CCDL Permit Prep

Hazardous Materials · page 4 of 8

Hazardous Materials questions 61–80

Part of the 159-question Hazardous Materials pool. Each answer cites the FMCSA CDL Manual or the federal rule it comes from.

Practise these as a timed set

  1. For the federal explosives attendance rule, what is a safe haven?

    • AAn area approved in writing by local, State, or Federal authorities for unattended Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 vehiclesCorrect
    • BAny fenced carrier yard
    • CAny truck stop with lighting
    • DAny parking area more than 100 feet from a road

    A safe haven is not any convenient lot. It is an area specifically approved in writing by local, State, or Federal authorities for parking unattended vehicles containing Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives.

    eCFR 49 CFR 397.5 · 397.5(d)(3): definition of safe haven · verified 2026-09-07

  2. During loading or unloading, which material classes make smoking on or about the vehicle forbidden under 49 CFR 177.834?

    • AClass 1, Class 3, Class 4, Class 5, or Division 2.1 materialsCorrect
    • BOnly Class 1 materials
    • CAny material, regardless of hazard class
    • DOnly material carried in a placarded vehicle

    49 CFR 177.834 forbids smoking on or about a motor vehicle while loading or unloading Class 1, Class 3, Class 4, Class 5, or Division 2.1 material. The separate 25-foot highway rule has its own scope.

    eCFR 49 CFR 177.834 · 177.834(c)-(d): smoking and ignition sources while loading or unloading · verified 2026-09-07

  3. Under 49 CFR 397.17, when must a driver examine each tire on a placarded vehicle?

    • AOnly during the annual inspection
    • BOnly at the start of the work week
    • COnly after a tire-pressure warning
    • DAt the beginning of each trip and each time the vehicle is parkedCorrect

    The federal rule requires an examination at the beginning of each trip and each time the vehicle is parked. It does not say every brief stop that is not parking.

    eCFR 49 CFR 397.17 · 397.17(a)-(c): tire examination, defect response, and overheating · verified 2026-09-07

  4. Under 49 CFR 172.504, where must required placards be displayed on a bulk packaging?

    • AOn each side and each endCorrect
    • BOnly on the driver's side
    • COnly on the rear end
    • DOnly inside the shipping-paper holder

    Subject to the exceptions in the hazardous-material regulations, 49 CFR 172.504(a) requires a bulk packaging that contains hazardous material to be placarded on each side and each end.

    49 CFR, eCFR · 49 CFR 172.504(a): General placarding requirements · verified 2026-09-08

  5. What does a Poison Inhalation Hazard (PIH) label or placard identify?

    • AThe load is corrosive to metal
    • BA material that is poisonous if inhaledCorrect
    • CThe material is radioactive
    • DThe contents are under pressure

    A PIH label or placard identifies a material that is poisonous by inhalation. For an incident, use the shipping papers and current Emergency Response Guidebook for the applicable response information and distances.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Manual (July 2014) · 9.3 Shipping Papers / Hazardous Materials Table (PIH) · verified 2026-09-25

  6. Under 49 CFR 172.204(d), who may sign a required shipper's certification?

    • AThe consignee, on arrival
    • BThe driver, on delivery
    • CA principal, officer, partner, or employee of the shipper or its agentCorrect
    • DThe state inspector, at a scale

    When a certification is required, it must be signed legibly by a principal, officer, partner, or employee of the shipper or the shipper's agent. Section 172.204 also includes exceptions to the certification requirement.

    49 CFR, eCFR · 49 CFR 172.204(a), (d): Shipper's certification · verified 2026-09-08

  7. For hazardous material other than Class 7 radioactive material, what is Part 177's effect on a published State or municipal rule for an urban vehicular tunnel?

