CDL Hazmat driving, parking and training practice questions
20 free practice questions from 49 CFR Part 397 and Part 172 Subpart H. Each answer is explained and linked to the rule it comes from.
CDL Hazmat driving, parking and training
20 questions across 7 topics. After each answer you see why it is right, with a link to the official source.
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Prefer to read? Here is every question in the CDL Hazmat driving, parking and training set, grouped by topic. Open a question to see the answer, why it is right and the official source.
Who Part 397 applies to
1. Under 397.1(a), the rules in Part 397 apply to a motor carrier transporting hazardous materials by a motor vehicle that meets which condition?
- A. It has a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds
- B. It crosses a State line during the trip
- C. It must be marked or placarded in accordance with 177.823
- D. It is operated by a driver who holds a hazardous materials endorsement
Show answer
Answer: C. It must be marked or placarded in accordance with 177.823
Part 397 applies "to each motor carrier engaged in the transportation of hazardous materials by a motor vehicle which must be marked or placarded in accordance with § 177.823 of this title".
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 397.1, Application of the rules in this part (as of Nov 4, 2026)
2. Under 397.3, a vehicle containing hazardous materials must be driven and parked in compliance with the laws, ordinances and regulations of the jurisdiction where it is operated, unless those laws are what?
- A. At variance with specific DOT regulations that apply to the vehicle's operation and impose a more stringent obligation or restraint
- B. Not posted on signs along the route
- C. Adopted after the vehicle's trip began
- D. In conflict with the motor carrier's own written policy
Show answer
Answer: A. At variance with specific DOT regulations that apply to the vehicle's operation and impose a more stringent obligation or restraint
Local laws apply "unless they are at variance with specific regulations of the Department of Transportation which are applicable to the operation of that vehicle and which impose a more stringent obligation or restraint."
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 397.3, State and local laws, ordinances, and regulations (as of Nov 4, 2026)
Attending vehicles
3. A vehicle carries Class 8 material and no Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 material. Under 397.5(c), in which location must it be attended by its driver?
- A. On the property of a shipper or consignee
- B. In a safe haven
- C. At the motor carrier's own terminal
- D. On a public street or highway, or the shoulder of a public highway
Show answer
Answer: D. On a public street or highway, or the shoulder of a public highway
A motor vehicle with hazardous materials other than Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 "which is located on a public street or highway, or the shoulder of a public highway, must be attended by its driver." It "need not be attended while its driver is performing duties which are incident and necessary to the driver's duties as the operator of the vehicle."
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 397.5, Attendance and surveillance of motor vehicles (as of Nov 4, 2026)
4. Under 397.5(b)(1), which location counts toward the attendance exception only for a vehicle containing 50 pounds or less of Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 material?
- A. The property of a motor carrier
- B. A construction or survey site
- C. A safe haven
- D. The property of a shipper or consignee of the explosives
Show answer
Answer: B. A construction or survey site
The vehicle must be located "on the property of a motor carrier, on the property of a shipper or consignee of the explosives, in a safe haven, or, in the case of a vehicle containing 50 pounds or less of a Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 material, on a construction or survey site". The other conditions in 397.5(b) must also exist.
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 397.5, Attendance and surveillance of motor vehicles (as of Nov 4, 2026)
5. Under 397.5(d)(2), which is one of the conditions a person must meet to be a qualified representative of a motor carrier who may attend a vehicle carrying Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 material?
- A. Is an employee of the shipper or consignee
- B. Is authorized to move the vehicle and has the means and ability to do so
- C. Has worked for the carrier for at least one year
- D. Is a sworn law enforcement officer
Show answer
Answer: B. Is authorized to move the vehicle and has the means and ability to do so
Among the listed conditions, a qualified representative "Is authorized to move the vehicle and has the means and ability to do so." The person must also have been designated by the carrier, be aware of the nature of the hazardous materials and have been instructed in emergency procedures.
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 397.5, Attendance and surveillance of motor vehicles (as of Nov 4, 2026)
Parking, fires, smoking and fueling
6. What does 397.7(a)(2) require before a vehicle containing Division 1.2 material is parked on private property, including the premises of a fueling or eating facility?
- A. Written approval from the local fire department
- B. A safe haven designation for the property
- C. Notice to the shipper of the explosives
- D. The knowledge and consent of the person in charge of the property, who is aware of the nature of the hazardous materials
Show answer
Answer: D. The knowledge and consent of the person in charge of the property, who is aware of the nature of the hazardous materials
Such a vehicle must not be parked "On private property (including premises of fueling or eating facility) without the knowledge and consent of the person who is in charge of the property and who is aware of the nature of the hazardous materials the vehicle contains".
