7CDLFree CDL permit study for every state
Content preview, before public launch
Course › Hazardous Materials (H)

Shipping papers, emergency information and the hazardous waste manifest

Hazardous Materials (H)6 minManual section 9.3.2, 9.3.4–9.3.6, 9.3.8, 9.3.9, 9.6.10

A shipping paper describes the hazardous materials on board. Bills of lading, shipping orders and manifests are all types of shipping paper. After a crash you may be hurt and unable to talk, so responders must be able to find and read this paper fast.

Where to keep shipping papers

The rules require:

  • Shippers must describe the hazmat accurately and print an emergency response phone number on the papers.
  • Carriers and drivers to make hazmat papers easy to find: tab them or keep them on top of the other papers, with the required emergency response information kept with them.
  • Drivers, while driving, to keep hazmat papers in the driver's door pouch, or where you can see them and grab them with your seat belt still on. They must be easy to see for someone entering the cab.
  • When you are out of the vehicle, leave them on the driver's seat or in the driver's door pouch.

Do not accept a hazmat shipment without a properly prepared shipping paper.

What a hazmat shipping paper must show

  • Page numbers if it has more than one page; the first page tells the total, for example “Page 1 of 4.”
  • A proper shipping description for each hazardous material.
  • A shipper's certification: the shipper's signed statement that the load was prepared as the law requires.

If the paper lists both hazardous and non-hazardous items, the hazmat must be entered first, OR highlighted in a contrasting color, OR marked with an “X” before the description in a column headed “HM.” For a reportable quantity, “RQ” can take the place of the X.

The basic description is, in this order: identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class or division, packing group (Roman numerals, may be preceded by “PG”). Example: UN1076, Phosgene, 2.3. Do not shorten the ID number, shipping name or hazard class unless the rules say you may.

The description must also show:

  • the total quantity and unit of measure,
  • the number and type of packages (for example “6 drums”),
  • RQ if it is a reportable quantity, and the name of the hazardous substance if it is not already in the shipping name,
  • the technical name for any material with G (generic) in Column 1.

Quantity and package count can go before or after the basic description, and short forms are fine for the package type and unit: 10 ctns. UN1263, Paint, 3, PG II, 500 lbs.

For hazardous waste, the shipper puts the word WASTE before the shipping name: UN1090, Waste Acetone, 3, PG II.

A non-hazardous material may not be described with a hazard class or ID number.

Emergency phone number and emergency response information

Unless an exception applies, the papers must give an emergency response phone number. It is the shipper's responsibility. Responders call it to learn about the product during a spill or fire.

The number must be either the number of the person offering the material (if they are the emergency response information provider), or of an agency or organization able and willing to give the detailed information. If an outside provider is used, the person registered with it must be named on the paper (by name, contract number or other ID).

Shippers must also give the carrier emergency response information (ERI) for each hazmat. It must be usable away from the vehicle and include at least:

  • the basic description and technical name,
  • immediate hazards to health,
  • risks of fire or explosion,
  • immediate precautions after an accident or incident,
  • immediate methods for handling fires,
  • initial methods for spills or leaks without fire,
  • preliminary first aid.

ERI may be on the shipping paper, another document with the basic description and technical name, or a guide such as the ERG. Carriers may keep an ERG on each hazmat vehicle. Keep ERI in the same place as the shipping paper. If federal, state or local officials respond to or investigate a hazmat incident, you must hand them the ERI.

Shipper's certification, records and recognizing hazmat

The signed shipper's certification is on the original shipping paper. Two cases need no certification: a private carrier moving its own product, and packaging the carrier supplies (a cargo tank, for example). You may trust the shipper's certification on packaging unless the package is obviously unsafe or breaks the HMR. Follow your employer's rules too.

Records: the shipper must hold a paper or electronic copy for 2 years after the first carrier accepts the material, 3 years for hazardous waste. A carrier that only carries and did not originate the shipment keeps a copy for 1 year.

Recognize hazmat. Check the paper: does any line show a proper shipping name, hazard class and ID number? A highlighted entry, or one with X or RQ in the HM column? Other clues:

  • What does the shipper sell? Paint, chemicals or lab supplies, pest control or farm supply, explosives, munitions or fireworks dealer?
  • Do you see tanks with diamond labels or placards around the shipper's site?
  • What kind of package? Cylinders and drums often hold hazmat.
  • Is there a hazard class label, shipping name or ID number on the package? Any handling precautions?

