CDL HazMat Practice Test
The H endorsement lets you haul placarded hazardous materials, and it comes with a TSA fingerprint-based background check on top of the written test. The exam is heavy on paperwork and placarding, because that is what a roadside inspector and an emergency responder rely on.
Written and reviewed by Christopher Scott Sneed, 30+ year diesel technician, founder of Blue Collar Empire.
What this section covers
- Shipping papers: what they contain and where they must be kept
- Placarding rules and the four-sided display requirement
- Hazard classes and segregation of incompatible loads
- The Emergency Response Guidebook and what to do at an incident
- Loading, unloading, attendance, and smoking restrictions
- Security plans and route restrictions
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Placards must be displayed on:
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5 practice questions with explanations
1. Placards must be displayed on:
- A. Only the front of the trailer
- B. All four sides of the vehicle — correct
- C. Just the rear
- D. Only the driver door
Why: Placards go on all four sides, readable from ground level.
2. The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) is issued by:
- A. OSHA
- B. The U.S. Department of Transportation — correct
- C. The EPA
- D. FEMA
Why: USDOT publishes the ERG (in cooperation with Transport Canada and Mexico's SCT).
3. Shipping papers must be:
- A. Locked in the trailer
- B. Within reach of the driver and clearly visible — correct
- C. Kept only at dispatch
- D. Attached to the placard
Why: They must be within immediate reach and identifiable in an emergency.
4. You must NEVER smoke within how many feet of a HazMat vehicle?
- A. 10 feet
- B. 25 feet — correct
- C. 50 feet
- D. 100 feet
Why: Never smoke within 25 ft of a placarded vehicle containing certain HazMat classes.
5. If a HazMat leak is found en route:
- A. Continue to the nearest terminal
- B. Park, secure the area, notify authorities, do not move the vehicle — correct
- C. Drain the leak
- D. Cover with a tarp and drive
Why: Never move a leaking HazMat vehicle beyond what's necessary for safety.
How to study this section
- The paperwork questions are the easy points — learn where papers go and who can see them.
- Never move a leaking placarded load any further than safety requires.
- Start the TSA background check early; it takes longer than the studying does.
- Renewals require re-testing, so keep the manual handy after you pass.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a background check for a HazMat endorsement?
- Yes. The H endorsement requires a TSA security threat assessment including fingerprinting, in addition to passing the written test.
- How often do I have to renew my HazMat endorsement?
- It must be renewed periodically with a new security threat assessment and, in most states, a retake of the written test. Check your state's interval.
Take the timed version — free
The CDL Training Center runs this chapter as a scored quiz and tracks what you keep missing. CDL prep is free. Pro ($14.99 a month or $99.99 a year) covers the diagnostics, handbooks and business tools.