Tennessee Hazardous Materials CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Tennessee Hazardous Materials CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. 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 Call your dispatcher only
- B Contain the spill
- C Protect yourself and isolate the area
- D Check the load for leaks first
- A Only if the receiver requests it
- B Only on long trips
- C No — mix them in with other paperwork
- D Yes — they should be readily identifiable for emergency responders
- A Containers can rub against each other
- B Cargo cannot shift, leak, or be exposed to ignition sources
- C Cargo blocks emergency exits
- D They can shift freely
- A Once per year by federal officials
- B Before each trip and at every stop
- C When the tank is full
- D Annually only
- A All of the above
- B Engine must be off
- C The driver must be at the fueling control
- D No smoking within 25 feet
- A The receiver
- B The shipper
- C The carrier and the driver
- D The state DMV
- A Five
- B Twelve
- C Seven
- D Nine
- A Inspected once a year only
- B Bonded and grounded during loading and unloading
- C Loaded only at night
- D Loaded only by the receiver
- A Only at night
- B Any quantity of any hazardous material
- C Bulk quantities or any amount of certain Table 1 materials
- D Only liquids
- A Wait for an inspector
- B Only sign and drive
- C Verify markings, labels, placards, papers, and securement before signing for it
- D Trust the shipper without checking
- A Marked with the proper shipping name, ID number, and required labels
- B Stored only at night
- C Made of glass only
- D Painted any color
- A State and local routing
- B Carrier preference
- C Federal rules (tunnels, bridges)
- D All of the above
- A Continue and report at the next stop
- B Stop, isolate the area, notify emergency services and the carrier
- C Drive to the destination quickly
- D Open the container to inspect
- A Take the most direct route regardless of restrictions
- B Avoid weigh stations
- C Drive at night only
- D Have a written route plan if required by the shipper or by federal/state rules
- A When the brakes feel different
- B Only at the destination
- C At each stop
- D Only at the start of the trip
- A A weigh station
- B Any 24-hour gas station
- C An area approved by federal, state, or local authorities for parking unattended hazmat vehicles
- D A motel near the route
- A Two or more separate placards on a load that contains different hazard classes (Table 2 materials only)
- B Any single placard
- C Never
- D Only on Class 1 explosives
- A Before leaving the loading site
- B In an emergency
- C All of the above
- D During the trip if you stop
- A Mailed to the destination
- B Filed in the cab's glove box
- C Stored in the trailer
- D Within reach of the driver while seated and within reach when the driver is out of the cab
- A Cargo that may be harmful to aquatic life and requires special marking
- B Bulk shipments
- C Only liquids in port areas
- D Hazardous waste only
- A Stay within 25 feet of the vehicle and have a clear view of it
- B Hand off the unloading to the receiver
- C Disconnect the bonding wire first
- D Leave the truck and return when finished
- A A medical card upgrade
- B A separate trailer license
- C A pilot car
- D X (combination of H and N for tank vehicles carrying hazardous materials)
- A Hide the error
- B Stop and notify the carrier and shipper before continuing
- C Drive faster to compensate
- D Continue and report later
- A The number of cars
- B A document describing all hazardous materials being carried
- C The train's schedule
- D The train's crew
- A Must be operated by the receiver
- B Must meet special standards or be turned off
- C May only be used after 6 p.m.
- D Are unrestricted
Study tips for the Tennessee Hazardous Materials exam
The Hazardous Materials portion of the Tennessee CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Hazardous Materials chapter of the Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: TN General Knowledge · TN Air Brakes · TN Combination Vehicles · TN Passenger · TN School Bus · TN Tank Vehicle · TN Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Tennessee? Read How to apply for a CDL in Tennessee for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.