Arkansas Hazardous Materials CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Arkansas Hazardous Materials CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Arkansas Office of Driver Services. Try to answer each question on your own before reading the answer key directly under it. The questions and answer choices are shuffled deterministically per state and endorsement, so the order will stay the same on repeat visits — that lets you genuinely measure your improvement.
- A On a public street within 5 feet of the road
- B In a designated truck stop
- C Within 300 feet of a tunnel, bridge, or building used by the public, except for short rest stops
- D In any rest area
- A A placard for the trailer interior
- B A placard for an additional hazard the material poses besides the primary hazard
- C A placard for state-only highways
- D A placard for a small load only
- A Containers can rub against each other
- B Cargo blocks emergency exits
- C Cargo cannot shift, leak, or be exposed to ignition sources
- D They can shift freely
- A Any quantity of any hazardous material
- B Only at night
- C Bulk quantities or any amount of certain Table 1 materials
- D Only liquids
- A Drive faster to compensate
- B Continue and report later
- C Stop and notify the carrier and shipper before continuing
- D Hide the error
- A A pallet
- B Any package over 1 lb
- C Cardboard boxes only
- D One that has more than 119 gallons capacity (liquids) or more than 882 lbs (solids)
- A Vehicle in compliance with HMR
- B Vehicle without working brake lights or in unsafe condition
- C Properly placarded trailer
- D Truck designed for the specific class
- A All of the above
- B Pass a TSA security threat assessment including fingerprinting
- C Renew the TSA assessment periodically
- D Notify the carrier of any incident
- A A proper shipping name, hazard class, and identification number
- B Driver's license number
- C Only the price
- D Only the shipper's name
- A Verify markings, labels, placards, papers, and securement before signing for it
- B Trust the shipper without checking
- C Only sign and drive
- D Wait for an inspector
- A Cargo tank vehicles only
- B Drivers, not cargo
- C Class 1 explosives, to determine which can be loaded together
- D All hazmat materials
- A Have current TSA security threat assessment
- B Have current hazmat training
- C Carry shipping papers and ERG
- D All of the above
- A Twelve
- B Five
- C Seven
- D Nine
- A Be driven to the destination
- B Be unloaded by the driver alone
- C Be left where it is, the area isolated, and the carrier and emergency services notified
- D Be moved to a remote area immediately
- A A Hazmat (H) endorsement on their CDL
- B No special endorsement
- C A medical card only
- D A separate license
- A Take a break first
- B Verify shipping papers, placards, and securement before leaving the loading site
- C Allow shipper to drive away
- D Drive to the destination immediately
- A Park near an open flame
- B Park within 5 feet of a road
- C Park near a fire
- D All of the above
- A Provide the responding officers with the shipping papers and ERG
- B Notify the National Response Center if the load is leaking or hazmat-related
- C Notify the carrier immediately
- D All of the above
- A All of the above
- B Contact the carrier safety officer
- C Refer to the ERG
- D Refer to 49 CFR Parts 100-185 (HMR)
- A Cargo securement straps
- B An expired permit or shipper certification missing
- C A medical card
- D A logbook
- A A medical card upgrade
- B X (combination of H and N for tank vehicles carrying hazardous materials)
- C A pilot car
- D A separate trailer license
- A Have a flashing light on
- B Be locked
- C Be in a low gear
- D Be attended by the driver
- A UN or NA followed by four digits
- B A barcode only
- C A state two-letter code
- D A serial number
- A At 10, 100, and 200 feet from the vehicle
- B At 50 and 100 feet
- C Within 10 feet only
- D Only at night
- A All of the above
- B Carrier preference
- C State and local routing
- D Federal rules (tunnels, bridges)
Study tips for the Arkansas Hazardous Materials exam
The Hazardous Materials portion of the Arkansas CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Arkansas Office of Driver Services draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Hazardous Materials chapter of the Arkansas CDL handbook, which itself is derived from the FMCSA Model Commercial Driver's License Manual. That means studying our practice tests, reading the corresponding handbook chapter, and re-reading the parts you got wrong is genuinely the most efficient route to a first-time pass.
Most successful applicants follow a simple cycle: take the practice test cold, write down every question you missed, open the matching chapter of the official Arkansas handbook, re-read the section that contains the right answer, then re-take the practice test 24 to 48 hours later. The 24-hour delay matters — sleep is when your brain commits new information to long-term memory, and CDL knowledge questions reward that kind of consolidated learning rather than cramming.
Pay particular attention to questions that include qualifier words like always, never, only, primary, or most. CDL test writers love to flip the right answer with a single qualifier. When two answer choices look almost identical, pay attention to the verb (is it must, should, or may?) and to any numbers (14 days, 100 air miles, 8 hours, 70/8 split). On endorsement tests in particular, watch for trick framing where a true statement about a different endorsement is offered as the "correct" answer to a question that is actually about Hazardous Materials.
Test-day logistics matter too. Bring photo ID, your Social Security card or birth certificate, your medical examiner's certificate (DOT card), and proof of state residency if you haven't already submitted those documents. The Arkansas Office of Driver Services will not let you sit for the knowledge exam without your documentation, and most offices charge an additional fee for re-attempts. Arrive early — the wait at most CDL testing offices runs 30 to 60 minutes — and silence your phone before the exam begins.
Finally, keep your General Knowledge fundamentals sharp even when you're focused on the Hazardous Materials exam. Many states administer multiple knowledge tests in a single sitting, and questions on weight definitions (GVWR, GCWR, GAWR), stopping distance, and the pre-trip inspection routine show up across endorsements. If you're unsure on the basics, sit a fresh Arkansas General Knowledge practice test before scheduling the real exam.
Next steps
Missed more than four questions? Re-read the Hazardous Materials study guide and the matching chapter in the official Arkansas CDL handbook. Then come back and re-take the test. Once you can score 22 of 25 or higher on three runs in a row, you're in good shape to schedule the real exam at your local Arkansas Office of Driver Services office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: AR General Knowledge · AR Air Brakes · AR Combination Vehicles · AR Passenger · AR School Bus · AR Tank Vehicle · AR Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Arkansas? Read How to apply for a CDL in Arkansas for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.