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New Hampshire Hazardous Materials CDL Practice Test

Below are 25 exam-style questions for the New Hampshire Hazardous Materials CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. 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.

Heads up: this is a study tool, not a graded exam. Cover the answer with your hand or a sheet of paper for an honest practice run, then re-read the explanations for any questions you missed. Aim for 22 out of 25 or better, three times in a row, before scheduling the real exam.
Question 1 of 25
When refueling a placarded vehicle:
  • A No smoking within 25 feet
  • B Engine must be off
  • C All of the above
  • D The driver must be at the fueling control
Correct answer: C
All three rules apply during refueling of placarded loads.
Question 2 of 25
Who is responsible for ensuring proper placarding of a vehicle?
  • A The carrier and the driver
  • B The state DMV
  • C The shipper
  • D The receiver
Correct answer: A
The driver and the carrier share responsibility for verifying placards before the trip and en route.
Question 3 of 25
When you stop with a placarded vehicle on the side of the road, you must place reflective triangles:
  • A At 50 and 100 feet
  • B Only at night
  • C At 10, 100, and 200 feet from the vehicle
  • D Within 10 feet only
Correct answer: C
Standard triangle placement applies to all CMVs, including placarded ones.
Question 4 of 25
Hazmat radioactive materials require:
  • A Only a special placard at night
  • B Special handling, additional documentation, and route planning
  • C Vehicle escort
  • D No special handling
Correct answer: B
Class 7 radioactive shipments have unique placards, transport indices, route planning, and reporting requirements.
Question 5 of 25
A load of hazardous materials may not be parked:
  • A In any rest area
  • B Within 300 feet of a tunnel, bridge, or building used by the public, except for short rest stops
  • C In a designated truck stop
  • D On a public street within 5 feet of the road
Correct answer: B
Parking restrictions for placarded vehicles include distances from open flames, residences, schools, hospitals, and other places.
Question 6 of 25
When carrying hazmat, you must check tires:
  • A When the brakes feel different
  • B Only at the start of the trip
  • C At each stop
  • D Only at the destination
Correct answer: C
Tire health is critical with placarded loads; check at each stop.
Question 7 of 25
Drivers carrying hazmat must:
  • A Have current TSA security threat assessment
  • B Carry shipping papers and ERG
  • C All of the above
  • D Have current hazmat training
Correct answer: C
All three are required for placarded hazmat operations.
Question 8 of 25
You should review your shipping papers and the ERG:
  • A All of the above
  • B During the trip if you stop
  • C In an emergency
  • D Before leaving the loading site
Correct answer: A
Familiarity with the load and the response guide is essential at every step.
Question 9 of 25
A driver may not transport hazardous materials with:
  • A Cargo securement straps
  • B A medical card
  • C An expired permit or shipper certification missing
  • D A logbook
Correct answer: C
Without proper paperwork or current permits, the load cannot move legally.
Question 10 of 25
You may transport hazardous materials with:
  • A Vehicles whose driver and equipment meet all federal safety requirements
  • B Any vehicle
  • C Vehicles older than 5 years
  • D Pickups only
Correct answer: A
Equipment must meet HMR specifications, and drivers must be properly licensed and trained.
Question 11 of 25
A bulk packaging is:
  • A Cardboard boxes only
  • B One that has more than 119 gallons capacity (liquids) or more than 882 lbs (solids)
  • C A pallet
  • D Any package over 1 lb
Correct answer: B
Federal definitions specify thresholds for bulk packaging that trigger additional requirements.
Question 12 of 25
When in doubt about a hazmat handling question, you should:
  • A Refer to the ERG
  • B All of the above
  • C Refer to 49 CFR Parts 100-185 (HMR)
  • D Contact the carrier safety officer
Correct answer: B
All three are valid references when you are unsure about hazmat handling.
Question 13 of 25
When you discover a hazmat error after starting the trip:
  • A Stop and notify the carrier and shipper before continuing
  • B Drive faster to compensate
  • C Continue and report later
  • D Hide the error
Correct answer: A
Errors are corrected before continuing; do not assume that minor errors are acceptable.
Question 14 of 25
A common hazardous material identification number begins with:
