To drive a vehicle of any size that is used to transport hazardous materials, you must have a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement.

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

If you are experiencing a truck fire, you should not attempt to open trailer doors without first feeling the doors to see if they are hot. If the doors are hot, there may be a cargo fire. Leave the doors closed if there is a cargo fire.

If transporting any amount of chlorine, a driver must always stop at a railroad crossing 15 to 50 feet from the nearest track, regardless of the presence of a train.

Always load hazardous materials away from heat sources. Be aware of regulations on explosive or flammable materials that prohibit them from being loaded in cargo spaces with heaters.

On a compressed gas tank, liquid discharge valves must always be kept closed, except during loading and unloading.

You should not smoke within 25 feet of a placarded cargo tank used to transport materials that are categorized as Class 3 (flammable liquids) or Division 2.1 (gases). Do not smoke or carry a lit cigar, pipe, or cigarette near a vehicle containing flammable or explosive materials.

When transporting hazardous materials, shipping papers should be kept in a pouch in the driver's side door, or in another location where the driver is able to easily reach them while their seat belt is fastened. The papers must be easily visible to anyone who is entering the cab.

When transporting hazardous materials, you may leave your vehicle unattended in a safe haven. A safe haven is a location that has been approved for parking unattended vehicles that are loaded with explosives.

Always protect containers of hazardous materials. When loading hazardous materials, never use equipment that could damage containers or packaging, such as hooks.

Packages that contain liquid containers must have orientation markers. Arrows displayed on the box should be pointing in the correct upright direction.

A person attending a parked placarded vehicle must be either awake inside the vehicle or they must be within 100 feet of it. If not inside the vehicle itself, the person must have a clear view of the vehicle. The person attending may not be inside the sleeper berth.

The use of cargo heaters is not always permitted. When transporting materials that are categorized as Class 1 (Explosives), Class 2.1 (Flammable Gases), or Class 3 (Flammable Liquids), the use of heaters in the same space is generally prohibited.

Shippers of certain kinds of hazardous materials are required to display diamond-shaped warning signs, known as placards, on any transporting vehicles. Shippers are required to provide applicable placards, labels, shipping papers, and emergency response information.

When carrying Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives, do not park within 300 feet of a bridge, tunnel, or building; a place where people gather; or an open fire.

Some radioactive materials are required to be accompanied by a transport index. A transport index is a number that indicates how much control the material will require during transport. The total transport index of all cargo in a single vehicle may not exceed 50.

Fighting a hazardous materials fire requires special training and protective gear. Unless you have the proper equipment and training, do not try to fight a hazardous materials fire yourself.

The shipper of hazardous materials is responsible for packaging, marking, and labeling the materials. They must supply the warning placards.

Many hazardous materials classified as poisonous are also flammable.

Shipping papers must be quickly accessible in the event of an emergency. While driving, operators must keep the papers in a pouch on the driver’s door or in clear view and within immediate reach while their seat belt is fastened. Shipping papers may be kept on the driver’s seat when the driver is out of the vehicle.

The National Response Center must be notified of any incident that results in death; hospitalization; $50,000 or more in estimated property damage; an evacuation of the general public or closure of a major transportation route/facility for more then one hour; fire, breakage, spillage, or suspected contamination involving radiation, bacteria, or toxins. Additionally, if the carrier judges the situation to be so serious that it should be reported, it should be reported.

A person attending a placarded vehicle must be awake inside the vehicle or otherwise within 100 feet of the vehicle; know the hazards associated with the materials; know what to do in an emergency; and be able and authorized to move the tank if necessary.

The National Response Center helps coordinate emergency response to chemical hazards. It should be contacted in the event of a hazardous materials spill.

Packaging can be an indicator of whether or not materials are hazardous. Cylinders and drums are often used to hold and transport hazardous materials.

While hazardous materials are being transported, shipping papers should either be kept in a pouch in the driver's side door or in another location where the driver is able to easily reach them while their seat belt is fastened. The papers must be clearly visible to anyone who is entering the cab.

In general, vehicles carrying hazardous materials are required to display diamond-shaped warning signs on all four sides. These warning signs are called "placards."

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.

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

When carrying Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives, you should not park within 300 feet of a bridge, tunnel, or building, unless you are parking for a short period of time while performing an operational necessity, like refueling.

Shippers of hazardous materials are required to warn drivers and others about the risks of the materials by putting hazard warning labels on packages, putting placards on the transporting vehicles, and providing proper shipping papers and emergency response information.