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

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.

During the vehicle inspection test, you must ensure that any emergency exit warning devices are working. All emergency exits should operate smoothly, be undamaged, and close securely from the inside.

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.

While shippers of hazardous materials are responsible for providing necessary placards, it is the driver's responsibility to actually place them on the vehicle.

Before loading or unloading a tank with flammable liquids, you should turn off the engine, unless running the engine is necessary to operate a pump. Ground the tank before opening the filling hole and maintain the ground until after closing the filling hole.

If you are driving a vehicle that is transporting Class 1 explosives and it is involved in an accident, you should warn others of the danger, keep bystanders away, and not allow smoking or open fires near the vehicle. Before separating the vehicles involved in the collision, remove all explosives and place them at least 200 feet away from the vehicles and any occupied buildings.

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.

When checking your vehicle's pedals during a pre-trip inspection, you should ensure that there is nothing under or around the pedals that will obstruct their use. Make sure the pedals are in proper working condition and that the surfaces of the pedals are grooved, if applicable.

There are nine different classes of hazardous materials. A class reflects the risks associated with a type of material.

A driver transporting chlorine in cargo tanks must have an approved gas mask in the vehicle, as well as an emergency kit for controlling leaks in dome cover plate fittings on the cargo tank.

Many products classed as poison are also flammable. Take the appropriate precautions if you think your cargo may be flammable.

When a shipper packages hazardous materials, they are certifying that the package has been prepared in accordance with its applicable rules.

Shipping papers for hazardous materials should always be easily accessible. When a driver is not in their vehicle, hazardous materials' shipping papers should be left on the driver's seat.

Before loading or unloading a tank with flammable liquids, you should turn off the engine, unless running the engine is necessary to operate a pump.

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.

A material's ID number must appear on its accompanying shipping paper as well as on its packaging. It must also appear on cargo tanks and other bulk packaging.

Unless your engine runs a pump for product transfer, turn it off when loading or unloading a compressed gas tank. If you do use your engine to run a pump, you should turn the engine off after the product transfer but before unhooking the hoses.

During a vehicle inspection test, you must ensure that all lug nuts are present, free of cracks and distortions, and showing no signs of looseness, such as rust trails or shiny threads. Verify that all bolt holes are free of cracks and distortions.

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

Containers of hazardous materials must be braced so that they will not fall, slide, or bounce around during transportation.

Shippers must place diamond-shaped hazard warning labels on most packages of hazardous materials. If the label won't fit on the package, it can be placed on a tag that is securely attached to the package.

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

When checking the springs as part of the vehicle inspection test, you should look for missing, shifted, cracked, or broken leaf springs, as well as broken or distorted coil springs. If the vehicle is equipped with torsion bars, torque arms, or other types of suspension components, ensure that they are not damaged and are mounted securely.

An encroachment during the basic vehicle control skills test is when an exercise boundary line is touched or crossed by any portion of the applicant's vehicle. Every encroachment will be counted as an error.

During the on-road driving skills test, you will be evaluated on your gear usage. Select a gear that does not rev or lug the engine; avoid grinding and clashing gears; and avoid shifting through turns or intersections.

As a resource to police and firefighters, the National Response Center helps coordinate emergency response to chemical hazards.

Maneuvers that may be included in the basic vehicle control skills test include straight line backing, offset back/right parking, offset back/left parking, driver side parallel parking, conventional parallel parking, and alley docking.

When examining the air and electrical lines as part of your vehicle inspection test, you must listen for leaks. Ensure that the air hoses and electrical lines are not cut, chafed, spliced, or worn. Make sure air and electrical lines are not tangled, pinched, or dragging against tractor parts.

As a part of earning your CDL, you will have to pass an inspection test and demonstrate that your vehicle is safe for operation. During the vehicle inspection test, you will have to walk around the vehicle and point to or touch each item and explain to the examiner what you are checking and why. You will not have to crawl under the hood or under the vehicle.