The shipper of hazardous materials is responsible for using the hazardous materials regulations to determine the product's identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class, and packing group. They are also responsible for determining the correct packaging, labels, markings, and placards to use.

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

If the letter “G,” for "Generic," is written in Column 1 of a shipping paper, the technical name of the associated hazardous material must also be listed.

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

Hazardous materials placards are placed on the outside of a vehicle to identify the hazard classes of materials being carried.

Hazardous materials employees must be trained and tested at least once every three years. Drivers must learn the risks associated with hazardous materials and be able to properly respond to security threats.

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.

Hazardous materials should always be loaded away from heat sources. Many materials become more hazardous if their temperatures increase.

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 carrying hazardous materials, it is a good idea to compare the shipping papers to the markings and labels on the packages.

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

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

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.

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.

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

Always turn off your vehicle's engine before loading or unloading explosive materials. Never drop, throw, or roll packages containing explosives.

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) lists all hazardous chemicals and their assigned identification numbers.

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

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

When transporting Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives, you must have a written route plan and follow that plan. Whenever possible, avoid heavily populated areas, crowds, tunnels, narrow streets, and alleys.

When the vehicle is being driven, hazardous materials' shipping papers must be kept in a pouch on the driver's door or somewhere else that is in clear view and within the driver's reach. If the driver is outside of the vehicle, the shipping papers should be kept on the driver's seat.

You must examine each tire on a motor vehicle at the beginning of each trip. The only effective way to check tire pressure is by using a tire pressure gauge.

There are nine different hazard classes. A material's hazard class reflects its associated risks.

If a shipping paper includes information about both hazardous and non-hazardous materials, the hazardous materials must be differentiated in one of three ways. They must be listed first, highlighted in a contrasting color, or identified with an "X" placed before the shipping description in a column labeled "HM."

When hazardous materials are being transported in a reportable quantity in one package, the shipper must display the letters "RQ" on the shipping paper and package.

Packages containing liquid containers should display arrows pointing in the correct upright direction. These packages should be placed facing the correct direction.

Hazardous materials are products that pose risks to health, safety, and property during transportation. Materials that are considered hazardous include explosives; flammable and poisonous gases; and flammable and other hazardous solids.

Hazardous materials warning placards must be used on all four sides of a vehicle transporting hazardous materials.

To determine which hazardous materials placards to use, you must know the hazard class of the materials; the amount of hazardous materials being shipped; and the total weight of all classes of hazardous materials in the vehicle.