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All of the following drinks contain the same amount
of alcohol:
A 12-ounce glass of 5% beer.
A 5-ounce glass of 12% wine.
A 1 1/2-ounce shot of 80 proof liquor.
What Determines Blood Alcohol Concentration?
BAC is determined by the amount of alcohol you
drink (more alcohol means higher BAC), how fast
you drink (faster drinking means higher BAC), and
your weight (a small person doesn't have to drink as
Effects Of Increasing
Blood Alcohol Content
Blood Alcohol Content is the amount of alcohol in
your blood recorded in milligrams of alcohol per
100 milliliters of blood. Your BAC depends on the
amount of blood (which increases with weight) and
the amount of alcohol you consume over time (how
fast you drink). The faster you drink, the higher your
BAC, as the liver can only handle about one drink
per hour—the rest builds up in your blood.
Effects on
much to reach the same BAC).
Alcohol and the Brain. Alcohol affects more and
more of the brain as BAC builds up. The first part of
the brain affected controls judgment and self-
control. One of the bad things about this is it can
keep drinkers from knowing they are getting drunk.
And, of course, good judgment and self-control are
absolutely necessary for safe driving.
As BAC continues to build up, muscle control,
vision, and coordination are affected more and
more. Effects on driving may include:
Straddling lanes.
Quick, jerky starts.
Not signaling, failure to use lights.
Running stop signs and red lights.
Improper passing (See Figure 2.23).
These effects mean increased chances of a crash
and chances of losing your driver's license. Accident
BAC
.02
.05
.08
.10*
.15
.30
.40
.50
Effects on Body
Mellow feeling,
slight body warmth.
Noticeable
relaxation.
Definite impairment
in coordination &
judgment
Noisy, possible
embarrassing
behavior, mood
swings.
Impaired balance &
movement, clearly
drunk.
Many lose
consciousness.
Most lose
consciousness,
some die.
Breathing stops,
many die.
Driving Condition
Less inhibited.
Less alert, less
self-focused,
coordination
impairment begins.
Drunk driving limit,
impaired
coordination &
judgment.
Reduction in
reaction time.
Unable to drive.
statistics show that the chance of a crash is much
greater for drivers who have been drinking than for
drivers who have not.
How Alcohol Affects Driving. All drivers are
affected by drinking alcohol. Alcohol affects
judgment, vision, coordination, and reaction time. It
causes serious driving errors, such as:
Increased reaction time to hazards.
Driving too fast or too slow.
Driving in the wrong lane.
Running over the curb.
Weaving.
BAC of .10 means that 1/10 of 1 % (or 1/1000) of
your total blood content is alcohol.
Figure 2.23
2.22.2 – Other Drugs
Besides alcohol, other legal and illegal drugs are
being used more often. Laws prohibit possession or
use of many drugs while on duty. They prohibit
being under the influence of any "controlled
substance," amphetamines (including "pep pills,"
“uppers,” and "bennies"), narcotics, or any other
substance, which can make the driver unsafe. This
could include a variety of prescription and over-the-
counter drugs (cold medicines), which may make
the driver drowsy or otherwise affect safe driving
ability. However, possession and use of a drug
given to a driver by a doctor is permitted if the doctor
informs the driver that it will not affect safe driving
ability.
Section 2 – Driving Safely Page 2-41
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Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Pay attention to warning labels for legitimate drugs
and medicines, and to doctor's orders regarding
possible effects. Stay away from illegal drugs.
Hazard Class Definitions
Class Class Name Example
Ammunition,
Don't use any drug that hides fatigue--the only cure
for fatigue is rest. Alcohol can make the effects of
other drugs much worse. The safest rule is don't mix
drugs with driving at all.
Use of drugs can lead to traffic accidents resulting
in death, injury, and property damage. Furthermore,
it can lead to arrest, fines, and jail sentences. It can
also mean the end of a person's driving career.
2.22.3 – Illness
Once in a while, you may become so ill that you
cannot operate a motor vehicle safely. If this
happens to you, you must not drive. However, in
case of an emergency, you may drive to the nearest
place where you can safely stop.
