CDL Practice Tests For Hazardous Materials Page 2

Permits —

Some locations require permits to transport certain explosives or bulk hazardous wastes. States and counties also may require drivers to follow special hazardous materials routes. The federal government may require permits or exemptions for special hazardous materials cargo such as rocket fuel. Find out about permits, exemptions and special routes for places you drive.

9.1.1 – Contain the Material

Transporting hazardous materials can be risky. The regulations are intended to protect you, those around you and the environment. They tell shippers how to package the materials safely and drivers how to load, transport and unload the material. These are called "containment rules."

9.1.2 – Communicate the Risk

To communicate the risk, shippers must warn drivers and others about the material's hazards. The regulations require shippers to put hazard warning labels on packages, provide proper shipping papers, emergency response information and placards. These steps communicate the hazard to the shipper, the carrier and the driver.

9.1.3 – Assure Safe Drivers and Equipment

To obtain a hazardous materials endorsement on a CDL, you must pass a written test about transporting hazardous materials. To pass the test, you must know how to:

• Identify what are hazardous materials.
• Safely load shipments.
• Properly placard your vehicle in accordance with the rules.
• Safely transport shipments.

Learn the rules and follow them. Following the rules reduces the risk of injury from hazardous materials. Taking shortcuts by breaking rules is unsafe and against the law.

The shipper:

• Sends products from one place to another by truck, rail, vessel or airplane.
• Uses the hazardous materials regulations to decide the product’s:
• - Identification number
• - Proper shipping name
• - Hazard class
• - Correct packaging
• - Correct label and markings
• Provides correct placards
• Must package, mark and label the materials, prepare shipping papers, provide emergency response information and supply placards.
• Certify on the shipping paper that the shipment has been prepared according to the rules (unless you are pulling cargo tanks supplied by you or your employer).

The shipper:

• Sends products from one place to another by truck, rail, vessel or airplane.
• Uses the hazardous materials regulations to decide the product’s:
• - Identification number
• - Proper shipping name
• - Hazard class
• - Correct packaging
• - Correct label and markings
• Provides correct placards
• Must package, mark and label the materials, prepare shipping papers, provide emergency response information and supply placards.
• Certify on the shipping paper that the shipment has been prepared according to the rules (unless you are pulling cargo tanks supplied by you or your employer).

The carrier:

• Takes the shipment from the shipper to its destination.
• Prior to transportation, checks that the shipper correctly described, marked, labeled and otherwise prepared the shipment for transportation.
• Refuses improper shipments.
• Reports accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials to the proper government agency.

The driver:

• Makes sure the shipper has identified, marked and labeled the hazardous materials properly.
• Refuses leaking packages and shipments.
• Placards his vehicle when loading, if required.
• Safely transports the shipment without delay.
• Follows all special rules about transporting hazardous materials.
• Keeps hazardous materials shipping papers and emergency response information in the proper place.

The driver:

• Makes sure the shipper has identified, marked and labeled the hazardous materials properly.
• Refuses leaking packages and shipments.
• Placards his vehicle when loading, if required.
• Safely transports the shipment without delay.
• Follows all special rules about transporting hazardous materials.
• Keeps hazardous materials shipping papers and emergency response information in the proper place.