Alaska CDL: Hazardous Materials Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is Keep the doors shut and call for help

You might have to control minor truck fires on the road. However, unless you have the training and equipment to do so safely, don't fight hazardous materials fires. Feel trailer doors to see if they are hot before opening them. If hot, you may have a cargo fire and should not open the doors. If your cargo is already on fire, it is not safe to fight the fire. Keep the shipping papers with you to give to emergency personnel as soon as they arrive.

Not quite. The answer is 9

There are nine different hazard classes. The table "Hazardous Materials Class" in your state CDL handbook lists the types of materials in these hazard classes.

Not quite. The answer is Close all manholes and valves. Be sure they are free of leaks.

Before you start to drive a vehicle with a cargo tank containing hazardous materials, make sure that the manholes and valves are closed and leak-free. It is illegal to move a cargo tank containing any amount of hazardous materials for any distance if any valves or covers are open.

Not quite. The answer is at all times.

On the shipping papers, the basic description of a hazardous material includes (a) the total quantity and unit of measure, and (b) the number and type of packages.

Not quite. The answer is PHMSA

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) isn't just about pipeline transport. PHMSA develops and enforces regulations for the safe, reliable, and environmentally sound transportation of energy products by pipeline and of hazardous materials by land, sea, and air. PHMSA establishes national policies, sets and enforces standards, educates, and conducts research to prevent hazmat incidents. PHMSA is also the agency that publishes the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG). (Note: This topic is not usually found in the official state CDL handbook.)

Not quite. The answer is Do both of the above.

If there is an emergency involving the hazardous materials that you're transporting, follow all instructions that your employer gave you. Keep bystanders away, preferably upwind, while warning them of the danger. Try to keep open flames away and don't let anyone smoke near the hazardous materials. Take a copy of your shipping papers with you to provide to first responders who arrive at the scene.

Not quite. The answer is explosives C, flammable solids, or oxidizers.

Corrosive liquids can give off dangerous hydrogen gas if they come into contact with metal containers. Some corrosive liquids are themselves flammable. Don't load corrosive liquids next to or above anything that can cause or worsen a fire or explosion. Section 9.4 contains a complete list of hazardous materials that you should NOT load together with corrosive liquids.

Not quite. The answer is Yellow III

A package of radioactive materials is not completely radiation proof. Some radiation can pass through the package. There are three different diamond-shaped "RADIOACTIVE" labels that can be affixed to a package of radioactive materials: White I, Yellow II, and Yellow III (in Roman numerals), depending on how much radiation is detectable at the surface of the package. Yellow III packages have the highest detectable radiation level at the package surface. (Note: This topic is not usually found in the official state CDL handbook.)

Not quite. The answer is None of the above

Under federal regulations, you must not drive a placarded vehicle carrying non-radioactive hazardous materials through or near heavily populated areas, places where crowds are assembled, tunnels, narrow streets, or alleys, except if the carrier determines that (1) there is no practicable alternative; (2) a reasonable deviation is necessary to reach terminals, points of loading and unloading, facilities for food, fuel, repairs, rest, or a safe haven; or (3) a reasonable deviation is required by emergency conditions, such as a detour that has been established by a highway authority, or where a law enforcement official requires you to take an alternative route. Note: States and localities often place additional restrictions on allowed routes for various classes of hazardous materials. Check the laws and regulations of the places where you'll be driving.

Source: 49 CFR 397.67

Not quite. The answer is Either of the above will work.

On a shipping paper that lists both hazardous and nonhazardous materials, the hazardous materials must stand out for the reader. There are three ways to do this: List the hazardous materials first; highlight them in a contrasting color; or place an "X" or an "RQ" before their names. ("RQ" means that the hazardous material is being shipped in a reportable quantity.)

Not quite. The answer is by water.

The letter 'W' means the hazardous material described in Column 2 is subject to the Hazardous Materials Regulations only when offered or intended for transportation by water, unless it is a hazardous substance, hazardous waste, or marine pollutant.

Not quite. The answer is placard your vehicle.

To obtain a hazardous materials endorsement, you must meet several requirements, including passing a specialized knowledge test on the transport of hazardous materials. To pass the test, you must know the various hazard classes of hazardous materials, how to load packages of hazardous materials onto your vehicle safely, how to placard your vehicle, and how to transport those packages safely.

Not quite. The answer is Any of the above

Most official state CDL handbooks still state that to oversee the loading or unloading of hazmat into a cargo tank, a qualified person must be within 25 feet of the cargo tank, with a clear view of the cargo tank. However, this is no longer the only way. Federal regulation 49 CFR 177.834 now allows two methods by which the qualified person can "attend" the loading or unloading remotely: (1) via a video monitoring system, as long as the cameras provide an unobstructed view of all equipment involved in the loading or unloading process; (2) via an instrumentation and signaling system, as long as the system provides a surveillance capability that is as good as that of a human observer. When a qualified person is "attending" remotely, there must be a way for the person to control the shut-off valves remotely in the event of an incident. There must also be a way for the person to terminate the loading or unloading immediately in the event of a loss of monitoring capability. Finally, when the loading or unloading has been completed, some qualified person (not necessarily the same one) must inspect the cargo tank in person for any damage that might have been sustained during the loading or unloading process. (Note: This topic is not found in the official state CDL handbook.)

Not quite. The answer is To certify that it has prepared the shipment in accordance with regulations

The shipping paper must include the shipper's certification signed by the shipper. It states that the shipper prepared the shipment according to the relevant regulations.

Not quite. The answer is Class 7 (radioactive materials)

Class 7 (radioactive materials) must be controlled by a transport index that tells each transport company and truck driver how much they can carry. The radiation given off by radioactive materials could contaminate the rest of the load. The transport index of a package of radioactive material describes the highest level of radiation (in millirems per hour) that is expected at a distance of one meter (about 39.37 inches) from the surface of the package.

Not quite. The answer is 100 mm

The hazardous material identification numbers must be displayed on portable tanks, cargo tanks, and other bulk packaging. The regulations require black 100 mm (3.9 inch) numbers on orange panels, placards, or a white, diamond-shaped background if no placards are required.

Not quite. The answer is warn others of the fire hazard.

Class 4 materials (Flammable Solids) can react with heat, water, or air, and start fires. Class 5 materials (Oxidizers) can react with many other substances and also start fires. If any of these materials are spilled, warn others of the fire hazard. Do not open smoldering packages of flammable solids. Remove them from the vehicle if you can safely do so. Also, remove unbroken packages if it will decrease the fire hazard.

Not quite. The answer is diamond-shaped

The shipper must affix appropriate US DOT-compliant HazMat labels to the packages and supply the driver with the appropriate placards to attach to the vehicle. Both the labels and the placards are diamond shaped. [49 CFR 172.400],

Source: 49 CFR 172.407

Not quite. The answer is Turn it off before unhooking the hoses.

Keeping your engine on while you pump a load of compressed gas adds extra risk. As soon as the delivery is completed, turn off the engine before you unhook any hoses.

Not quite. The answer is stop at the nearest safe place and fix it.

Don't risk an accident from a flat tire, especially when carrying hazardous materials. If you have a leaking or flat tire, don't drive except to the nearest safe place to fix it. Note: The rules on parking placarded vehicles apply even if you park to fix or replace a tire. For example, if you're carrying explosives, you can't park (to fix a tire or for any other reason) within 300 feet of any place where people gather.