hazardous materials

Substances that endanger health, safety or property when transported.

Think gasoline, propane, acids, explosives, poisons. The government lists them and sorts them into hazard classes. Special rules cover how they are packed, labeled, loaded and driven.

Also called: hazardous material, HazMat

Why it matters on the CDL test

Questions ask who may haul hazardous materials, where the papers must be kept, how the vehicle is placarded, and the driver's duties.

Appears in 237 test questions

See 124 questions on the HazMat test

Example: Your dispatcher offers a load of pool chemicals; you check the shipping paper for a hazard class before accepting it.

In other languages

Español
materiales peligrosos
Русский
опасные материалы (hazardous materials)
Українська
небезпечні матеріали

Where it comes from

  • CDL manual, Section 9.1 (intent of the regulations)
  • CDL manual, Section 9.8 glossary (hazardous materials)
  • 49 CFR 171.8 (definitions)

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All hazardous materials terms