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9.3 Communication Rules (continued from previous page)

Shipping Paper

The shipping paper shown in Figure 9-6 below describes a shipment. A shipping paper for hazardous material must include:

  • Page numbers if the shipping paper has more than one page. The first page must tell the total number of pages. (e.g., Page 1 of 4).
  • A proper shipping description for each hazardous material.
  • A shipperʼs certification, signed by the shipper , saying the shipment was prepared according to the rules.

Figure 9-6
Shipping Paper Example

Item Description

If a shipping paper describes both hazardous and non-hazardous products, the hazardous materials will either be:

  • Described first, or
  • Highlighted in a contrasting color, or
  • Identified by an “X” placed before the shipping name in a column captioned “HM.” The letters “RQ” may be used instead of “X” if a reportable quantity is present in one package.

The basic shipping description of a hazardous material on a shipping paper must include the (1) identification number (preceded by the letters UN or NA); (2) DOT proper shipping name; (3) hazardous class or division number of a product (must include subsidiary hazard class when required); and (4) packing group for a product in a roman numeric pattern (may precede with the letters PG).

Except as provided in the federal HM regulations, the basic description specified must be shown in this sequence with no additional information interspersed. Example: UN2744, Cyclobutyl Chloroformate, 6.1 (8, 3), PG II

The shipping name, hazard class and ID number must not be abbreviated unless specifically authorized in the hazardous materials regulations. The description also must show:

  • The number and type of packages must be indicated.
  • The letters RQ, if a reportable quantity.
  • If the letters RQ appear, the name of the hazardous substance.
  • For “not otherwise specified” and generic descriptions, the technical name of the hazardous material.

Shipping papers also must list an emergency response telephone number. The emergency response telephone number is the responsibility of the shipper. It can be used by emergency responders to obtain information about any hazardous materials involved in a spill or fire.

Shippers also must provide emergency response information to the motor carrier for each hazardous material being shipped. The emergency response information must be able to be used away from the motor vehicle and must provide information on how to safely handle incidents involving the material. It must include information on the shipping name of the hazardous materials, risks to health, fire, explosion, and initial methods of handling spills, fires and leaks of the materials.

Such information can be on the shipping paper or some other document that includes the basic description and technical name of the hazardous material. Or, it may be in a guidance book such as the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG). Motor carriers may assist shippers by keeping an ERG on each vehicle carrying hazardous materials. The driver must provide the emergency response information to any federal, state or local authority responding to a hazardous materials incident or investigating one.

Total quantity and the number and type of packages must appear before or after the basic description The packaging type and unit of measurement may be abbreviated. Example: 10 ctns. UN1263, Paint, 3, PG II, 500 lbs.

The shipper of hazardous wastes must put the word WASTE before the proper shipping name of the material on the shipping paper (hazardous waste manifest). Example: UN1090, Waste Acetone, 3, PG II

A non-hazardous material may not be described by using a hazard class or an ID number.

Make sure you memorize the list below, showing what must be included on a shipping paper.
We will see the "Shipper's Certification" mentioned many times in the next few pages. Questions about the shippers certification are fairly common on the written exam.
Once again, the below list should be memorized. You must know how to identify hazardous materials on a shipping paper and also be able to verify the information the shipper provides you with is legal and correct. This frequently shows up on the written exam.
Remember: It is the shipper's responsibility to provide the driver with an emergency response telephone number, which must be located on the shipping paper.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

Manifest:

Bill of Lading

An accurate record of everything being shipped on a truck, often times used as a checklist during unloading.

Shipper:

The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Review Questions - Click On The Picture To Begin...

What is a shipper's certification?
  • Signed by the shipper, saying the shipment was prepared according to the rules.
  • Serves as "proof of delivery" and must be signed by the receiver
  • A form used when the shipper does not want to list the type of hazardous material being shipped
  • Signed by the driver, saying the shipment was prepared according to the rules.

Quote From The CDL Manual:

A shipper's certification, signed by the shipper, saying the shipment was prepared according to the rules.