    • AIt always overrides the State or municipal rule
    • BIt applies only at night
    • CIt removes the need to check the tunnel rule
    • DIt does not nullify or supersede that ruleCorrect

    Except for Class 7 radioactive material, Part 177 does not nullify or supersede published State or municipal rules on the kind, character, or quantity of hazardous material allowed through an urban mass-transit tunnel.

    eCFR 49 CFR 177.810 · 177.810: urban vehicular-tunnel rules · verified 2026-09-07

  8. Before loading or unloading hazardous material from a motor vehicle, what does 49 CFR 177.834(e) require?

    • ASecurely set the handbrake and take reasonable precautions to prevent vehicle movementCorrect
    • BLeave the engine at high idle
    • CDisconnect the trailer lights
    • DOpen all the trailer doors

    Federal rules require the handbrake to be securely set and reasonable precautions taken to prevent motion during loading or unloading. Separate rules govern fire precautions for specified hazard classes.

    eCFR 49 CFR 177.834 · 177.834(e): handbrake and motion precautions · verified 2026-09-07

  9. What does a subsidiary hazard class or division in a shipping description indicate?

    • AThe weight of the packaging
    • BAn additional hazard the material presents besides its primary hazardCorrect
    • CThe name of the receiving company
    • DThe route the load will travel

    Under 49 CFR 172.202, a subsidiary hazard class or division describes an additional hazard and, when the corresponding subsidiary label is required, follows the primary class or division in parentheses in the shipping description.

    eCFR 49 CFR 172.202 · 49 CFR 172.202(a)(3): Description of hazardous material on shipping papers · verified 2026-09-08

  10. Under 49 CFR 177.817(e), how must a hazardous-material shipping paper be identified if carried with other papers?

    • ADistinctively tabbed or placed firstCorrect
    • BSealed in a separate envelope
    • CFiled with the carrier's billing records
    • DAttached to the trailer load

    49 CFR 177.817(e) requires the shipping paper to be clearly distinguishable from other papers by a distinctive tab or by appearing first. The driver and carrier must also make it recognizable to authorities in an accident or inspection.

    eCFR 49 CFR 177.817 · 177.817(e)(1): Distinguishing shipping papers · verified 2026-09-07

  11. Under 49 CFR 172.502, what must be true before a placard may be displayed?

    • AIt represents a hazard of the hazardous material being transported and conforms to the placarding rulesCorrect
    • BIt is selected by the driver based on the route
    • CIt matches the carrier's insurance classification
    • DIt is removed whenever the load weighs less than 1,001 pounds

    Except for stated exceptions, a placard may be displayed only for hazardous material, must represent a hazard of that material, and must conform to the placarding rules. A placard can also be used when not required if it otherwise conforms.

    49 CFR, eCFR · 49 CFR 172.502(a), (c): Prohibited and permissive placarding · verified 2026-09-08

  12. Under the federal hazardous materials regulations, which class covers corrosive materials?

    • AClass 8Correct
    • BClass 3
    • CClass 6
    • DClass 2

    Class 8 covers corrosive materials. The federal definition includes liquids or solids that cause irreversible damage to human skin within a specified time and certain materials with a severe corrosion rate on steel or aluminum.

    eCFR 49 CFR 173.136 · 49 CFR 173.136(a): Class 8 definitions · verified 2026-09-08

  13. For a radioactive-material package, what does the transport index represent?

    • AThe maximum radiation level at 1 meter, multiplied by 100Correct
    • BThe weight of the package
    • CThe number of packages shipped
    • DThe temperature of the contents

    The transport index is the maximum radiation level in millirem per hour at 1 meter from the package surface, multiplied by 100. It is used to control separation and accumulation of radioactive-material packages during transport.

    eCFR 49 CFR · 49 CFR 173.403: Transport index · verified 2026-09-08

  14. Under 49 CFR 172.504(b), when may a DANGEROUS placard replace separate Table 2 placards?

    • AFor any single Table 1 or Table 2 load, when the shipper prefers one placard
    • BFor non-bulk packages needing two or more different Table 2 placards, unless 1,000 kg of one category is loaded at one facilityCorrect
    • CFor bulk packages holding two or more Table 2 categories that need different placards, with no weight-based exception at all
    • DFor mixed loads that include Table 1 material, such as Division 1.1 explosives

    The rule allows DANGEROUS for qualifying non-bulk mixed Table 2 loads. If 1,000 kg (2,205 pounds) or more of one category is loaded at one facility, that category's Table 2 placard must be applied.

    eCFR 49 CFR · 49 CFR 172.504(b): DANGEROUS placard · verified 2026-09-29

  15. Under 49 CFR 172.301(a)(1), unless an exception applies, what must an offeror mark on a non-bulk hazardous-material package?