  • A A state two-letter code
  • B A serial number
  • C UN or NA followed by four digits
  • D A barcode only
Correct answer: C
UN (United Nations) or NA (North America) plus four digits identifies the material in the Hazardous Materials Table and the ERG.
Question 15 of 25
Loose hazmat packages can:
  • A Strike emergency exits
  • B Move and obstruct visibility
  • C Cause a leak or spill if the package is damaged
  • D All of the above
Correct answer: D
All three risks make securement essential.
Question 16 of 25
Hazardous materials are classified into how many hazard classes?
  • A Seven
  • B Five
  • C Nine
  • D Twelve
Correct answer: C
There are nine hazard classes, from explosives (Class 1) to miscellaneous dangerous goods (Class 9).
Question 17 of 25
Cargo tank trucks must be inspected:
  • A When the tank is full
  • B Once per year by federal officials
  • C Annually only
  • D Before each trip and at every stop
Correct answer: D
Tanks must be inspected for leaks, valves, and integrity before and during the trip.
Question 18 of 25
When a hazmat load includes Class 3 (flammable liquids) and Class 1 (explosives), you should:
  • A Cover the explosives with the liquids
  • B Load them in the same compartment
  • C Check the segregation table — many combinations are forbidden
  • D Always keep them together
Correct answer: C
The segregation table in 49 CFR §177.848 forbids many combinations; check before loading.
Question 19 of 25
After loading hazardous materials, the driver should:
  • A Allow shipper to drive away
  • B Take a break first
  • C Verify shipping papers, placards, and securement before leaving the loading site
  • D Drive to the destination immediately
Correct answer: C
Final verification at the loading site catches paperwork or placard errors before they become roadside violations.
Question 20 of 25
When you accept a hazmat load, you should:
  • A Trust the shipper without checking
  • B Verify markings, labels, placards, papers, and securement before signing for it
  • C Wait for an inspector
  • D Only sign and drive
Correct answer: B
Driver verification at acceptance protects you from carrying improperly prepared loads.
Question 21 of 25
A driver of a placarded vehicle who is involved in an accident must:
  • A Notify the National Response Center if the load is leaking or hazmat-related
  • B Provide the responding officers with the shipping papers and ERG
  • C Notify the carrier immediately
  • D All of the above
Correct answer: D
All three responsibilities apply in a hazmat accident.
Question 22 of 25
A "safe haven" is:
  • A Any 24-hour gas station
  • B An area approved by federal, state, or local authorities for parking unattended hazmat vehicles
  • C A motel near the route
  • D A weigh station
Correct answer: B
A safe haven is the only place a placarded vehicle can be left unattended for extended periods.
Question 23 of 25
A driver may NOT carry hazmat in a:
  • A Properly placarded trailer
  • B Vehicle in compliance with HMR
  • C Truck designed for the specific class
  • D Vehicle without working brake lights or in unsafe condition
Correct answer: D
Vehicle must be in safe operating condition; defective lights, brakes, or other equipment make the load illegal.
Question 24 of 25
A driver who has a hazmat endorsement must:
  • A All of the above
  • B Notify the carrier of any incident
  • C Pass a TSA security threat assessment including fingerprinting
  • D Renew the TSA assessment periodically
Correct answer: A
Hazmat is the only CDL endorsement that includes a federal background check, with renewal cycles.
Question 25 of 25
Hazardous materials drivers must avoid:
  • A Tunnels marked as prohibited for hazmat
  • B All of the above
  • C Routes prohibited for hazmat
  • D Driving over a railroad-highway grade crossing without stopping (most placarded loads)
Correct answer: B
Most placarded loads must stop at rail crossings, avoid prohibited tunnels, and follow specified route restrictions.

Study tips for the New Hampshire Hazardous Materials exam

The Hazardous Materials portion of the New Hampshire CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Hazardous Materials chapter of the New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles office.

Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: NH General Knowledge · NH Air Brakes · NH Combination Vehicles · NH Passenger · NH School Bus · NH Tank Vehicle · NH Doubles / Triples

New to the CDL process in New Hampshire? Read How to apply for a CDL in New Hampshire for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.