Texas Hazardous Materials CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Texas Hazardous Materials CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Texas 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 Before each trip and at every stop
- B When the tank is full
- C Annually only
- D Once per year by federal officials
- A A placard for a small load only
- B A placard for the trailer interior
- C A placard for state-only highways
- D A placard for an additional hazard the material poses besides the primary hazard
- A X (combination of H and N for tank vehicles carrying hazardous materials)
- B A separate trailer license
- C A pilot car
- D A medical card upgrade
- A Reduce fuel use
- B Provide tax revenue
- C Help drivers move faster
- D Communicate the risk, contain the materials, and protect the public
- A Load them in the same compartment
- B Cover the explosives with the liquids
- C Always keep them together
- D Check the segregation table — many combinations are forbidden
- A Price only
- B Color of packaging
- C Proper shipping name, hazard class, ID number, and required emergency information
- D Driver's name
- A Bonded and grounded during loading and unloading
- B Inspected once a year only
- C Loaded only at night
- D Loaded only by the receiver
- A Only on long trips
- B Yes — they should be readily identifiable for emergency responders
- C No — mix them in with other paperwork
- D Only if the receiver requests it
- A Have current hazmat training
- B All of the above
- C Carry shipping papers and ERG
- D Have current TSA security threat assessment
- A UN or NA followed by four digits
- B A state two-letter code
- C A barcode only
- D A serial number
- A Have a written route plan if required by the shipper or by federal/state rules
- B Avoid weigh stations
- C Take the most direct route regardless of restrictions
- D Drive at night only
- A Five
- B Nine
- C Seven
- D Twelve
- A A weigh station
- B An area approved by federal, state, or local authorities for parking unattended hazmat vehicles
- C A motel near the route
- D Any 24-hour gas station
- A Class 1 explosives, to determine which can be loaded together
- B All hazmat materials
- C Cargo tank vehicles only
- D Drivers, not cargo
- A Only the price
- B A proper shipping name, hazard class, and identification number
- C Only the shipper's name
- D Driver's license number
- A Notify the carrier of any incident
- B All of the above
- C Renew the TSA assessment periodically
- D Pass a TSA security threat assessment including fingerprinting
- A A Hazmat (H) endorsement on their CDL
- B A medical card only
- C No special endorsement
- D A separate license
- A Be attended by the driver
- B Be in a low gear
- C Have a flashing light on
- D Be locked
- A The receiver has paid
- B The shipper guarantees the load is properly classified, packaged, marked, labeled, and described per regulations
- C The driver has training
- D The carrier has insurance
- A Within 300 feet of a tunnel, bridge, or building used by the public, except for short rest stops
- B On a public street within 5 feet of the road
- C In a designated truck stop
- D In any rest area
- A 10 feet
- B 25 feet
- C 100 feet
- D 50 feet
- A All of the above
- B No smoking within 25 feet
- C Engine must be off
- D The driver must be at the fueling control
- A Vehicle escort
- B No special handling
- C Special handling, additional documentation, and route planning
- D Only a special placard at night
- 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 Tunnels marked as prohibited for hazmat
- B Routes prohibited for hazmat
- C All of the above
- D Driving over a railroad-highway grade crossing without stopping (most placarded loads)
Study tips for the Texas Hazardous Materials exam
The Hazardous Materials portion of the Texas CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas Department of Public Safety office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: TX General Knowledge · TX Air Brakes · TX Combination Vehicles · TX Passenger · TX School Bus · TX Tank Vehicle · TX Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Texas? Read How to apply for a CDL in Texas for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.