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wave hits the end of the tank, it tends to push the
truck in the direction the wave is moving. If the truck
is on a slippery surface such as ice, the wave can
shove a stopped truck out into an intersection. The
driver of a liquid tanker must be very familiar with
the handling of the vehicle.
8.2.3 – Bulkheads
Some liquid tanks are divided into several smaller
tanks by bulkheads. When loading and unloading
the smaller tanks, the driver must pay attention to
weight distribution. Don't put too much weight on the
front or rear of the vehicle.
8.2.4 – Baffled Tanks
Baffled liquid tanks have bulkheads in them with
holes that let the liquid flow through. The baffles
help to control the forward and backward liquid
surge. Side-to-side surge can still occur. This can
cause a roll over.
8.2.5 – Un-baffled Tanks
Un-baffled liquid tankers (sometimes called
"smooth bore" tanks) have nothing inside to slow
down the flow of the liquid. Therefore, forward-and-
back surge is very strong. Un-baffled tanks are
usually those that transport food products (milk, for
example). (Sanitation regulations forbid the use of
baffles because of the difficulty in cleaning the
inside of the tank.) Be extremely cautious (slow and
careful) in driving smooth bore tanks, especially
when starting and stopping.
8.2.6 – Outage
Never load a cargo tank totally full. Liquids expand
as they warm and you must leave room for the
expanding liquid. This is called "outage." Since
different liquids expand by different amounts, they
require different amounts of outage. You must know
the outage requirement when hauling liquids in bulk.
8.2.7 – How Much to Load?
A full tank of dense liquid (such as some acids) may
exceed legal weight limits. For that reason, you may
often only partially fill tanks with heavy liquids. The
amount of liquid to load into a tank depends on:
The amount the liquid will expand in transit.
The weight of the liquid.
Legal weight limits.
8.3 – Safe Driving Rules
In order to drive tank vehicles safely, you must
remember to follow all the safe driving rules. A few
of these rules are:
8.3.1 – Drive Smoothly
Because of the high center of gravity and the surge
of the liquid, you must start, slow down, and stop
very smoothly. Also, make smooth turns and lane
changes.
8.3.2 – Controlling Surge
Keep a steady pressure on the brakes. Do not
release too soon when coming to a stop.
Brake far in advance of a stop and increase your
following distance.
If you must make a quick stop to avoid a crash, use
controlled or stab braking. If you do not remember
how to stop using these methods, review subsection
2.17.2. Also, remember that if you steer quickly
while braking, your vehicle may roll over.
8.3.3 – Curves
Slow down before curves, then accelerate slightly
through the curve. The posted speed for a curve
may be too fast for a tank vehicle.
8.3.4 – Stopping Distance
Keep in mind how much space you need to stop
your vehicle. Remember that wet roads double the
normal stopping distance. Empty tank vehicles may
take longer to stop than full ones.
8.3.5 – Skids
Don't over steer, over accelerate, or over brake. If
you do, your vehicle may skid. On tank trailers, if
your drive wheels or trailer wheels begin to skid,
your vehicle may jackknife. When any vehicle starts
to skid, you must take action to restore traction to
the wheels.
Section 8
Test Your Knowledge
1. How are bulkheads different than baffles?
2. Should a tank vehicle take curves, on
ramps, or off ramps at the posted speed
limits?
3. How are smooth bore tankers different to
drive than those with baffles?
4. What three things determine how much
liquid you can load?
5. What is outage?
6. How can you help control surge?
7. What two reasons make special care
necessary when driving tank vehicles?
These questions may be on the test. If you can't
answer them all, re-read Section 8.
Section 8 - Tank Vehicles Page 8-2
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Section 9
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
This Section Covers
• The Intent of the Regulations
• Bulk Tank Loading, Unloading, and
Marking
• Driver Responsibilities
• Driving and Parking Rules
• Communications Rules
• Emergencies
• Loading and Unloading
Hazardous materials are products that pose a risk
to health, safety, and property during transportation.
The term often is shortened to HAZMAT, which you
may see on road signs, or to HM in government
regulations. Hazardous materials include
explosives, various types of gas, solids, flammable
and combustible liquid, and other materials.
Because of the risks involved and the potential
consequences these risks impose, all levels of
government regulate the handling of hazardous
materials.
The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) is
found in parts 171 - 180 of title 49 of the Code of
Federal Regulations. The common reference for
these regulations is 49 CFR 171 - 180
The Hazardous Materials Table in the regulations
contains a list of these items. However, this list is
not all-inclusive. Whether or not a material is
considered hazardous is based on its
characteristics and the shipper's decision on
whether or not the material meets a definition of a
hazardous material in the regulations.
The regulations require vehicles transporting certain
types or quantities of hazardous materials to display
diamond-shaped, square on point, warning signs
called placards.
This section is designed to assist you in
understanding your role and responsibilities in
hauling hazardous materials. Due to the constantly
changing nature of government regulations, it is
impossible to guarantee absolute accuracy of the
materials in this section. An up-to-date copy of the
complete regulations is essential for you to have.
Included in these regulations is a complete glossary
of terms.
You must have a commercial driver license (CDL)
with a hazardous materials endorsement before you
drive any size vehicle that is used to transport
hazardous material as defined in 49 CFR 383.5.
You must pass a written test about the regulations
and requirements to get this endorsement.
Everything you need to know to pass the written test
is in this section. However, this is only a beginning.
Most drivers need to know much more on the job.
