9.1 Intent of Regulations

Inspect your vehicle before and during each trip. Law enforcement officers may stop and inspect your vehicle. When stopped, they may check your shipping papers, vehicle placards, the hazardous materials endorsement on your driver's license, and your knowledge of hazardous materials.

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

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 materials. These are called "containment rules."

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

To obtain a Hazardous Materials Endorsement on a CDL, you must initially and at each renewal pass a security background check and a written exam about transporting hazardous materials.

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:
  • Proper shipping name
  • Hazard class
  • Identification number
  • Correct packaging
  • Correct label and markings
  • Correct placards
• Must package, mark and label the materials, prepare shipping papers, provide emergency response information and supply placards.
• Must 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 shipper:

• Sends products from one place to another by truck, rail, vessel or airplane.
• Uses the hazardous materials regulations to decide the product's:
• Proper shipping name
• Hazard class
• Identification number
• Correct packaging
• Correct label and markings
• 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).

To obtain a Hazardous Materials Endorsement on a CDL, you must initially and at each renewal pass a security background check and a written exam about transporting hazardous materials. To pass the exam, you must know how to:

• Identify 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.

A material's hazard class reflects the risks associated with it. The hazard class of a hazardous material is indicated by its class (or division) number, its class name, or by the letters "ORM-D." Figure 9-1 below lists class numbers, division numbers, class or division names and those sections of this subchapter that contain definitions for classifying hazardous materials, including forbidden materials.

To communicate the risk, shippers must warn drivers and others about materials 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.

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 shipper:

• Sends products from one place to another by truck, rail, vessel or airplane.
• Uses the hazardous materials regulations to decide the product's:
  • Proper shipping name
  • Hazard class
  • Identification number
  • Correct packaging
  • Correct label and markings
  • Correct placards
• Must package, mark and label the materials, prepare shipping papers, provide emergency response information and supply placards.
• Must 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:
  • Proper shipping name
  • Hazard class
  • Identification number
  • Correct packaging
  • Correct label and markings
  • Correct placards
• Must package, mark and label the materials, prepare shipping papers, provide emergency response information and supply placards.
• Must 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)