7. Within Part 397, which vehicles does the 397.11(b) ban on parking within 300 feet of an open fire cover?
- A. Any motor vehicle containing hazardous materials, not only one with Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 materials
- B. Only a motor vehicle containing Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 materials
- C. Only a cargo tank motor vehicle used for Class 3 or Division 2.1 materials
- D. Only a motor vehicle that is left unattended
Show answer
Answer: A. Any motor vehicle containing hazardous materials, not only one with Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 materials
397.11(b) states: "A motor vehicle containing hazardous materials must not be parked within 300 feet of an open fire." Unlike the parking limits in 397.7(a), it is not limited to vehicles that contain Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 materials.
8. With the engine shut off, a driver fueling a vehicle that contains hazardous materials latches the fuel nozzle open and walks into the station to pay. Which requirement of 397.15 does this fail to meet?
- A. Its engine must not be operating
- B. The cargo doors must stay closed during fueling
- C. A person must be in control of the fueling process at the point where the fuel tank is filled
- D. The fuel must be dispensed by an attendant employed by the fueling facility
Show answer
Answer: C. A person must be in control of the fueling process at the point where the fuel tank is filled
When such a vehicle is being fueled, "(a) Its engine must not be operating; and (b) A person must be in control of the fueling process at the point where the fuel tank is filled." With the engine off, (a) is met; no one is in control at the fill point, so (b) is not.
9. When does the 397.13 smoking ban cover an empty tank motor vehicle?
- A. Never; it covers only vehicles that contain hazardous materials
- B. Whenever the empty tank still displays placards
- C. Whenever the tank last carried any hazardous material, regardless of class
- D. When it has been used to transport Class 3, flammable materials, or Division 2.1 flammable gases and, when so used, was required to be marked or placarded under 177.823
Show answer
Answer: D. When it has been used to transport Class 3, flammable materials, or Division 2.1 flammable gases and, when so used, was required to be marked or placarded under 177.823
The ban covers "An empty tank motor vehicle which has been used to transport Class 3, flammable materials, or Division 2.1 flammable gases, which when so used, was required to be marked or placarded in accordance with the rules in § 177.823 of this title."
Tires, instructions and documents
10. A driver stops to examine the tires as 397.17 requires. What does 397.17(d) say about the attendance and parking rules?
- A. Compliance with the tire rules does not relieve the driver from the duty to comply with the rules in 397.5 and 397.7
- B. The attendance rules are suspended while the tires are being examined
- C. The vehicle may be parked anywhere while the tires are being examined
- D. A tire examination counts as one of the brief periods that allow parking on the traveled portion of the highway
Show answer
Answer: A. Compliance with the tire rules does not relieve the driver from the duty to comply with the rules in 397.5 and 397.7
"Compliance with the rules in this section does not relieve a driver from the duty to comply with the rules in §§ 397.5 and 397.7."
11. A motor carrier hauling Division 1.1 materials furnishes the driver with instructions on procedures to be followed in the event of accident or delay. What does 397.19(a)(3) say those documents must include?
- A. The driver's medical certificate number
- B. The names and telephone numbers of persons to be contacted, the nature of the explosives being transported, and the precautions to be taken in emergencies such as fires, accidents, or leakages
- C. A list of every safe haven in the United States
- D. The shipper's insurance policy number
Show answer
Answer: B. The names and telephone numbers of persons to be contacted, the nature of the explosives being transported, and the precautions to be taken in emergencies such as fires, accidents, or leakages
"The documents must include the names and telephone numbers of persons (including representatives of carriers or shippers) to be contacted, the nature of the explosives being transported, and the precautions to be taken in emergencies such as fires, accidents, or leakages."
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 397.19, Instructions and documents (as of Nov 4, 2026)
12. A driver receives the documents a motor carrier must furnish under 397.19(a) for a Division 1.1 shipment. What does 397.19(b) require?
- A. The shipper keeps a copy of the documents for two years
- B. The driver keeps the documents in the cab for one year
- C. The driver signs a receipt, and the motor carrier keeps the receipt for one year from the date of signature
- D. The motor carrier files the documents with FMCSA before departure
Show answer
Answer: C. The driver signs a receipt, and the motor carrier keeps the receipt for one year from the date of signature
The driver "must sign a receipt for them. The motor carrier shall maintain the receipt for a period of one year from the date of signature."
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 397.19, Instructions and documents (as of Nov 4, 2026)
13. Under 397.19(c), the driver of a vehicle containing Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 materials must be in possession of, be familiar with, and be in compliance with which of these?
