New Jersey Hazardous Materials CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the New Jersey Hazardous Materials CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. 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 In an emergency
- B All of the above
- C Before leaving the loading site
- D During the trip if you stop
- A Only liquids
- B Only at night
- C Bulk quantities or any amount of certain Table 1 materials
- D Any quantity of any hazardous material
- A Have a flashing light on
- B Be in a low gear
- C Be locked
- D Be attended by the driver
- A Trust the shipper without checking
- B Wait for an inspector
- C Verify markings, labels, placards, papers, and securement before signing for it
- D Only sign and drive
- A Annually only
- B Once per year by federal officials
- C Before each trip and at every stop
- D When the tank is full
- 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 Be unloaded by the driver alone
- B Be moved to a remote area immediately
- C Be driven to the destination
- D Be left where it is, the area isolated, and the carrier and emergency services notified
- A All of the above
- B Move and obstruct visibility
- C Cause a leak or spill if the package is damaged
- D Strike emergency exits
- A Have a written route plan if required by the shipper or by federal/state rules
- B Drive at night only
- C Avoid weigh stations
- D Take the most direct route regardless of restrictions
- A Driving over a railroad-highway grade crossing without stopping (most placarded loads)
- B Tunnels marked as prohibited for hazmat
- C Routes prohibited for hazmat
- D All of the above
- A Protect yourself and isolate the area
- B Call your dispatcher only
- C Check the load for leaks first
- D Contain the spill
- A 50 feet
- B 100 feet
- C 25 feet
- D 10 feet
- A Truck designed for the specific class
- B Vehicle without working brake lights or in unsafe condition
- C Vehicle in compliance with HMR
- D Properly placarded trailer
- A Leave the truck and return when finished
- B Stay within 25 feet of the vehicle and have a clear view of it
- C Disconnect the bonding wire first
- D Hand off the unloading to the receiver
- A Only at the start and end
- B At the start of each trip and each time they stop
- C Once a week
- D Never; tires are the carrier's responsibility
- A All of the above
- B No smoking within 25 feet
- C The driver must be at the fueling control
- D Engine must be off
- A Must be operated by the receiver
- B May only be used after 6 p.m.
- C Are unrestricted
- D Must meet special standards or be turned off
- A Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail
- B Only at night
- C Within 50 feet of the crossing
- D Only when a train is approaching
- 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
- A A placard for a small load only
- B A placard for an additional hazard the material poses besides the primary hazard
- C A placard for the trailer interior
- D A placard for state-only highways
- A A medical card
- B A logbook
- C An expired permit or shipper certification missing
- D Cargo securement straps
- A They can shift freely
- B Cargo blocks emergency exits
- C Cargo cannot shift, leak, or be exposed to ignition sources
- D Containers can rub against each other
- A A pallet
- B One that has more than 119 gallons capacity (liquids) or more than 882 lbs (solids)
- C Any package over 1 lb
- D Cardboard boxes only
- A Park near an open flame
- B All of the above
- C Park near a fire
- D Park within 5 feet of a road
- A When the brakes feel different
- B Only at the destination
- C At each stop
- D Only at the start of the trip
Study tips for the New Jersey Hazardous Materials exam
The Hazardous Materials portion of the New Jersey CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Hazardous Materials chapter of the New Jersey 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 Jersey 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 Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission 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 Jersey 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 Jersey 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 Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: NJ General Knowledge · NJ Air Brakes · NJ Combination Vehicles · NJ Passenger · NJ School Bus · NJ Tank Vehicle · NJ Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in New Jersey? Read How to apply for a CDL in New Jersey for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.