Mississippi Hazardous Materials CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Mississippi Hazardous Materials CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. 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 Refuse the load and notify the carrier — the shipper must use a proper shipping name
- B Use the closest entry
- C Use a generic placard
- D Skip the placards
- A Have written instructions on what to do in case of accident or delay
- B Avoid Class A highways only
- C Drive only between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- D Travel with a state escort
- A A pallet
- B One that has more than 119 gallons capacity (liquids) or more than 882 lbs (solids)
- C Cardboard boxes only
- D Any package over 1 lb
- A Communicate the risk, contain the materials, and protect the public
- B Reduce fuel use
- C Provide tax revenue
- D Help drivers move faster
- A The number of cars
- B A document describing all hazardous materials being carried
- C The train's crew
- D The train's schedule
- A Hazardous waste only
- B Bulk shipments
- C Cargo that may be harmful to aquatic life and requires special marking
- D Only liquids in port areas
- A Carrier preference
- B Federal rules (tunnels, bridges)
- C State and local routing
- D All of the above
- A A separate trailer license
- B A medical card upgrade
- C X (combination of H and N for tank vehicles carrying hazardous materials)
- D A pilot car
- A Vehicle without working brake lights or in unsafe condition
- B Truck designed for the specific class
- C Properly placarded trailer
- D Vehicle in compliance with HMR
- A Wait for an inspector
- B Verify markings, labels, placards, papers, and securement before signing for it
- C Only sign and drive
- D Trust the shipper without checking
- A A placard for the trailer interior
- B A placard for state-only highways
- C A placard for an additional hazard the material poses besides the primary hazard
- D A placard for a small load only
- A Bulk quantities or any amount of certain Table 1 materials
- B Any quantity of any hazardous material
- C Only liquids
- D Only at night
- A 100 feet
- B 10 feet
- C 50 feet
- D 25 feet
- A Vehicles whose driver and equipment meet all federal safety requirements
- B Pickups only
- C Any vehicle
- D Vehicles older than 5 years
- A Painted any color
- B Marked with the proper shipping name, ID number, and required labels
- C Stored only at night
- D Made of glass only
- A Provide the responding officers with the shipping papers and ERG
- B All of the above
- C Notify the National Response Center if the load is leaking or hazmat-related
- D Notify the carrier immediately
- A At the start of each trip and each time they stop
- B Only at the start and end
- C Never; tires are the carrier's responsibility
- D Once a week
- A Heavily populated areas where possible
- B Tunnels not authorized for explosives
- C All of the above
- D Routes specifically prohibited by state or local rules
- A At each stop
- B Only at the start of the trip
- C Only at the destination
- D When the brakes feel different
- A When the tank is full
- B Once per year by federal officials
- C Before each trip and at every stop
- D Annually only
- A All of the above
- B Park near an open flame
- C Park within 5 feet of a road
- D Park near a fire
- A At 50 and 100 feet
- B Only at night
- C Within 10 feet only
- D At 10, 100, and 200 feet from the vehicle
- A A state two-letter code
- B UN or NA followed by four digits
- C A barcode only
- D A serial number
- A Price only
- B Proper shipping name, hazard class, ID number, and required emergency information
- C Color of packaging
- D Driver's name
- A Any 24-hour gas station
- B A weigh station
- C A motel near the route
- D An area approved by federal, state, or local authorities for parking unattended hazmat vehicles
Study tips for the Mississippi Hazardous Materials exam
The Hazardous Materials portion of the Mississippi CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Mississippi Department of Public Safety draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Hazardous Materials chapter of the Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi Department of Public Safety 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi Department of Public Safety office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: MS General Knowledge · MS Air Brakes · MS Combination Vehicles · MS Passenger · MS School Bus · MS Tank Vehicle · MS Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Mississippi? Read How to apply for a CDL in Mississippi for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.