- A. The vehicle's registration renewal notice
- B. A permit from each State on the route
- C. The written route plan specified in 397.67
- D. A letter of approval from the local fire marshal
Show answer
Answer: C. The written route plan specified in 397.67
The driver "must be in possession of, be familiar with, and be in compliance with" the documents in 397.19(a), the documents in 177.817, and "The written route plan specified in § 397.67."
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 397.19, Instructions and documents (as of Nov 4, 2026)
Routing rules for drivers
14. A placarded load is not subject to any NRHM routing designation. Which situation is listed in 397.67(b) as an exception to the rule against routes through or near heavily populated areas?
- A. A law enforcement official requires the driver to take an alternative route
- B. The route through the city saves the driver time
- C. The shipper asks for the fastest possible delivery
- D. The driver knows the city streets well
Show answer
Answer: A. A law enforcement official requires the driver to take an alternative route
One listed exception is that "a situation exists where a law enforcement official requires the driver to take an alternative route." "Operating convenience is not a basis for determining whether it is practicable" to follow the rule.
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 397.67, Motor carrier responsibility for routing (as of Nov 4, 2026)
15. A driver transports a package of highway route controlled quantity of Class 7 (radioactive) materials. Under 397.101(e)(2), where must the driver's certificate of training be?
- A. On file with the shipper only
- B. Posted inside the cab next to the shipping papers
- C. Kept at the carrier's terminal, available on request
- D. In the driver's immediate possession, with a copy placed in the driver's qualification file
Show answer
Answer: D. In the driver's immediate possession, with a copy placed in the driver's qualification file
"The driver has in his or her immediate possession a certificate of training as evidence of training required by this section, and a copy is placed in his or her qualification file".
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 397.101, Requirements for motor carriers and drivers (as of Nov 4, 2026)
Who must be trained
16. Under 172.702(c), who may provide the training that a hazmat employee needs under Subpart H?
- A. Only a training provider approved by PHMSA
- B. The hazmat employer or other public or private sources
- C. Only the State that issued the driver's CDL
- D. Only the hazmat employer itself
Show answer
Answer: B. The hazmat employer or other public or private sources
"Training may be provided by the hazmat employer or other public or private sources." The employer must still ensure each hazmat employee "is trained in accordance with the requirements prescribed in this subpart."
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 172.702, Applicability and responsibility for training and testing (as of Nov 4, 2026)
17. Under 172.701, a State may impose more stringent training requirements for motor vehicle drivers only if those requirements do not conflict with Subpart H and Part 177 and meet which other condition?
- A. They apply only to drivers domiciled in that State
- B. They apply to every driver who enters the State
- C. They are approved by each neighboring State
- D. They replace the federal three-year recurrent training cycle
Show answer
Answer: A. They apply only to drivers domiciled in that State
"For motor vehicle drivers, however, a State may impose more stringent training requirements only if those requirements" do not conflict and "Apply only to drivers domiciled in that State."
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 172.701, Federal-State relationship (as of Nov 4, 2026)
Training content, timing and records
18. A hazmat employer already gives its drivers hazard communication training required by OSHA under 29 CFR 1910.1200. Under 172.704(b), how may that training be used for the hazmat training requirements?
- A. It fully replaces all hazmat training
- B. It cannot be used at all
- C. Only if it was given within the past 12 months
- D. To satisfy the training requirements in 172.704(a) to the extent that it addresses the training components specified there
Show answer
Answer: D. To satisfy the training requirements in 172.704(a) to the extent that it addresses the training components specified there
Such OSHA training "may be used to satisfy the training requirements in paragraph (a) of this section to the extent that such training addresses the training components specified in paragraph (a) of this section."
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 172.704, Training requirements (as of Nov 4, 2026)
19. Under 172.704(c)(3), when may relevant training a driver received from a previous employer be used to satisfy Subpart H?
- A. Only if it was given in the same State
- B. Whenever the driver states that it covered the same subjects
- C. Provided a current record of training is obtained from the hazmat employee's previous employer
- D. Only if it was completed within the past 12 months
Show answer
Answer: C. Provided a current record of training is obtained from the hazmat employee's previous employer
"Relevant training received from a previous employer or other source may be used to satisfy the requirements of this subpart provided a current record of training is obtained from hazmat employees' previous employer."
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 172.704, Training requirements (as of Nov 4, 2026)
20. Which item does 172.704(d) list as part of the record of current training a hazmat employer must keep?
- A. The employee's home address
- B. The name and address of the person providing the training
- C. The employee's score on each test question
- D. The employee's date of birth
Show answer
Answer: B. The name and address of the person providing the training
"The record must include" the employee's name, the most recent completion date, the training materials, "The name and address of the person providing the training" and certification that the employee "has been trained and tested".
Source: eCFR: 49 CFR 172.704, Training requirements (as of Nov 4, 2026)