Hazmat Shipping Papers
Updated October 27, 2026
After a crash you may be hurt and unable to tell anyone what you are hauling. The shipping paper does it for you, which is why the rules say exactly what it must show and where it must be. Here is what to know for the CDL hazmat test, based on 49 CFR 172 Subpart C, 172.602 and 177.817 and the CDL manual.
What counts as a shipping paper
A shipping paper is any document that describes the hazardous materials being carried: a bill of lading, a shipping order or a manifest. Hazardous waste travels on a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest, which serves as its shipping paper.
What it must show
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Basic description | ID number, proper shipping name, hazard class or division, packing group (if any), in that order |
| Quantity | Total quantity with unit of measure, and number and type of packages (for example, “6 drums”), before or after the basic description |
| RQ | The letters RQ before or after the description when a hazardous substance is in a reportable quantity |
| Technical or substance name | The technical name for generic (“G”) entries; for RQ materials, the hazardous substance’s name if it is not in the shipping name |
| Emergency response phone number | Provided by the shipper, monitored while the material is in transport |
| Page numbers | If more than one page, numbered, with the first page giving the total (“Page 1 of 3”) |
| Shipper’s certification | Signed by the shipper, with limited exceptions |
The ID number, shipping name and hazard class may not be abbreviated unless the rules allow it. The packaging type and unit of measure may be, as in “10 ctns” or “500 lbs.” The packing group is written in Roman numerals and may be preceded by “PG.”
Example: 10 ctns. UN1263, Paint, 3, PG II, 500 lbs.
Hazmat mixed with other freight
When a paper lists both hazardous and ordinary items, the hazmat entries must stand out. They must be listed first, highlighted in a contrasting color, or marked with an X (or RQ) in a column headed “HM.”
Emergency response information
The shipper must also provide emergency response information for each material. At a minimum it covers immediate health hazards, fire or explosion risks, immediate precautions, how to handle fires, how to handle spills or leaks without fire, and preliminary first aid. It can be on the shipping paper, in a separate document, or in a guidebook such as the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG).
Keep it in the same place as the shipping paper, and give it to any federal, state or local official responding to or investigating an incident.
Where the papers go in the cab
| Situation | Where the papers must be |
|---|---|
| Behind the wheel | Within your reach with your seat belt fastened, or in a pouch on the driver’s door, easily seen by someone entering the cab |
| Out of the vehicle | On the driver’s seat or in the driver’s door pouch |
Tab the hazmat papers or keep them on top of the stack so they are easy to find. Do not accept a hazmat shipment without a properly prepared shipping paper.
How long copies are kept
Shippers keep a copy for 2 years after the first carrier accepts the material (3 years for hazardous waste). A carrier that only transports it keeps a copy for 1 year.
Test yourself
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Which habit helps responders find your hazmat shipping papers quickly?Answer: AHazmat papers must be easy to recognize. Tab them or keep them on top of the stack so anyone entering the cab can find them fast.
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While you are driving, where must the hazmat shipping papers be?Answer: BBehind the wheel, keep the papers within reach while buckled in, or in a pouch on the driver's door, where someone entering the cab can easily see them.
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Where on a shipping paper entry may the letters RQ appear?Answer: CFor a hazardous substance in a reportable quantity, the letters RQ may appear either before or after the basic description on the shipping paper.
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An entry has the letter G in Column 1 of the Hazardous Materials Table. What must the shipping paper add?Answer: DG marks a generic shipping name. The technical name, the chemical that makes the product hazardous, must be added to the description.
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Who is responsible for the emergency response telephone number on a shipping paper?Answer: AThe shipper must provide the emergency response telephone number. It is used by emergency responders to get information about the material in a spill or fire.
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Where must you keep the emergency response information for your load?Answer: BEmergency response information must be kept in the same location as the shipping paper, so responders find both together.
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How is the packing group written on a shipping paper?Answer: CThe packing group is shown in Roman numerals (I, II or III) and may be preceded by "PG," as in "PG II."
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The shipper hands you hazmat packages and says the shipping paper will be emailed later. What should you do?Answer: DDo not accept a hazardous materials shipment without a properly prepared shipping paper. Responders and inspectors depend on it.
Next, learn the placard rules and practise with the CDL hazmat practice test.
Pass your hazmat endorsement test on the first try
- All 181 questions on hazard classes, shipping papers, placards, loading, cargo tanks, driving and parking rules and emergencies
- An explanation for every answer, from the CDL manual and the federal hazmat rules
- Unlimited full 30-question practice tests, scored like the real one (80% to pass)