    • AThe hazard class number and the 24-hour emergency response telephone number of the person offering the shipment
    • BThe proper shipping name and identification number preceded by UN, NA, or ID as appropriateCorrect
    • CThe packing group and the date the package was filled and sealed
    • DThe placard design for the class, printed on the outside of the box

    Unless an exception applies, 49 CFR 172.301(a)(1) requires the offeror to mark a non-bulk package with the proper shipping name and the identification number, preceded by UN, NA, or ID as appropriate.

    eCFR 49 CFR 172.301 · 172.301(a)(1): Proper shipping name and identification number · verified 2026-09-29

  16. What is the purpose of package orientation arrows on a liquid-container package?

    • AThey show the correct upright directionCorrect
    • BThey show that the package is empty
    • CThey permit the package to be rolled
    • DThey identify the hazard class by themselves

    FMCSA Section 9.3.7 says packages with liquid containers inside must have orientation arrows pointing in the correct upright direction.

    FMCSA Commercial Driver License Manual · Section 9.3.7: Package Markings and Labels · verified 2026-09-08

  17. A package bears a POISON label. What is the federal rule when foodstuffs, feed, or edible material are on the same motor vehicle?

    • ADo not transport them together unless the rule's listed protective packaging or separation condition is metCorrect
    • BLoad the poison beside food if both are sealed
    • CPut the poison in the driver's compartment to keep it visible
    • DRemove the food labels during transportation

    The POISON and POISON INHALATION HAZARD rule protects food, feed, and edible material from contamination. It has specific protective packaging and separation conditions; a sealed package alone does not create a general exception.

    eCFR 49 CFR 177.841 · 177.841(e): poisonous materials with foodstuffs · verified 2026-09-07

  18. A motor vehicle carries a Class 3 flammable liquid and has a combustion cargo heater. When may the heater be used?

    • AOnly when it meets all specified fuel, equipment, location, temperature, air-supply, combustion, and exhaust conditionsCorrect
    • BWhenever its thermostat is set below the cargo flash point
    • CWhenever the driver leaves a window open
    • DOnly while the vehicle is parked

    For Class 3 flammable liquid or Division 2.1 flammable gas, a combustion cargo heater is allowed only under detailed conditions. These include diesel or propane fuel, specified non-sparking or explosion-proof cargo-compartment equipment, no combustion apparatus or return-air connection in the cargo space, temperature limits, an external unit and fuel supply, sealed combustion, outside combustion air, and outside exhaust. If the conditions do not apply, follow the rule that makes the automatic temperature-control device inoperable.

    eCFR 49 CFR 177.834 · 177.834(l)(2): cargo heaters with Class 3 or Division 2.1 materials · verified 2026-09-07

  19. Under 49 CFR 171.15(c), what must a person who makes an immediate incident report also do?

    • AMake the written report required by 49 CFR 171.16Correct
    • BNote it at the end of the week
    • CClean it up and continue
    • DWait for the consignee to report

    49 CFR 171.15(c) requires each person who makes an immediate incident report under 171.15 to also make the written report required by 49 CFR 171.16.

    eCFR 49 CFR 171.15 · 171.15(c): Written report after immediate report · verified 2026-09-07

  20. What minimum fire-extinguisher rating must a power unit transporting placard-required hazardous materials carry?

    • AA blanket and rope
    • BA bucket of sand only
    • CA spare fuel can
    • DA fire extinguisher rated at least 10 B:CCorrect

    A power unit used to transport hazardous material in a quantity requiring placards must have a fire extinguisher rated 10 B:C or more. The extinguisher must also be labeled, charged, readily accessible, and securely mounted.

    eCFR 49 CFR 393.95(a)(1)(i) · 393.95(a)(1)(i): placard-required hazmat power-unit extinguisher rating · verified 2026-09-07