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Hazmat endorsement, the intent of the rules, and who does what

Hazardous Materials (H)5 minManual section 9 intro, 9.1, 9.2

Hazardous materials are products that are a risk to health, safety and property during transport. You will see the short forms HAZMAT on road signs and HM in the regulations. This lesson covers the H endorsement, training rules, the three goals of the regulations, and the jobs of the shipper, carrier and driver.

What counts as hazardous, and where the rules are

Hazardous materials include explosives, gases, solids, flammable and combustible liquids and other materials. Because the risks are serious, all levels of government regulate how they are handled.

The federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) are in 49 CFR Parts 171–180 (federal transportation rules, Title 49). The complete rule set, Parts 171–185, has a full glossary.

The Hazardous Materials Table lists many hazardous materials, but the list is not all-inclusive. Whether a product is hazardous depends on its characteristics and on the shipper's decision that it meets a definition in the rules.

When a truck carries certain kinds or amounts of hazmat, it must display diamond-shaped warning signs called placards.

Rules change often, so keep an up-to-date copy of the regulations. Copies of 49 CFR are sold by the Government Printing Office and private publishers, and many company or union offices keep copies drivers can use.

The H endorsement, TSA check and training

You need a CDL with a hazardous materials (H) endorsement to drive a hazmat load in a vehicle of any size (hazmat as defined in 49 CFR 383.5). You get it by passing a written knowledge test.

Federal security check: before the H endorsement is issued or renewed, you must pass a TSA security threat assessment. You apply, give fingerprints, pay a fee, and the TSA runs a background check (criminal, immigration and terrorism records). You must meet TSA's citizenship or immigration-status rules. The approval must be renewed, usually at least every 5 years, and your state may require it at each H renewal.

Training: the rules require training and testing for all hazmat drivers. Your employer (or a designated representative) must provide it. Hazmat employees must be trained and tested at least once every 3 years.

The employer must keep a training record for each employee for as long as that person works with hazmat and for 90 days after.

All drivers must be trained in security risks: how to spot a possible security threat and what to do about it.

Special training is also required before hauling certain flammable gases or highway route controlled quantities of radioactive materials, and for drivers of cargo tanks and portable tanks. The employer provides it.

Permits and routes: some places require permits for certain explosives or bulk hazardous waste. States and counties may require special hazmat routes. Special cargo such as rocket fuel may need a federal permit or exemption. Learn the permits, exemptions and routes for the places you drive.

The three goals of the regulations

The rules protect you, the people around you and the environment. They have three goals:

  • 1. Contain the material. Shippers learn how to pack the product safely; drivers learn how to load it, haul it and unload it safely. These are called containment rules.
  • 2. Communicate the risk. Shippers warn drivers and others with hazard warning labels on packages, proper shipping papers, emergency response information and placards. This tells the shipper, carrier and driver what the hazard is.
  • 3. Assure safe drivers and equipment. To get the H endorsement you must pass a test showing you know how to identify hazardous materials, load shipments safely, placard your vehicle correctly and transport shipments safely.

Following the rules lowers the risk of injury. Taking shortcuts is unsafe, and breaking the rules can mean fines and jail.

Inspect your vehicle before and during each trip. Officers may stop you and check your shipping papers, placards, your H endorsement and your knowledge of hazmat.

Who does what: shipper, carrier, driver

The shipper sends products by truck, rail, ship or plane. Using the regulations, the shipper decides the product's identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group, correct packaging, correct labels and markings, and correct placards. The shipper also packs, marks and labels the goods, fills out the shipping papers, gives the emergency response information, and provides the placards. The shipper certifies on the shipping paper that the shipment was prepared by the rules (except when you pull cargo tanks supplied by you or your employer).

The carrier takes the shipment to its destination. Before transport it checks that the shipper described, marked, labeled and prepared it correctly, and it refuses improper shipments.

The driver:

  • makes sure the shipper identified, marked and labeled the hazmat properly,
  • refuses leaking packages and shipments,
  • placards the vehicle when loading, if required,
  • transports the shipment safely and without delay,
  • follows all special hazmat rules,
  • keeps the shipping papers and emergency information where the rules say they belong,
  • reports accidents and incidents involving hazmat to the proper government agency when they happen while the driver is in physical control of the shipment.
Check your state

The TSA threat assessment is a federal rule, but each state handles the H application, fees and renewal timing in its own way. Check your state manual or licensing office.

References and scope

The topic reference is listed below. Sources support verification; the lesson itself is here. The current content needs technical and language review before public launch.

Manual reference: 9 intro, 9.1, 9.2

Official CDL handbook · Utah ↗StatesOur editorial approach

Put it into practice

Educational questions with explanations. The answer review also works without the interactive quiz.

Preparing your questions…

Review questions with answers

  1. You need a hazardous materials endorsement to drive which vehicles hauling hazmat as defined in 49 CFR 383.5?
    1. Only Class A vehicles
    2. Only vehicles over 26,001 lb
    3. Any size vehicle
    4. Only tank vehicles
    Show answer
    Any size vehicle

    The H endorsement is needed for any size vehicle used to transport hazardous material.

