May a highway carrier accept a hazmat shipment without its required shipping paper?

No, unless the material is excepted from that requirement

Which sequence normally forms the basic shipping description?

Identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group when assigned

One paper lists both hazmat and ordinary goods. How can hazmat entries be distinguished?

Put them first, use an authorized contrasting color, or mark the HM column appropriately

Besides the basic description, what package information is generally required?

The number and type of packages

At the controls, where must the driver keep the required hazmat shipping paper?

Within reach while belted, and visible to an entrant or in the driver-door holder

When away from the controls, where may the required shipping paper be kept?

In the driver-door holder or on the driver’s seat

How long must a carrier retain the usual non-waste hazmat shipping-paper copy?

One year after the carrier accepts the material

What carrier shipping-paper retention period applies to hazardous waste?

Three years after acceptance by the initial carrier

Free CDL study tools

Free CDL Hazmat Practice Test

CDLP editorial · Published Oct 28, 2026 · Updated Oct 28, 2026

Photo by The Navigators · CC0. Cropped and resized for this page

How should I prepare for the CDL hazmat endorsement test?

Study shipping papers, hazard communication, emergency information, loading, segregation and driver operating rules. If you need a hazardous-materials endorsement, the knowledge test, applicable training and TSA security assessment are separate steps. Practice the explanations here and use official state, FMCSA, PHMSA and TSA instructions for your application. This quiz does not certify hazmat employee training or authorize transporting a shipment.

Topics in this set

Shipping papers, marks and labels, placards, emergency response information, segregation, training and TSA assessment.

60 questions · Practice mode

Last source review: Oct 28, 2026. Source editions and limits are described below.

Practice hazmat

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10 sample questions and answers

Read these examples here, or practice the full set above. The wording is independent study material based on federal sources.

May a highway carrier accept a hazmat shipment without its required shipping paper?
Answer: No, unless the material is excepted from that requirement
The required paper must comply with Part 172. Evaluate an actual exception rather than assuming size removes the requirement.
- 49 CFR 177.817
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Which sequence normally forms the basic shipping description?
Answer: Identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group when assigned
Do not insert unrelated information between those basic description elements.
- 49 CFR 172.202
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In what language must the required shipping description be printed?
Answer: English
The description must be legible. Codes or abbreviations require authorization under the regulations.
- 49 CFR 172.201
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One paper lists both hazmat and ordinary goods. How can hazmat entries be distinguished?
Answer: Put them first, use an authorized contrasting color, or mark the HM column appropriately
Section 172.201 provides alternatives, including an X in a column headed HM; RQ may replace X where appropriate.
- 49 CFR 172.201
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What does PG II in a shipping description identify?
Answer: The assigned packing group
Packing groups are written in Roman numerals when assigned; some materials have no packing group requirement.
- 49 CFR 172.202
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Besides the basic description, what package information is generally required?
Answer: The number and type of packages
An entry such as 12 drums identifies both number and type. Read the rule for material-specific details.
- 49 CFR 172.202
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At the controls, where must the driver keep the required hazmat shipping paper?
Answer: Within reach while belted, and visible to an entrant or in the driver-door holder
It must be recognizable and readily available during an accident or inspection.
- 49 CFR 177.817
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When away from the controls, where may the required shipping paper be kept?
Answer: In the driver-door holder or on the driver’s seat
The rule specifies locations intended to help responders find it.
- 49 CFR 177.817
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How long must a carrier retain the usual non-waste hazmat shipping-paper copy?
Answer: One year after the carrier accepts the material
This carrier rule differs from the usual two-year retention for a person providing the shipping paper under 172.201.
- 49 CFR 177.817
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What carrier shipping-paper retention period applies to hazardous waste?
Answer: Three years after acceptance by the initial carrier
Keep the acceptance date with the record. Do not apply the ordinary one-year carrier period to hazardous waste.
- 49 CFR 177.817
Report a problem with this question

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Sources and study scope

The bank uses original questions based on federal rules and FMCSA material. The questions use the 2025 annual CFR edition, with selected current eCFR references checked on October 28, 2026. It is not a complete review of every later amendment. Each explanation links to its federal source. State manuals are further-study links; no AAMVA manual text is reproduced.

The 80% knowledge-test pass standard comes from 49 CFR 383.135. This site’s practice pool and session lengths do not determine your state’s official test format.

Read about CDL endorsements and follow the TSA assessment process for the actual endorsement application.

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