2.23 – Hazardous Materials Rules For
All Commercial Drivers
All drivers should know something about hazardous
materials. You must be able to recognize hazardous
cargo, and you must know whether or not you can
haul it without having a hazardous materials
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
None
None
Explosives
Gases
Flammable
Flammable
Solids
Oxidizers
Poisons
Radioactive
Corrosives
Miscellaneous
Hazardous
Materials
ORM-D (Other
Regulated
Material-
Domestic)
Combustible
Liquids
Dynamite,
Fireworks
Propane, Oxygen,
Helium
Gasoline, Acetone
Matches, Fuses
Ammonium
Nitrate, Hydrogen
Peroxide
Pesticides,
Arsenic
Uranium,
Plutonium
Hydrochloric Acid,
Battery Fluid
Formaldehyde,
Asbestos
Hair Spray or
Charcoal
Fuel Oils, Lighter
Fluid
endorsement on your CDL license.
2.23.1 – What Are Hazardous Materials?
Hazardous materials are products that pose a risk
to health, safety, and property during transportation.
See Figure 2.24.
2.23.2 – Why Are There Rules?
You must follow the many rules about transporting
hazardous materials. The intent of the rules is to:
Contain the product.
Communicate the risk.
Ensure safe drivers and equipment.
To Contain the Product. Many hazardous
products can injure or kill on contact. To protect
drivers and others from contact, the rules tell
shippers how to package safely. Similar rules tell
drivers how to load, transport, and unload bulk
tanks. These are containment rules.
To Communicate the Risk. The shipper uses a
shipping paper and diamond shaped hazard labels
to warn dockworkers and drivers of the risk.
Figure 2.24
After an accident or hazardous material spill or leak,
you may be injured and unable to communicate the
hazards of the materials you are transporting.
Firefighters and police can prevent or reduce the
amount of damage or injury at the scene if they
know what hazardous materials are being
transported. Your life, and the lives of others, may
depend on quickly locating the hazardous materials
shipping papers. For that reason, you must identify
shipping papers related to hazardous materials or
keep them on top of other shipping papers. You
must also keep shipping papers:
In a pouch on the driver's door, or
In clear view within reach while driving, or
On the driver's seat when out of the vehicle.
2.23.3 – Lists of Regulated Products
Placards are used to warn others of hazardous
materials. Placards are signs put on the outside of
a vehicle that identify the hazard class of the cargo.
A placarded vehicle must have at least four identical
placards. They are put on the front, rear, and both
sides.
Section 2 – Driving Safely Page 2-42
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Placards must be readable from all four directions.
They must be at least 9.8” (250mm) inches square,
turned upright on a point, in a diamond shape.
Cargo tanks and other bulk packaging display the
identification number of their contents on placards
or orange panels.
Identification Numbers are a four digit code used
by first responders to identify hazardous materials.
An identification number may be used to identify
more than one chemical on shipping papers. The
identification number will be preceded by the letters
“NA” or “UN”. The US DOT Emergency Response
Guidebook (ERG) lists the chemicals and the
identification numbers assigned to them.
Not all vehicles carrying hazardous materials need
to have placards. The rules about placards are
given in Section 9 of this manual. You can drive a
vehicle that carries hazardous materials if it does
not require placards. If it requires placards, you
cannot drive it unless your driver license has the
hazardous materials endorsement. See Figure
2.25.
The rules require all drivers of placarded vehicles to
learn how to safely load and transport hazardous
products. They must have a commercial driver
license with the hazardous materials endorsement.
To get the required endorsement, you must pass a
written test on material found in Section 9 of this
manual. A tank endorsement is required for any
commercial vehicle that is designed to transport any
liquid or gaseous materials in a tank or tanks having
an individual rated capacity of more than 119
gallons and an aggregate capacity of 1,000 gallons
or more that is either permanently or temporarily
attached to the vehicle or chassis. The liquid or gas
does not have to be a hazardous material.