You can learn more by reading and understanding
the federal and state rules applicable to hazardous
materials, as well as, attending hazardous materials
training courses. Your employer, colleges and
universities, and various associations usually offer
these courses. You can get copies of the Federal
Regulations (49 CFR) through your local
Government Printing Office bookstore and various
industry publishers. Union or company offices often
have copies of the rules for driver use. Find out
where you can get your own copy to use on the job.
The regulations require training and testing for all
drivers involved in transporting hazardous
materials. Your employer or a designated
representative is required to provide this training
and testing. Hazardous materials employers are
required to keep a record of training for each
employee as long as that employee is working with
hazardous materials, and for 90 days thereafter.
The regulations require that hazardous materials
employees be trained and tested at least once every
three years.
All drivers must be trained in the security risks of
hazardous materials transportation. This training
must include how to recognize and respond to
possible security threats.
The regulations also require that drivers have
special training before driving a vehicle transporting
certain flammable gas materials or highway route
controlled quantities of radioactive materials. In
addition, drivers transporting cargo tanks and
portable tanks must receive specialized training.
Each driver’s employer or his or her designated
representative must provide such training.
Some locations require permits to transport certain
explosives or bulk hazardous wastes. States and
counties also may require drivers to follow special
hazardous materials routes. The federal
government may require permits or exemptions for
special hazardous materials cargo such as rocket
fuel. Find out about permits, exemptions, and
special routes for the places you drive.
Section 9 - Hazardous Material Page 9-1
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
9.1 – The Intent of the Regulations
9.1.1 – Contain the Material
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 material. These
are called "containment rules."
9.1.2 – Communicate the Risk
To communicate the risk, shippers must warn
drivers and others about the material's 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.
9.1.3 – Assure Safe Drivers and Equipment
In order to get a hazardous materials endorsement
on a CDL, you must pass a written test about
transporting hazardous materials. To pass the test,
you must know how to:
Identify what are 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. Non-
compliance with regulations can result in fines and
jail.
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, and the
hazardous materials endorsement on your driver
license, and your knowledge of hazardous
materials.
9.2 – Hazardous Materials
Transportation—Who Does What
9.2.1 – The Shipper
Sends products from one place to another by truck,
rail, vessel, or airplane.
Uses the hazardous materials regulations to
determine the product’s:
Identification number
Proper shipping name.
Hazard class.
Packing group.
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).
9.2.2 – 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.
9.2.3 – The Driver
Makes sure the shipper has identified, marked, and
labeled the hazardous materials properly.
Refuses leaking packages and shipments.
Placards 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.
Reports accidents and incidents involving
hazardous materials to the proper government
agency, when the accident/incident occurs while
driver is in physical control of the shipment.
9.3 – Communication Rules
9.3.1 – Definitions
Some words and phrases have special meanings
when talking about hazardous materials. Some of
these may differ from meanings you are used to.
The words and phrases in this section may be on
your test. The meanings of other important words
are in the glossary at the end of Section 9.
Section 9 - Hazardous Material Page 9-2
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
A material's hazard class reflects the risks
associated with it. There are nine different hazard
classes. The types of materials included in these
nine classes are in Figure 9.1.
Hazardous Materials Class
being carried. Your life, and the lives of others, may
depend on quickly locating the hazardous materials
shipping papers. For that reason the rules require:
Shippers to describe hazardous materials correctly
and include an emergency response telephone
number on shipping papers.
Carriers and drivers to quickly identify hazardous
materials shipping papers, or keep them on top of
other shipping papers and keep the required
1.1
1.2
1.3
1 1.4
1.5
1.6
2.1
2 2.2
2.3
3 -
4.1
4 4.2
4.3
5 5.1
5.2
6.1
6
6.2
7 -
8 -
9 -
N
o -
n
e
-
Name of Class or
Division
Mass Explosion
Projection Hazard
Fire Hazard
Minor Explosion
Very Insensitive
Extremely
Insensitive
Flammable Gases
Non-Flammable
Gases
Poisonous/Toxic
Gases
Flammable Liquids
Flammable Solids
Spontaneously
Combustible
Dangerous When
Wet
Oxidizers
Organic Peroxides
Poison (Toxic
Material)
Infectious
Substances
Radioactive
Corrosives
Miscellaneous
Hazardous Materials
ORM-D (Other
Regulated Material-
Domestic)
Combustible Liquids
Figure 9.1
Examples
Dynamite
Flares
Display Fireworks
Ammunition
Blasting Agents
Explosive Devices
Propane
Helium
Fluorine, Compressed
Gasoline
Ammonium Picrate,
Wetted
White Phosphorus
Sodium
Ammonium Nitrate
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Peroxide
Potassium Cyanide
Anthrax Virus
Uranium
Battery Fluid
Polychlorinated
Biphenyls (PCB)
Food Flavorings,
Medicines
Fuel Oil
emergency response information with the shipping
papers.
Drivers to keep hazardous materials shipping
papers:
In a pouch on the driver's door, or
In clear view within immediate reach while the seat
belt is fastened while driving, or
On the driver's seat when out of the vehicle.
9.3.2 – Package Labels
Shippers put diamond-shaped hazard warning
labels on most hazardous materials packages.
These labels inform others of the hazard. If the
diamond label won't fit on the package, shippers
may put the label on a tag securely attached to the
package. For example, compressed gas cylinders
that will not hold a label will have tags or decals.
Labels look like the examples in Figure 9.2.
A shipping paper describes the hazardous materials
being transported. Shipping orders, bills of lading,
and manifests are all shipping papers. Figure 9.6
shows an example shipping paper.
After an accident or hazardous materials 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
Examples of HAZMAT Labels. Figure 9.2
Section 9 - Hazardous Material Page 9-3
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
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