Which employees need the applicable in-depth security training in addition to general security awareness?
Correct answer: Employees covered by a required hazardous-material security plan.
PHMSA lists general security awareness among hazmat training subjects and in-depth security training when a security plan is required. The training must match the employee's covered duties.
Source: PHMSA Training Requirements for Industry, updated October 8, 2024; in-depth security training. Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered transportation; not Louisiana licensing or an exception determination. ↗
For an ordinary highway shipment assigned a packing group, which basic-description order is correct?
Correct answer: Identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group.
The four basic elements must appear in the prescribed sequence, without unrelated information inserted between them. Authorized technical names and subsidiary hazards follow their specific rules.
Source: 49 CFR 172.202(a)(1)–(4), (b). Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered transportation; not Louisiana licensing or an exception determination. ↗
Hazardous and nonhazardous freight appear on one shipping paper. Which is an accepted way to identify the hazardous entries?
Correct answer: Put an X before their basic descriptions in an HM column.
An X before the basic description in an HM column is one accepted method. Listing hazardous entries first or using the prescribed contrasting color are alternatives; marking only the total weight is insufficient.
Source: 49 CFR 172.201(a)(1). Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered transportation; not Louisiana licensing or an exception determination. ↗
What language must the required hazardous-material shipping description use for covered U.S. transportation?
Correct answer: Legible English.
The required shipping description and transport copies must be legible and printed manually or mechanically in English.
Source: 49 CFR 172.201(a)(2). Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered transportation; not Louisiana licensing or an exception determination. ↗
A truck carries 900 pounds aggregate gross weight of ordinary Class 3 material in non-bulk packages. No subsidiary-hazard or other special requirement applies. What does 172.504(c) permit?
Correct answer: Transport without a placard under the stated weight exception.
The exception is for less than 1,001 pounds aggregate gross weight of Table 2 hazardous material in the stated circumstances. It does not erase other hazardous-material requirements.
Source: 49 CFR 172.504(c), (e) Table 2, Class 3. Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered transportation; not Louisiana licensing or an exception determination. ↗
Can a bulk package rely on the general less-than-1,001-pound Table 2 placarding exception merely because it contains little material?
Correct answer: No; that exception expressly excludes bulk packagings.
Bulk-packaging and special subsidiary-hazard rules must be checked separately. The non-bulk aggregate-weight exception is not a general small-residue exemption for tanks.
Source: 49 CFR 172.504(c), (d). Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered transportation; not Louisiana licensing or an exception determination. ↗
A vehicle carries qualifying non-bulk packages from two Table 2 categories requiring different placards. Neither category reaches 2,205 pounds loaded at one facility. Which option may be available?
Correct answer: A DANGEROUS placard instead of their separate Table 2 placards.
172.504(b) allows the DANGEROUS option for the stated mixed non-bulk Table 2 load. It does not replace Table 1 or other separate requirements.
Source: 49 CFR 172.504(b). Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered transportation; not Louisiana licensing or an exception determination. ↗
A qualifying mixed non-bulk load uses DANGEROUS placards. One facility loads 2,300 pounds aggregate gross weight of Class 8 material. What additional category display is required?
Correct answer: The CORROSIVE placard for that category.
When at least 2,205 pounds of one Table 2 category is loaded at one facility, its specified category placard must be applied.
Source: 49 CFR 172.504(b), (e) Table 2, Class 8. Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered transportation; not Louisiana licensing or an exception determination. ↗
Road spray has substantially obscured the required placard lettering and color. What should be done before continuing with that condition?
Correct answer: Restore the placard to a clearly legible and visible condition.
The carrier must maintain placard format, legibility, color and visibility. Substantial obscurement by dirt is not excused by having correct shipping papers.
Source: 49 CFR 172.516(c)(6). Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered transportation; not Louisiana licensing or an exception determination. ↗
A fitted ladder covers part of a required placard. Is the display acceptable merely because the placard is securely fastened?
Correct answer: No; placards must be clear of obstructions such as ladders and pipes.
Secure attachment and an unobstructed display are separate requirements. The rule specifically identifies ladders, pipes, doors and tarpaulins as equipment to keep clear of the placard.
Source: 49 CFR 172.516(c)(1)–(2). Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered transportation; not Louisiana licensing or an exception determination. ↗
An advertisement is one inch from a required placard. What minimum separation does the display rule specify from such marking?
Correct answer: At least three inches, and farther if needed to avoid substantially reducing effectiveness.