Hazardous waste manifest

When you haul hazardous waste, you must carry a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest that you have signed in ink by hand.

It lists the shipper, each carrier and the destination, each with its name and EPA registration number. Shippers prepare, date and sign it by hand.

Treat the manifest as a shipping paper. Give the waste only to another registered carrier or a disposal/treatment facility. Each carrier must sign it by hand.

After delivery, keep your copy. Your copy must carry every required signature and date, including the receiver's.

References and scope

The topic reference is listed below. Sources support verification; the lesson itself is here. The current content needs technical and language review before public launch.

Manual reference: 9.3.2, 9.3.4–9.3.6, 9.3.8, 9.3.9, 9.6.10

Official CDL handbook · Utah ↗StatesOur editorial approach

Put it into practice

Educational questions with explanations. The answer review also works without the interactive quiz.

Preparing your questions…

Review questions with answers

  1. Which of these are shipping papers?
    1. Fuel receipts and logbooks
    2. Shipping orders, bills of lading and manifests
    3. Driver licenses and medical cards
    4. Maps and route plans
    Show answer
    Shipping orders, bills of lading and manifests

    Bills of lading, shipping orders and manifests are all types of shipping paper.

  2. While you are driving, hazmat shipping papers must be:
    1. In the sleeper berth
    2. In a locked box in the trailer
    3. In the glove compartment
    4. In the driver's door pouch, or visible and reachable while you are buckled in
    Show answer
    In the driver's door pouch, or visible and reachable while you are buckled in

    Keep them in the driver's door pouch or in clear view within immediate reach while belted.

  3. When you leave the cab, where should hazmat shipping papers be?
    1. In your pocket
    2. In the trailer
    3. On the driver's seat or in the driver's door pouch
    4. Under the floor mat
    Show answer
    On the driver's seat or in the driver's door pouch

    Out of the vehicle, leave them on the driver's seat or in the door pouch.

  4. How should hazmat shipping papers be kept apart from other papers?
    1. Tab them or keep them on top of the stack
    2. Put them at the bottom
    3. Staple them inside other papers
    4. Keep them in a separate truck
    Show answer
    Tab them or keep them on top of the stack

    Distinguish them by tabbing them or keeping them on top.

  5. Emergency response information must be kept:
    1. At the carrier's office only
    2. In the same place as the shipping paper
    3. In the trailer with the cargo
    4. With the consignee
    Show answer
    In the same place as the shipping paper

    Keep the ERI right with the shipping paper.

  6. A hazmat shipping paper with more than one page must show on the first page:
    1. The driver's name
    2. The truck number
    3. The total number of pages, such as “Page 1 of 4”
    4. The ERG guide number
    Show answer
    The total number of pages, such as “Page 1 of 4”

    Page one shows how many pages there are in all.

  7. If a shipping paper lists both hazardous and non-hazardous items, the hazmat may be identified by:
    1. Writing it in pencil
    2. Listing it last
    3. Circling the truck number
    4. An X in the column marked HM
    Show answer
    An X in the column marked HM

    Hazmat must be listed first, highlighted in a contrasting color, or marked with X (or RQ) in the HM column.

  8. In what order is the basic description of a hazardous material written?
    1. ID number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group
    2. Shipping name, packing group, ID number, hazard class
    3. Hazard class, ID number, weight, shipping name
    4. Packing group, hazard class, shipping name, ID number
    Show answer
    ID number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group

    Order: ID number first, then proper shipping name, then class or division, then packing group.

  9. The packing group on a shipping paper is shown in:
    1. Arabic numerals only
    2. Roman numerals, which may be preceded by “PG”
    3. Letters A to D
    4. Colors
    Show answer
    Roman numerals, which may be preceded by “PG”

    It is written in Roman numerals, sometimes with “PG” in front.

  10. Which parts of the shipping description must not be abbreviated unless the rules allow it?
    1. Package type and unit of measure
    2. Consignee's address
    3. ID number, proper shipping name and hazard class
    4. Total weight
    Show answer
    ID number, proper shipping name and hazard class

    Never shorten the ID, name or class; short forms are fine for package type and unit.

  11. For a hazardous waste shipment, the shipper puts which word before the proper shipping name?
    1. SPENT
    2. USED
    3. DANGER
    4. WASTE
    Show answer
    WASTE

    The word WASTE goes before the proper shipping name, e.g., UN1090, Waste Acetone, 3, PG II.