  2. Where are the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations found?
    1. 49 CFR Parts 171–180
    2. 49 CFR Part 383 only
    3. 40 CFR Part 262
    4. FMCSR Part 397 only
    Show answer
    49 CFR Parts 171–180

    The HMR are found in 49 CFR, Parts 171 through 180.

  3. How often must hazmat employees be trained and tested, at minimum?
    1. Every year
    2. Every 2 years
    3. Every 5 years
    4. Every 3 years
    Show answer
    Every 3 years

    Training and testing are required at least every 3 years.

  4. How long must a hazmat employer keep an employee's training record?
    1. Only 30 days
    2. While the employee works with hazmat and for 90 days after
    3. For 1 year total
    4. Forever
    Show answer
    While the employee works with hazmat and for 90 days after

    Records are kept while the person works with hazmat and for 90 days thereafter.

  5. Who is required to provide hazmat training and testing to drivers?
    1. The state DMV
    2. The shipper
    3. The employer or its designated representative
    4. The driver must train himself
    Show answer
    The employer or its designated representative

    The employer or a designated representative must provide training and testing.

  6. Security training for hazmat drivers must include:
    1. How to spot possible security threats and react to them
    2. How to repair cargo tanks
    3. How to write route plans for rail
    4. How to fill out tax forms
    Show answer
    How to spot possible security threats and react to them

    All drivers must be trained in security risks, including recognizing and responding to threats.

  7. Before a hazmat (H) endorsement is issued, federal rules require the applicant to:
    1. Own a placarded truck
    2. Have 5 years of driving experience
    3. Pass a skills test in a tanker
    4. Pass a TSA security threat assessment with fingerprints and a background check
    Show answer
    Pass a TSA security threat assessment with fingerprints and a background check

    The TSA security threat assessment (fingerprints and background check) is required for the H endorsement.

  8. Special training is required before a driver hauls:
    1. Any Class 9 material
    2. Certain flammable gases or highway route controlled quantities of radioactive materials
    3. Combustible liquids in drums
    4. Paint in small cans
    Show answer
    Certain flammable gases or highway route controlled quantities of radioactive materials

    Special training is required for certain flammable gas materials, route-controlled radioactive quantities, and cargo/portable tanks.

  9. The Hazardous Materials Table lists every material that could be hazardous.
    1. True
    2. False
    Show answer
    False

    False. The list is not all-inclusive; whether a material is hazardous depends on its characteristics and the shipper's decision.

  10. Rules that tell shippers how to package hazmat and drivers how to load, transport and unload it are called:
    1. Placard rules
    2. Route rules
    3. Containment rules
    4. Exemption rules
    Show answer
    Containment rules

    These are the containment rules, meant to contain the material.

  11. Shippers package hazmat to ___ the material, and drivers placard to ___ the risk.
    1. store / remove
    2. contain / communicate
    3. sell / hide
    4. label / reduce
    Show answer
    contain / communicate

    Packaging contains the material; placards communicate the risk.

  12. If a police officer stops a placarded vehicle, the officer may check:
    1. Only your logbook
    2. Only the cargo seal
    3. Only the tires
    4. Shipping papers, placards, your H endorsement and your hazmat knowledge
    Show answer
    Shipping papers, placards, your H endorsement and your hazmat knowledge

    Officers may check shipping papers, placards, the H endorsement and your knowledge of hazmat.

  13. Breaking the hazmat regulations can result in:
    1. Fines and jail
    2. Only a written warning
    3. A free retest
    4. Nothing if no one is hurt
    Show answer
    Fines and jail

    Non-compliance can result in fines and jail.

  14. Who decides a hazardous product's identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class and packing group?
    1. The driver
    2. The consignee
    3. The shipper
    4. The police
    Show answer
    The shipper

    The shipper uses the regulations to determine these items.

  15. Before transport, the carrier must:
    1. Repackage all hazmat
    2. Check that the shipper prepared the shipment correctly and refuse improper shipments
    3. Sign the shipper's certification
    4. Remove all labels
    Show answer
    Check that the shipper prepared the shipment correctly and refuse improper shipments

    The carrier checks the shipper's work and refuses improper shipments.

  16. Which is a driver's responsibility?
    1. Choosing the packing group
    2. Signing the shipper's certification
    3. Printing the package labels
    4. Refusing leaking packages and shipments
    Show answer
    Refusing leaking packages and shipments

    Drivers must refuse leaking packages and shipments.

  17. A driver must report a hazmat accident to the proper government agency when it happens while:
    1. The driver is in physical control of the shipment
    2. The shipment is at the shipper's dock
    3. The driver is off duty at home
    4. Another carrier has the load
    Show answer
    The driver is in physical control of the shipment

    Drivers report hazmat accidents/incidents that occur while they are in physical control of the shipment.

  18. The driver must transport a hazmat shipment:
    1. By the longest route
    2. Only at night
    3. Safely and without delay
    4. After opening each package to check it
    Show answer
    Safely and without delay

    Drivers must transport the shipment safely and without delay.

  19. Who may require permits or exemptions for special hazmat cargo such as rocket fuel?
    1. The shipper's insurance company
    2. The federal government
    3. The truck manufacturer
    4. The fuel station
    Show answer
    The federal government

    Special cargo such as rocket fuel may need a federal permit or exemption.