South Dakota Hazardous Materials CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the South Dakota Hazardous Materials CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the South Dakota Driver Licensing Program. 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 Stay upwind, evacuate the area, and let trained responders handle it
- B Try to put it out with water
- C Drive the vehicle to a safe place
- D Open the cargo doors to ventilate
- A Only at night
- B At 50 and 100 feet
- C Within 10 feet only
- D At 10, 100, and 200 feet from the vehicle
- A Use a generic placard
- B Skip the placards
- C Use the closest entry
- D Refuse the load and notify the carrier — the shipper must use a proper shipping name
- A Class 1 explosives, to determine which can be loaded together
- B Drivers, not cargo
- C All hazmat materials
- D Cargo tank vehicles only
- A 100 feet
- B 50 feet
- C 10 feet
- D 25 feet
- 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 Stop and notify the carrier and shipper before continuing
- B Hide the error
- C Continue and report later
- D Drive faster to compensate
- A They can shift freely
- B Containers can rub against each other
- C Cargo blocks emergency exits
- D Cargo cannot shift, leak, or be exposed to ignition sources
- A Driver's license number
- B A proper shipping name, hazard class, and identification number
- C Only the price
- D Only the shipper's name
- A A serial number
- B A state two-letter code
- C A barcode only
- D UN or NA followed by four digits
- A Once a week
- B Only at the start and end
- C Never; tires are the carrier's responsibility
- D At the start of each trip and each time they stop
- A Cause a leak or spill if the package is damaged
- B Strike emergency exits
- C Move and obstruct visibility
- D All of the above
- A At each stop
- B When the brakes feel different
- C Only at the destination
- D Only at the start of the trip
- A Vehicle without working brake lights or in unsafe condition
- B Truck designed for the specific class
- C Vehicle in compliance with HMR
- D Properly placarded trailer
- A Routes prohibited for hazmat
- B Driving over a railroad-highway grade crossing without stopping (most placarded loads)
- C Tunnels marked as prohibited for hazmat
- D All of the above
- A Two
- B Four (one on each side and one on each end)
- C Six
- D One
- A Hand off the unloading to the receiver
- B Leave the truck and return when finished
- C Disconnect the bonding wire first
- D Stay within 25 feet of the vehicle and have a clear view of it
- A A medical card
- B A logbook
- C An expired permit or shipper certification missing
- D Cargo securement straps
- A The number of cars
- B The train's schedule
- C The train's crew
- D A document describing all hazardous materials being carried
- A Be driven to the destination
- B Be left where it is, the area isolated, and the carrier and emergency services notified
- C Be unloaded by the driver alone
- D Be moved to a remote area immediately
- A Drive to the destination immediately
- B Take a break first
- C Verify shipping papers, placards, and securement before leaving the loading site
- D Allow shipper to drive away
- A Loaded only by the receiver
- B Bonded and grounded during loading and unloading
- C Inspected once a year only
- D Loaded only at night
- A Be locked
- B Be attended by the driver
- C Be in a low gear
- D Have a flashing light on
- A Only on Class 1 explosives
- B Two or more separate placards on a load that contains different hazard classes (Table 2 materials only)
- C Never
- D Any single placard
- A Have current hazmat training
- B Carry shipping papers and ERG
- C Have current TSA security threat assessment
- D All of the above
Study tips for the South Dakota Hazardous Materials exam
The Hazardous Materials portion of the South Dakota CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the South Dakota Driver Licensing Program draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Hazardous Materials chapter of the South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota Driver Licensing Program 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota Driver Licensing Program office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: SD General Knowledge · SD Air Brakes · SD Combination Vehicles · SD Passenger · SD School Bus · SD Tank Vehicle · SD Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in South Dakota? Read How to apply for a CDL in South Dakota for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.