Drivers who need the hazardous materials
endorsement must learn the placard rules. If you do
not know if your vehicle needs placards, ask your
employer. Never drive a vehicle needing placards
unless you have the hazardous materials
endorsement. To do so is a crime. When stopped,
you will be cited and you will not be allowed to drive
your truck. It will cost you time and money. A failure
to placard when needed may risk your life and
others if you have an accident. Emergency help will
not know of your hazardous cargo.
Hazardous materials drivers must also know which
products they can load together, and which they
cannot. These rules are also in Section 9. Before
loading a truck with more than one type of product,
you must know if it is safe to load them together. If
you do not know, ask your employer and consult the
regulations.
Subsections 2.22 and 2.23
Test Your Knowledge
1. Common medicines for colds can make you
sleepy. True or False?
2. Coffee and a little fresh air will help a drinker
sober up. True or False?
3. What is a hazardous materials placard?
4. Why are placards used?
These questions may be on the test. If you can't
answer them all, re-read subsections 2.22 and
2.23.
Figure 2.25
Section 2 – Driving Safely Page 2-43
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Section 3
TRANSPORTING CARGO
SAFELY
This Section Covers
• Inspecting Cargo
• Cargo Weight and Balance
• Securing Cargo
• Cargo Needing Special Attention
This section tells you about hauling cargo safely.
You must understand basic cargo safety rules to get
a CDL.
If you load cargo wrong or do not secure it, it can be
a danger to others and yourself. Loose cargo that
falls off a vehicle can cause traffic problems and
others could be hurt or killed. Loose cargo could hurt
or kill you during a quick stop or crash. Your vehicle
could be damaged by an overload. Steering could
be affected by how a vehicle is loaded, making it
more difficult to control the vehicle.
Whether or not you load and secure the cargo
yourself, you are responsible for:
Inspecting your cargo.
Recognizing overloads and poorly balanced
weight.
Knowing your cargo is properly secured and does
not obscure your view ahead or to the sides.
Knowing your cargo does not restrict your access
to emergency equipment.
If you intend to carry hazardous material that
requires placards on your vehicle, you will also need
to have a hazardous materials endorsement.
Section 9 of this manual has the information you
need to pass the hazardous materials test.
3.1 – Inspecting Cargo
As part of your Vehicle inspection, make sure the
truck is not overloaded and the cargo is balanced
and secured properly.
After Starting. Inspect the cargo and its securing
devices again within the first 50 miles after
beginning a trip. Make any adjustments needed.
Re-check. Re-check the cargo and securing
devices as often as necessary during a trip to keep
the load secure. You need to inspect again:
After you have driven for 3 hours or 150 miles.
After every break you take during driving.
Federal, state, and local regulations for commercial
vehicle weight, securing cargo, covering loads, and
where you can drive large vehicles vary from place
to place. Know the rules where you will be driving.
3.2 – Weight and Balance
You are responsible for not being overloaded. The
following are some definitions of weight you should
know.
3.2.1 – Definitions You Should Know
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The value
specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight
of a single vehicle.
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR). The
value specified by the manufacturer of the power
unit, if the value is displayed on the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) certification
label; or the sum of the gross vehicle weight ratings
(GVWRs) or the gross vehicle weights (GVWs) of
the power unit and the towed unit(s), or any
combination thereof, that produces the highest
value.
(The underlined and italicized text above is for
use by roadside enforcement only to determine
whether the driver/vehicle is subject to CDL
regulations. It is not used to determine whether
a vehicle is representative for the purposes of
Skills testing).
Axle Weight. The weight transmitted to the ground
by one axle or one set of axles.
Tire Load. The maximum safe weight a tire can
carry at a specified pressure. This rating is stated on
the side of each tire.
Suspension Systems. Suspension systems have
a manufacturer's weight capacity rating.
Coupling Device Capacity. Coupling devices are
rated for the maximum weight they can pull and/or
carry.
3.2.2 – Legal Weight Limits
You must keep weights within legal limits. States
have maximums for GVWRs, GCWRs, and axle
weights. Often, maximum axle weights are set by a
bridge formula. A bridge formula permits less
maximum axle weight for axles that are closer
Section 3 - Transporting Cargo Safely Page 3-1
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
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