Next
A shipping paper for hazardous materials must include all of the following, except:
  • A shipper's certification, signed by the shipper, saying the shipment was prepared according to the rules
  • Page numbers if the shipping paper has more than one page
  • The shippers hazardous materials government ID number
  • A proper shipping description for each hazardous material

Quote From The CDL Manual:

A shipping paper for hazardous material must include:

  • Page numbers if the shipping paper has more than one page. The first page must tell the total number of pages (e.g., Page 1 of 4).
  • A proper shipping description for each hazardous material.
  • A shipper's certification, signed by the shipper, saying the shipment was prepared according to the rules.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

While it is solely the shippers responsibility to provide you with proper shipping papers, you must be certain all shipping papers are correct before leaving their facility. If there are any issues with the paperwork along your trip (DOT inspections, etc) it will cost you time and you can possibly be ticketed.

Prev
Next
The basic shipping description of a hazardous material on a shipping paper must include all of the following, except:
  • Hazardous class or division number
  • Proper shipping name
  • The amount of "outage" the product has (if a liquid product)
  • Identification number

Quote From The CDL Manual:

The basic shipping description of a hazardous material on a shipping paper must include the (1) identification number (preceded by the letters UN or NA); (2) DOT proper shipping name; (3) hazardous class or division number of a product (must include subsidiary hazard class when required); and (4) packing group for a product in a roman numeric pattern (may precede with the letters PG).

TruckingTruth's Advice:

While it is solely the shippers responsibility to provide you with proper shipping papers, you must be certain all shipping papers are correct before leaving their facility. If there are any issues with the paperwork along your trip (DOT inspections, etc) it will cost you time and you can possibly be ticketed.

Prev
Next
A non-hazardous material should include a hazard class or ID number if:
  • The material is an environmental hazard
  • The material poses a threat to human health
  • A non-hazardous material may not be described by using a hazard class or an ID number
  • The material is flammable

Quote From The CDL Manual:

A non-hazardous material may not be described by using a hazard class or an ID number.

Prev
Next
A shipper's emergency response information provided to a carrier must include all of the following, except:
  • How to fight a fire started by the type of material being shipped
  • Information on the shipping name of the hazardous materials, risks to health, fire, and explosion
  • Initial methods of handling spills, fires and leaks of the materials.
  • How to safely handle incidents involving the material being shipped

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Shippers also must provide emergency response information to the motor carrier for each hazardous material being shipped. The emergency response information must be able to be used away from the motor vehicle and must provide information on how to safely handle incidents involving the material. It must include information on the shipping name of the hazardous materials, risks to health, fire, explosion, and initial methods of handling spills, fires and leaks of the materials.

Such information can be on the shipping paper or some other document that includes the basic description and technical name of the hazardous material. Or, it may be in a guidance book such as the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG). Motor carriers may assist shippers by keeping an ERG on each vehicle carrying hazardous materials. The driver must provide the emergency response information to any federal, state or local authority responding to a hazardous materials incident or investigating one.

Prev
Next
Which of the following must be included on hazardous materials shipping papers?
  • All of these are required on hazardous materials shipping papers
  • A proper shipping description for each hazardous material
  • The full name of the shipping manager
  • The full name of the driver

Quote From The CDL Manual:

A shipping paper for hazardous material must include:

  • Page numbers if the shipping paper has more than one page. The first page must tell the total number of pages (e.g., Page 1 of 4).
  • A proper shipping description for each hazardous material.
  • A shipper's certification, signed by the shipper, saying the shipment was prepared according to the rules.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

While it is solely the shippers responsibility to provide you with proper shipping papers, you must be certain all shipping papers are correct before leaving their facility. If there are any issues with the paperwork along your trip (DOT inspections, etc) it will cost you time and you can possibly be ticketed.

Prev
Next
Who must provide emergency response information to the motor carrier for each Hazardous material being shipped?
  • The shipper
  • The broker expediting the Hazmat load
  • The dispatcher or operations manager
  • The DOT

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Shippers also must provide emergency response information to the motor carrier for each hazardous material being shipped. The emergency response information must be able to be used away from the motor vehicle and must provide information on how to safely handle incidents involving the material. It must include information on the shipping name of the hazardous materials, risks to health, fire, explosion, and initial methods of handling spills, fires and leaks of the materials.

