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.

Hazardous materials warning placards are diamond-shaped.

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.

If you are involved in an accident while carrying hazardous materials, it is your responsibility as the driver to keep people away from the scene; limit the spread of material if you can safely do so; inform emergency response personnel of the dangers posed by the materials; and provide emergency personnel with the shipping papers and emergency response information. Unless you have protective equipment and the necessary training, do not try to fight hazardous materials fires yourself.

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

Hazardous materials warning placards are usually diamond-shaped.

While the manual includes all of the information required to pass the hazardous materials knowledge test, you should consider reading the manual as only the first step to learning about the topic. You can learn more by reading and understanding the federal and state rules about the transportation of hazardous materials, as well as by attending hazardous materials training courses.

When a shipper packages hazardous materials, they certify that the package has been prepared according to Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). Unless a package is clearly unsafe or noncomplying with HMR, you may accept the shipper’s certification concerning the proper packaging of a material.

Many hazardous materials classified as poisonous are also flammable.

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

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.

If transporting Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives, you must follow a written route plan. Whenever placarded, avoid heavily populated areas, crowds, tunnels, narrow streets, and alleys. Be sure to research any restrictions that may apply to the routes you plan to take.

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.

If you discover that a cargo of hazardous materials is leaking from your vehicle, you should park the vehicle as soon as possible. The longer you continue driving, the longer the trail of contamination becomes. While this creates potential danger and harm to others, it also increases clean-up expenses.

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.

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.

If you need to refuel a vehicle carrying hazardous materials, you must first turn off the engine. While refueling, someone must be at the nozzle and controlling the fuel flow at all times.

A placarded vehicle must have at least four identical placards: one on the front, one on the rear, and one on each side of the vehicle.

If the words "Inhalation Hazard" appear on the shipping paper or package, you must display the "Poison Inhalation Hazard" or "Poison Gas" placards, as appropriate.

If you discover a leak in a cargo of hazardous materials, identify the materials in question by using the shipping papers, labels, or package location. Do not touch the leaking material.

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.

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.

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.

Hazardous materials warning placards are diamond-shaped.

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.

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

If your vehicle breaks down while you are transporting explosives and you need to use warning signals, use reflective triangles or red electric lights. Never use burning signals, such as flares or fuses, when transporting explosives.

If loading by hand, load breakable containers of corrosive liquid one by one. Keep them facing upright. Do not drop or roll the containers.

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.