North Carolina CDL DMV Endorsement Hazmat 2

Fighting a hazardous materials fire requires special training and protective gear. Unless you have the proper equipment and training, do not try to fight a hazardous materials fire yourself.

Shippers should place applicable diamond-shaped hazard warning labels on hazardous materials packages. If a label will not fit entirely onto a package, shippers may instead place the label on a tag that is securely attached to the package.

If transporting chlorine in cargo tanks, a driver must have an approved gas mask in their vehicle.

Shippers of certain kinds of hazardous materials are required to display diamond-shaped warning signs, known as placards, on any transporting vehicles. Shippers are required to provide applicable placards, labels, shipping papers, and emergency response information.

Class 1 hazardous materials are typically items that present certain explosion or fire hazards.

There are nine different hazard classes. A material's hazard class reflects its associated risks.

When applying for an original or renewed HazMat endorsement, you must undergo a federal security threat assessment done by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Flammable gases are assigned to hazardous materials Class 2.

Always turn off your vehicle's engine before loading or unloading explosive materials. Never drop, throw, or roll packages containing explosives.

Shippers must retain a physical copy or an electronic image of hazardous materials shipping papers for a minimum of two years after the materials are accepted by the initial carrier. For hazardous waste, this increases to three years.

The person in charge of loading or unloading a hazardous materials cargo tank must ensure that a qualified person is always supervising the process. The supervisor must be alert; have a clear view of the tank; be within 25 feet of the tank; know the hazards of the involved materials; know the procedures to follow in the case of an emergency; and be authorized to and capable of moving the tank.

You must examine each tire on a motor vehicle at the beginning of each trip. The only effective way to check tire pressure is by using a tire pressure gauge.

For all shipments of hazardous materials, the shipper must use shipping papers to inform drivers and dockworkers of the risks presented by the cargo.

Use a floor lining when transporting Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 materials. The floors should be tight and the liner must be made from either non-metallic material or non-ferrous metal. Non-ferrous metals are metals that do not contain iron or iron alloys.

Radiation will surround each package of radioactive materials and pass through to all nearby packages. The number of packages that can be loaded together is controlled.

You must have a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement to operate a vehicle of any size to transport hazardous materials.

Signs are placed on the outside of vehicles and bulk packages to warn drivers and others about hazardous materials. These diamond-shaped signs are known as "placards."

You should examine your tires at the beginning of every trip and after every stop to ensure that they are properly inflated. The only acceptable way to check tire pressure is to use a tire pressure gauge.

If you need to refuel a vehicle carrying hazardous materials, you must first turn off the engine. While refueling, someone must be at the nozzle and controlling the fuel flow at all times.

You should not smoke within 25 feet of a placarded cargo tank used to transport materials that are categorized as Class 3 (flammable liquids) or Division 2.1 (gases). Do not smoke or carry a lit cigar, pipe, or cigarette near a vehicle containing flammable or explosive materials.

Shippers of hazardous materials are required to warn drivers and others about the risks of the materials by putting hazard warning labels on packages, putting placards on the transporting vehicles, and providing proper shipping papers and emergency response information.

If transporting Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives, you must follow a written route plan. Whenever placarded, avoid heavily populated areas, crowds, tunnels, narrow streets, and alleys. Be sure to research any restrictions that may apply to the routes you plan to take.

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. Hazardous materials employees must be trained and tested at least once every three years.

When hazardous materials placards are required, they must be placed on all four sides of the vehicle.

The third column of the Hazardous Materials Table lists items' hazard classes and divisions. Drivers should never transport a material that is marked by the word "Forbidden."

If the words "Inhalation Hazard" appear on a package or its shipping paper, the "Poison Inhalation Hazard" or "Poison Gas" placards, as appropriate, must be displayed.

At a minimum, emergency response information must include the basic descriptions and technical names of the materials being transported; immediate hazards to health; risks of fire or explosion; immediate precautions to be taken in the event of an accident or incident; immediate methods for handling fires; initial methods for handling spills or leaks in the absence of fires; and preliminary first aid measures.

If you are experiencing a truck fire, you should not attempt to open trailer doors without first feeling the doors to see if they are hot. If the doors are hot, there may be a cargo fire. Leave the doors closed if there is a cargo fire.

While the manual contains all of the information needed to pass the written exam for a hazardous materials endorsement, it does not contain all of the information necessary to do the job safely. You can learn more by attending hazardous materials training courses.

Cylinders and drums are often used to contain hazardous materials. Be sure to take the proper precautions if transporting a cargo of hazardous materials.