Placards must be away from markings that substantially reduce their effectiveness, and in any case at least three inches from such marking. The numerical minimum does not excuse a confusing display.
Source: 49 CFR 172.516(c)(4). Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered transportation; not Louisiana licensing or an exception determination. ↗
The words on a required placard are sideways after installation. How should the placard be oriented?
Correct answer: With its words or authorized identification number horizontal, reading left to right.
The display rule requires words or an authorized identification number to read horizontally from left to right. Correct content must also be displayed in the required orientation.
Source: 49 CFR 172.516(c)(5). Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered transportation; not Louisiana licensing or an exception determination. ↗
Before parking a Division 1.3 vehicle on private property, what must the person in charge of that property know and provide?
Correct answer: Awareness of the hazardous contents and consent to park.
Knowledge and consent must come from the person in charge of the property, who must be aware of the nature of the hazardous materials.
Source: 49 CFR 397.7(a)(2); Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered operations, not Louisiana licensing or a complete operational checklist. ↗
How close may a vehicle carrying covered hazardous materials be parked to an open fire under 397.11?
Correct answer: It must not be parked within 300 feet.
The parking restriction is 300 feet. Passing an open fire is a separate issue requiring precautions to establish that the vehicle can safely pass without stopping.
Source: 49 CFR 397.11(a)–(b); Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered operations, not Louisiana licensing or a complete operational checklist. ↗
A placarded truck contains Class 3 flammable liquid. Someone stands 15 feet away with a lit cigarette. Is that far enough under the smoking rule?
Correct answer: No; the prohibited area extends to 25 feet.
397.13 prohibits smoking or carrying lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes on or within 25 feet of the listed hazardous-material vehicles.
Source: 49 CFR 397.13(a); Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered operations, not Louisiana licensing or a complete operational checklist. ↗
An empty tank vehicle previously carried placard-required Class 3 flammable liquid. Does emptying the liquid by itself remove the 25-foot smoking restriction?
Correct answer: No; the rule also covers this empty tank vehicle.
The rule expressly covers an empty tank motor vehicle used for the specified flammable liquid or gas service when marking or placarding was required.
Source: 49 CFR 397.13(b); Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered operations, not Louisiana licensing or a complete operational checklist. ↗
After an incident covered by 171.16, what is the ordinary deadline for the detailed hazardous-material incident report?
Correct answer: Within 30 days of discovering the incident.
The person in physical possession at the incident must submit the required DOT Form F 5800.1 within 30 days of discovery. This is separate from any prompt emergency call and NRC telephone notice.
Source: PHMSA Hazardous Materials Incident Reporting FAQ, updated September 7, 2023; questions 1–2; 171.16(a). Agency guidance, not a new substantive rule. Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered operations, not Louisiana licensing or a complete operational checklist. ↗
Undeclared hazardous material is discovered during transportation, without leakage. Is a detailed incident report required?
Correct answer: Yes; discovery during transportation itself requires the detailed report.
PHMSA explains reporting for undeclared hazardous material discovered during transportation even when nothing was released. Provide the available facts and identify unknown information rather than waiting for a spill.
Source: PHMSA Hazardous Materials Incident Reporting FAQ, updated September 7, 2023; questions 7–8; 171.16(a). Agency guidance, not a new substantive rule. Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered operations, not Louisiana licensing or a complete operational checklist. ↗
A radioactive shipment's outer package breaks, but the inner receptacle remains intact. Does PHMSA require NRC notification?
Correct answer: Yes; the broken outer package is reportable despite the intact inner receptacle.
PHMSA's FAQ treats this outer-package breakage as reportable without requiring a release or overexposure.
Source: PHMSA Hazardous Materials Incident Reporting FAQ, updated September 7, 2023; question 9; 171.15. Agency guidance, not a new substantive rule. Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered operations, not Louisiana licensing or a complete operational checklist. ↗
At delivery, the driver stays and observes unloading when a reportable hazmat incident occurs. Who must file?
Correct answer: The carrier remains responsible while observing or participating in unloading.
PHMSA includes unloading while the carrier participates or observes within transportation for this reporting duty.
Source: PHMSA Hazardous Materials Incident Reporting FAQ, updated September 7, 2023; question 6; transportation includes carrier-observed unloading. Agency guidance, not a new substantive rule. Read and reviewed September 22, 2026. Federal covered operations, not Louisiana licensing or a complete operational checklist. ↗