Such information can be on the shipping paper or some other document that includes the basic description and technical name of the hazardous material. Or, it may be in a guidance book such as the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG). Motor carriers may assist shippers by keeping an ERG on each vehicle carrying hazardous materials. The driver must provide the emergency response information to any federal, state or local authority responding to a hazardous materials incident or investigating one.

Prev
Next
Which hazardous materials description below is correct?
  • 6.1 (8, 3), UN2744, PG II, Cyclobutyl Chloroformate
  • UN2744, Cyclobutyl Chloroformate, 6.1 (8, 3), PG II
  • PG II, 6.1 (8, 3), UN2744, Cyclobutyl Chloroformate
  • UN2744, WARNING: POISONOUS, Cyclobutyl Chloroformate, 6.1 (8, 3), PG II

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Except as provided in the federal HM regulations, the basic description specified must be shown in this sequence with no additional information interspersed. Example: UN2744, Cyclobutyl Chloroformate, 6.1 (8, 3), PG II

Prev
Next
If the shipper is shipping hazardous waste, what must be displayed before the proper shipping name of the material on the shipping paper
  • Hazardous disposable product
  • Unsanitary
  • Waste
  • Hazardous garbage

Quote From The CDL Manual:

The shipper of hazardous wastes must put the word WASTE before the proper shipping name of the material on the shipping paper (hazardous waste manifest). Example: UN1090, Waste Acetone, 3, PG II

Prev
Next
What is the primary reason for an emergency response telephone number?
  • When involved in an accident, drivers should call the emergency response telephone number instead of calling police or fire
  • It can be used by drivers to inform the shipper or receiver of any delay in the shipment
  • Receivers can call the number to check the status of the shipment and verify there have been no spills while en-route
  • It can be used by emergency responders to obtain information about any hazardous materials involved in a spill or fire

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Shipping papers also must list an emergency response telephone number. The emergency response telephone number is the responsibility of the shipper. It can be used by emergency responders to obtain information about any hazardous materials involved in a spill or fire.

Prev
Next
On hazardous materials shipping papers, all identification numbers must be proceeded by the letters NA or:
  • DH
  • HM
  • HZ
  • UN

Quote From The CDL Manual:

The basic shipping description of a hazardous material on a shipping paper must include the (1) identification number (preceded by the letters UN or NA); (2) DOT proper shipping name; (3) hazardous class or division number of a product (must include subsidiary hazard class when required); and (4) packing group for a product in a roman numeric pattern (may precede with the letters PG).

TruckingTruth's Advice:

It is very rare for shippers to use anything other than the letters "UN" for hazardous materials identification numbers.

Prev
Next
Total quantity and the number and type of packages must appear:
  • Before the basic description
  • After the basic description
  • Either before or after the basic description
  • After the UN Number

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Total quantity and the number and type of packages must appear before or after the basic description. The packaging type and unit of measurement may be abbreviated. Example: 10 ctns. UN1263, Paint, 3, PG II, 500 lbs.

Prev
Next
The emergency response telephone number is the responsibility of:
  • The shipper
  • The carrier
  • The receiver
  • The driver

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Shipping papers also must list an emergency response telephone number. The emergency response telephone number is the responsibility of the shipper. It can be used by emergency responders to obtain information about any hazardous materials involved in a spill or fire.

Prev
Next
If a shipping paper describes both hazardous and non-hazardous products, the hazardous materials will be:
  • All of these answers are correct
  • Identified by an "X" placed before the shipping name in a column captioned "HM"
  • Highlighted in a contrasting color
  • Described first

Quote From The CDL Manual:

If a shipping paper describes both hazardous and non-hazardous products, the hazardous materials will either be:

  • Described first
  • Highlighted in a contrasting color
  • Identified by an "X" placed before the shipping name in a column captioned "HM." The letters "RQ" may be used instead of "X" if a reportable quantity is present in one package.
Prev
Finish
Please select an option
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