Shipping Papers
What every hazmat shipping paper must contain and where it must live in the cab.
Endorsement: Hazardous Materials (H) · Source: FMCSA CDL Manual (public domain)
Shipping papers describe the hazardous materials being transported and are the single most important paper document on a hazmat run. Every shipping paper must include the proper shipping name from the Hazardous Materials Table, the hazard class, the UN/NA identification number with the prefix UN or NA, the packing group (I, II, or III) where applicable, and the total quantity by weight or volume. The hazmat entries must be either listed first on the document, highlighted in a contrasting color, or marked with an X or RQ in a column captioned "HM."
The shipping paper must also include an emergency response phone number that is monitored 24 hours a day during transport, plus a shipper\'s certification (signed) that the materials are properly classified, described, packaged, marked, labeled, and in proper condition for transport. Drivers must verify these elements before accepting the load and must not transport materials whose shipping papers are incomplete or inconsistent with the visible packaging.
The location of the shipping papers in the cab is specifically prescribed by 49 CFR 177.817. When the driver is in the vehicle, the shipping papers must be within reach while restrained by the seat belt, either in a holder mounted to the inside of the door on the driver\'s side or in clear view within reach of the driver. When the driver is out of the vehicle, the papers must be on the driver\'s seat or in a holder on the inside of the driver\'s door. This location rule exists so that emergency responders can find the papers immediately if the driver is incapacitated. The exam tests this rule heavily; the answer is always "within reach of the driver while seated and belted, or in the door pocket on the driver\'s side."
Key terms to memorize
- placard
- shipping paper
- Emergency Response Guidebook
- hazard class
- segregation table
- Safety Data Sheet
- TSA threat assessment
Other Hazardous Materials (H) topics
- Hazard Classes — The nine federal hazard classes and what each one looks like in the field.
- Placarding Rules — When you must placard, what the placards mean, and where they go.
- Segregation and Loading — Which hazardous materials cannot be loaded together, and how to comply.
- Emergency Response — What to do in the first minutes after a hazmat incident.
Test what you learned
Now that you have the Shipping Papers material in your head, drill the Hazardous Materials (H) practice test. The questions are drawn from the same FMCSA source material this article paraphrases. For state-specific framing, jump to your state page and pick the Hazardous Materials (H) test for your jurisdiction.