pass the hazmat knowledge test.

The TSA security threat assessment requires an application, fingerprints, an identity check, and a fee; a favorable assessment remains valid for 5 years.

TSA may deny or revoke the endorsement for terrorism-related convictions, certain felonies within the past 5 years, or a determination that the applicant poses a security threat.

TSA clearance must be on file before DMV can issue or renew the H endorsement, and the endorsement ends when eligibility is lost.

If the threat assessment expires without renewal, the hazardous materials endorsement is removed from the CDL.

A valid medical examiner's certificate and self-certification must be on file with DMV to keep the CDL privilege.

Drivers must notify their employer in writing within 30 days of any conviction for a traffic violation other than a parking violation.

The hazmat knowledge test covers the regulations, communications, loading, tanks, driving, emergencies, and security; all required tests must be passed before the endorsement is issued.