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.

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 shipping paper describes the hazardous materials being transported. Shipping orders, bills of lading, and manifests are all shipping papers.

For some hazardous materials, placards are only required to be used if 1,001 pounds or more are being carried by a vehicle. For others, including mass explosives, placards are required to be used when carrying any amount of the material.

Shippers of hazardous cargo must alert drivers and others to relevant hazards through proper shipping papers, hazard warning labels on packages, emergency response information, and placards.

Shippers of hazardous materials must retain a copy or electronic image of the associated shipping papers for at least two years from the date that the material is accepted by the initial carrier. For hazardous waste, this increases to three years.

To obtain a hazardous materials endorsement, you must pass a background check conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

It is a driver's responsibility to refuse packages or shipments of hazardous materials if they contain leaks.

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.

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

To determine which placards need to be used, you must know the hazard class of the materials being shipped, the amount of hazardous materials being shipped, and the total weight of all hazardous materials in your vehicle.

For applicable materials, the "Poison Inhalation Hazard" placard and the appropriate hazard class placard must always be displayed, even for small amounts of the materials.

Shippers should place applicable diamond-shaped hazard warning labels on hazardous materials packages. If a label will not fit entirely onto a package, shippers may instead place the label on a tag that is securely attached to the package.

The loading of a tank with hazardous materials must always be watched by a qualified person. This person must be alert; have a clear view of the tank; stay within 25 feet of the tank; 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.

If a shipping paper lists both hazardous and non-hazardous materials, the hazardous materials must be entered first.

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.

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

In the event of a leak in a cargo of hazardous materials, do not continue to drive any longer than is necessary for safety. Continuing to drive would result in a larger area becoming contaminated. Instead, park the vehicle, secure the area, stay with the vehicle, and send someone to get help.

If the words "Inhalation Hazard" appear on a package or its shipping paper, the "Poison Inhalation Hazard" or "Poison Gas" placards, as appropriate, must be displayed.

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.

It is a driver's responsibility to refuse packages or shipments of hazardous materials if they contain leaks.

Diamond-shaped warning signs, called "placards," are placed on the outside of a vehicle carrying hazardous materials to serve as a warning.

Parts of a vehicle that have been exposed to corrosive liquids must be thoroughly washed with water.

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.

Column 2 of the Hazardous Materials Table lists the proper shipping names and descriptions of regulated materials.

The power unit of a placarded vehicle must be equipped with a fire extinguisher with an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) rating of 10 B:C or more.

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.

Hazardous materials warning placards are diamond-shaped.

If your vehicle has cargo tanks that are used to carry hazardous materials, you must stop before crossing railroad tracks. This is true whether the tanks are full or empty.

The power unit of a placarded vehicle must be equipped with a fire extinguisher with an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) rating of 10 B:C or more.