Does the CDL Hazmat cheat sheet work in my state?

Yes, this cheat sheet works in your state. Every state's H test must cover the knowledge areas set federally in 49 CFR 383.121, and the rules it tests (49 CFR Parts 171 to 177 and 397) are federal, but your state writes and gives the test from Section 9 of its CDL manual. The pass mark is at least 80 percent correct (49 CFR 383.135). The number of questions, fees and scheduling vary by state, so check with your DMV.

What else do I need for the hazmat endorsement besides the test?

Besides the state knowledge test, you need a TSA security threat assessment (fingerprints and background check), or a valid TWIC (49 CFR 383.141). If you are a first-time H applicant, finish hazmat theory training (ELDT) from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before the state knowledge test (49 CFR 380.609). The HME must be renewed at least every 5 years, with a new TSA check each time.

Is the cheat sheet up to date with the current rules?

Yes, the cheat sheet is up to date with the current rules. Every number was checked against the current eCFR text of 49 CFR and the 2024 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2024). Where an older state manual differs from today's rule, the sheet follows the rule. With tire checks, the rule says examine each tire at the start of each trip and each time you park (49 CFR 397.17).

How do I get the CDL Hazmat cheat sheet?

You can get the CDL Hazmat cheat sheet by clicking the download button or the preview at the top of this page. Enter your email, and we email you a link that opens your cheat sheet. You can read it online or download the PDF.

Free CDL Hazmat Cheat Sheet 2026

Q: What's on the CDL Hazmat cheat sheet?

The CDL Hazmat cheat sheet is a 5-page PDF in 7 sections covering rules, responsibilities and the HME, hazard classes and shipping papers, labels, markings and placards, loading, unloading and segregation, bulk packaging and cargo tanks, driving and parking rules, and emergencies and the ERG. Each section has the facts you need to study hardest, the numbers to memorize, memory hooks, and common traps.

This CDL Hazmat cheat sheet condenses the H endorsement knowledge test into a printable 5-page rundown. It covers the rules examiners test most, taken from 49 CFR and Section 9 of the state CDL manual, and every number on it was checked against the current regulations. It's a premium cheat sheet built by Capital Prep, Career Employer's premium prep brand — and it's yours free. Reinforce it with the rest of your free CDL Hazmat toolkit: the practice test, study guide, and flashcards.

CDL Hazmat exam at a glance

Endorsement: H (Hazardous Materials); X = H + N (tank) on one CDL
Test given by: Your state DMV, from Section 9 of the state CDL manual
Passing score: 80% (49 CFR § 383.135)
Rules tested: 49 CFR Parts 171–177 and 397; knowledge areas set in § 383.121
Also required: TSA security threat assessment (or valid TWIC); ELDT hazmat theory for a first-time H
Renewal: At least every 5 years, with a new TSA check

Highest-yield facts on the sheet

Table 1 materials (Divisions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.3, 4.3, Type B temperature-controlled 5.2, poison inhalation hazard 6.1, Radioactive Yellow III) need placards in any amount, Table 2 at 1,001 lb or more aggregate gross weight (49 CFR 172.504).
A DANGEROUS placard can replace 2 or more Table 2 placards, but 2,205 lb or more of one category loaded at one facility needs its own placard.
You must stop 15 to 50 feet from the tracks at a railroad crossing with vehicles placarded for the classes listed in 49 CFR 392.10, any chlorine load, and every hazmat cargo tank, loaded or empty (49 CFR 392.10).
Your vehicle with Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 explosives counts as attended only if you are on it and awake, or within 100 feet with a clear view of it (49 CFR 397.5).
Do not smoke within 25 feet of a vehicle with Class 1, Class 5 or flammable loads (49 CFR 397.13).
Keep the shipping papers within reach with your seat belt on, in plain view or in the driver's door pouch at the wheel (49 CFR 177.817).

What’s on the CDL Hazmat cheat sheet

Rules, Responsibilities & the HME — H and X endorsements, the TSA threat assessment, ELDT, shipper vs. carrier duties, training and security plans.
Hazard Classes & Shipping Papers — all 9 classes and their divisions, packing groups, the Hazardous Materials Table, the basic description order, and where the papers ride.
Labels, Markings & Placards — Table 1 vs. Table 2, the 1,001-lb and 2,205-lb rules, the DANGEROUS placard, placard names, placement, and ID numbers.
Loading, Unloading & Segregation — parking brake and no-smoking rules, Class 1 handling, the 177.848 segregation table, poisons, and radioactive limits.
Bulk Packaging & Cargo Tanks — bulk thresholds, cargo tank attendance within 25 feet, bonding, and bulk ID-number placement.
Driving & Parking Rules — railroad crossings, attendance, safe havens, parking distances, smoking, fueling, tires, and routes.
Emergencies & the ERG — the ERG's color-coded pages, Guide 111, spill sizes, isolation distances, and National Response Center reporting.

How to use it in your final week

Learn the Table 1 list until you can say it from memory, since Table 1 materials need placards in any amount.
Practice mixed-load placard questions by adding up the gross weight of every Table 2 material, then deciding between DANGEROUS and specific placards.
Study the distance rules as one ladder (5 feet, 15 to 50 feet, 25 feet, 100 feet, 300 feet) and know which rule each distance belongs to.
Know the ERG page colors (yellow, blue, orange, green) and that Guide 111 is for an unknown load or a DANGEROUS placard.
Read the whole sheet once more the morning of the test.

The cheat sheet is your review layer — your CDL Hazmat practice test drives the exam-readiness ring at the top of this page. Download it, review, then take a full practice exam (or drill with the study guide and flashcards) to see where you stand.

CDL Hazmat cheat sheet FAQ

Yes, the CDL Hazmat cheat sheet is 100% free. Just enter your email and we send you a link to the sheet. It is part of Career Employer's free CDL Hazmat toolkit, which also has a practice test, study guide, and flashcards.

References

1.Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “49 CFR Part 383 — Commercial Driver's License Standards (§§ 383.5, 383.93, 383.121, 383.135, 383.141).” eCFR. ↑
2.Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). “49 CFR Part 172 — Hazardous Materials Table, Shipping Papers, Marking, Labeling, Placarding, and Emergency Response Information.” eCFR. ↑
3.Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). “49 CFR Part 177 — Carriage by Public Highway (shipping papers, loading, segregation, cargo tanks).” eCFR. ↑
4.Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “49 CFR Part 397 — Transportation of Hazardous Materials; Driving and Parking Rules.” eCFR. ↑
5.Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “49 CFR 392.10 — Railroad grade crossings; stopping required.” eCFR. ↑
6.Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F and Appendix E — Entry-Level Driver Training, Hazardous Materials Endorsement Curriculum.” eCFR. ↑
7.Transportation Security Administration (TSA). “Hazmat Endorsement.” tsa.gov. ↑
8.U.S. DOT PHMSA, Transport Canada, and Mexico's Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation. “2024 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2024).” PHMSA. ↑

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