  12. A non-hazardous material may be described on a shipping paper using a hazard class or ID number.
    1. True
    2. False
    Show answer
    False

    False. A non-hazardous material may not be described with a hazard class or identification number.

  13. Who is responsible for the emergency response telephone number on the shipping paper?
    1. The driver
    2. The carrier's dispatcher
    3. The shipper
    4. The police
    Show answer
    The shipper

    The emergency response telephone number is the shipper's responsibility.

  14. Which is NOT required in the emergency response information?
    1. Immediate hazards to health
    2. The driver's home address
    3. Immediate methods for handling fires
    4. Preliminary first aid measures
    Show answer
    The driver's home address

    ERI covers description, health hazards, fire/explosion risk, precautions, fire and spill methods, and first aid — not the driver's address.

  15. The driver must give the emergency response information to:
    1. Only the consignee
    2. Only the shipper
    3. Anyone who asks at a truck stop
    4. Any federal, state or local authority responding to or investigating a hazmat incident
    Show answer
    Any federal, state or local authority responding to or investigating a hazmat incident

    The driver must provide ERI to any authority responding to or investigating a hazmat incident.

  16. How long must a shipper keep a copy of a hazmat shipping paper (not hazardous waste)?
    1. 2 years
    2. 90 days
    3. 1 year
    4. 5 years
    Show answer
    2 years

    Shippers keep shipping papers 2 years (3 years for hazardous waste).

  17. A carrier that only transports a shipment (did not originate it) must keep a copy of the shipping paper for:
    1. 90 days
    2. 2 years
    3. 1 year
    4. 3 years
    Show answer
    1 year

    A carrier-only service keeps a copy for 1 year.

  18. When can a driver accept the shipper's certification about packaging?
    1. Never
    2. Unless the package is obviously unsafe or breaks the HMR
    3. Only if the consignee agrees
    4. Only for Class 9
    Show answer
    Unless the package is obviously unsafe or breaks the HMR

    You may accept the certification unless a package is clearly unsafe or noncompliant.

  19. A shipper's certification is NOT required when:
    1. The load is under 1,000 lb
    2. The driver is new
    3. The trip is short
    4. A private carrier transports its own product
    Show answer
    A private carrier transports its own product

    Exceptions: a private carrier hauling its own product, or a package provided by the carrier such as a cargo tank.

  20. Which clue may suggest a shipment contains hazmat even if the paper is unclear?
    1. The shipper is a chemical supply house and the packages are drums
    2. The boxes are brown
    3. The load is light
    4. The shipper is open late
    Show answer
    The shipper is a chemical supply house and the packages are drums

    Shipper business type, drums and cylinders, labels and handling precautions are clues to hazmat.

  21. When hauling hazardous waste, you must carry and sign by hand:
    1. A safe haven permit
    2. The ERG
    3. A Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest
    4. A Class 9 placard
    Show answer
    A Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest

    A Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest must be hand-signed and carried.

  22. A hazardous waste shipment may be delivered only to:
    1. Any truck stop
    2. Another registered carrier or a disposal/treatment facility
    3. The nearest landfill
    4. Any warehouse
    Show answer
    Another registered carrier or a disposal/treatment facility

    Give the waste only to another registered carrier or a disposal/treatment facility.

  23. What must appear on the hazardous waste manifest?
    1. Only the driver's name
    2. The truck's VIN
    3. The fuel used
    4. The name and EPA registration number of shippers, carriers and destination
    Show answer
    The name and EPA registration number of shippers, carriers and destination

    The manifest shows the name and EPA registration number of shippers, carriers and destination.

  24. You should never accept a hazmat shipment without:
    1. A properly prepared shipping paper
    2. A full fuel tank
    3. A co-driver
    4. A sleeper berth
    Show answer
    A properly prepared shipping paper

    Do not accept a hazmat shipment without a properly prepared shipping paper.

  25. Which is a correctly written shipping description?
    1. Paint, UN1263, PG II, 3, 10 ctns.
    2. 3, Paint, UN1263
    3. 10 ctns. UN1263, Paint, 3, PG II, 500 lbs.
    4. PG II, 3, UN1263, Paint
    Show answer
    10 ctns. UN1263, Paint, 3, PG II, 500 lbs.

    Quantity and package count may come before or after; the basic description order is ID, name, class, PG.