Minnesota Hazardous Materials CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Minnesota Hazardous Materials CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle 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 Loaded only by the receiver
- B Inspected once a year only
- C Bonded and grounded during loading and unloading
- D Loaded only at night
- A Wait for an inspector
- B Trust the shipper without checking
- C Only sign and drive
- D Verify markings, labels, placards, papers, and securement before signing for it
- A May only be used after 6 p.m.
- B Are unrestricted
- C Must be operated by the receiver
- D Must meet special standards or be turned off
- A Tunnels not authorized for explosives
- B All of the above
- C Routes specifically prohibited by state or local rules
- D Heavily populated areas where possible
- A Contact the carrier safety officer
- B All of the above
- C Refer to 49 CFR Parts 100-185 (HMR)
- D Refer to the ERG
- A Only when a train is approaching
- B Only at night
- C Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail
- D Within 50 feet of the crossing
- A The driver has training
- B The shipper guarantees the load is properly classified, packaged, marked, labeled, and described per regulations
- C The carrier has insurance
- D The receiver has paid
- A 50 feet
- B 100 feet
- C 25 feet
- D 10 feet
- A All of the above
- B Driving over a railroad-highway grade crossing without stopping (most placarded loads)
- C Routes prohibited for hazmat
- D Tunnels marked as prohibited for hazmat
- A X (combination of H and N for tank vehicles carrying hazardous materials)
- B A medical card upgrade
- C A pilot car
- D A separate trailer license
- A Only on Class 1 explosives
- B Never
- C Two or more separate placards on a load that contains different hazard classes (Table 2 materials only)
- D Any single placard
- A A separate license
- B A medical card only
- C No special endorsement
- D A Hazmat (H) endorsement on their CDL
- A Carried in the cab and used by responders to look up immediate response information for hazmat
- B Carried in the trailer
- C Only required for explosives
- D Mailed to the receiver
- A A placard for state-only highways
- B A placard for the trailer interior
- C A placard for an additional hazard the material poses besides the primary hazard
- D A placard for a small load only
- A Color of packaging
- B Proper shipping name, hazard class, ID number, and required emergency information
- C Driver's name
- D Price only
- A Continue and report later
- B Stop and notify the carrier and shipper before continuing
- C Hide the error
- D Drive faster to compensate
- A One that has more than 119 gallons capacity (liquids) or more than 882 lbs (solids)
- B Cardboard boxes only
- C A pallet
- D Any package over 1 lb
- A Once per year by federal officials
- B Before each trip and at every stop
- C Annually only
- D When the tank is full
- A Have a flashing light on
- B Be in a low gear
- C Be locked
- D Be attended by the driver
- A Within 10 feet only
- B Only at night
- C At 50 and 100 feet
- D At 10, 100, and 200 feet from the vehicle
- A Notify the carrier of any incident
- B Renew the TSA assessment periodically
- C All of the above
- D Pass a TSA security threat assessment including fingerprinting
- A Drive the vehicle to a safe place
- B Open the cargo doors to ventilate
- C Try to put it out with water
- D Stay upwind, evacuate the area, and let trained responders handle it
- A Carry shipping papers and ERG
- B Have current TSA security threat assessment
- C Have current hazmat training
- D All of the above
- A State and local routing
- B Carrier preference
- C Federal rules (tunnels, bridges)
- D All of the above
- A In a designated truck stop
- B In any rest area
- C On a public street within 5 feet of the road
- D Within 300 feet of a tunnel, bridge, or building used by the public, except for short rest stops
Study tips for the Minnesota Hazardous Materials exam
The Hazardous Materials portion of the Minnesota CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Hazardous Materials chapter of the Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota Driver and Vehicle 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: MN General Knowledge · MN Air Brakes · MN Combination Vehicles · MN Passenger · MN School Bus · MN Tank Vehicle · MN Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Minnesota? Read How to apply for a CDL in Minnesota for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.