CDL Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: If a hazmat leak is discovered during transport, what should the driver do first?
- Touch the material to identify it
- Keep driving to the destination
- Park away from people, secure the area, and avoid contact (Correct answer)
- Open all packages to inspect them
Correct answer: Park away from people, secure the area, and avoid contact
Drivers should stop in a safe location, keep people away, and never touch or inhale the leaking material.
Question 2: Why should you never smoke near a vehicle carrying flammable hazardous materials?
- It is bad for fuel economy
- Smoke can stain the placards
- Ignition sources can cause fire or explosion (Correct answer)
- It violates parking rules only
Correct answer: Ignition sources can cause fire or explosion
Flammable materials can ignite from sparks, flames, or burning cigarettes, causing fire or explosion.
Question 3: What is required when fueling a vehicle carrying hazardous materials?
- The engine must be running
- Someone must control the fuel nozzle and no smoking is allowed (Correct answer)
- Placards must be removed first
- The driver must leave the area entirely
Correct answer: Someone must control the fuel nozzle and no smoking is allowed
A person must always control the fuel flow at the nozzle, and smoking is prohibited during fueling.
Question 4: Which document helps responders identify proper actions for a specific hazmat ID number?
- The vehicle registration
- The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) (Correct answer)
- The bill of sale
- The driver's logbook
Correct answer: The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)
The ERG lists hazardous materials by ID number and provides initial emergency response guidance.
Question 5: When transporting explosives (Class 1), which of the following is generally prohibited?
- Using a fire extinguisher
- Transferring explosives between vehicles on a public roadway except in emergencies (Correct answer)
- Carrying shipping papers
- Stopping for rest breaks
Correct answer: Transferring explosives between vehicles on a public roadway except in emergencies
Transferring Class 1 explosives between vehicles on a public road is prohibited except in emergencies.
Question 6: What must a driver do at railroad crossings when carrying placarded hazardous materials?
- Speed up to clear quickly
- Stop within 15 to 50 feet of the nearest rail and proceed when safe (Correct answer)
- Never stop under any circumstance
- Honk continuously while crossing
Correct answer: Stop within 15 to 50 feet of the nearest rail and proceed when safe
Placarded hazmat vehicles must stop 15 to 50 feet before the nearest rail and cross only when it is clear.
Question 7: Why must certain hazardous materials be segregated from one another during loading?
- To balance the truck's weight only
- Because some materials can react dangerously if they mix (Correct answer)
- To make unloading faster
- To reduce paperwork
Correct answer: Because some materials can react dangerously if they mix
Incompatible materials can react, producing heat, gas, fire, or explosion, so they must be kept separated.
CDL Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) 3
If a hazmat leak is discovered during transport, what should the driver do first?