Question 1

A vehicle transporting hazardous materials must have placards on how many sides?

Accepted Answer

Placards must be displayed on all four sides of the vehicle (front, rear, left, and right).

Question 2

For hazardous materials listed in Table 1 (e.g., Explosives 1.1, Poison Gas 2.3), placards are required:

Accepted Answer

Table 1 materials must be placarded for any amount, regardless of weight. Even 1 pound of dynamite requires placarding.

Question 3

What is the weight threshold for requiring placards for Table 2 materials (e.g., Flammable Liquids, Corrosives)?

Accepted Answer

For Table 2 materials, placards are required when the aggregate gross weight of all hazardous materials is 1,001 lbs or more.

Question 4

The 'DANGEROUS' placard may be used when:

Accepted Answer

The DANGEROUS placard can replace specific class placards for mixed loads of Table 2 materials if the total weight is 1,001+ lbs but no single class is >2,205 lbs.

Question 5

What color is the placard for 'Flammable' materials (Class 3)?

Accepted Answer

Flammable placards are red with a white flame symbol.

Question 6

A placard with a yellow background indicates:

Accepted Answer

Yellow is the color for Oxidizers (5.1) and Organic Peroxides (5.2).

Question 7

Which placard background is white on the top half and black on the bottom half?

Accepted Answer

The Corrosive placard is white on top (with a test tube/hand symbol) and black on the bottom.

Question 8

A placard showing a skull and crossbones symbol indicates:

Accepted Answer

The skull and crossbones symbol is used for Poison Gas (2.3) and Poison (6.1) placards.

Question 9

You are carrying 600 lbs of 'Flammable Gas' and 600 lbs of 'Non-Flammable Gas'. Do you need placards?

Accepted Answer

Both are Table 2 materials. The aggregate gross weight is 1,200 lbs, which exceeds the 1,001 lb threshold, so placards are required for both.

Question 10

Which placard uses a blue background?

Accepted Answer

The 'Dangerous When Wet' (4.3) placard is blue.

Question 11

You are transporting 20 lbs of Division 2.3 Poison Gas. Do you need placards?

Accepted Answer

Division 2.3 (Poison Gas) is a Table 1 material. Placards are required for any amount.

Question 12

What shape is a standard hazmat placard?

Accepted Answer

Placards must be diamond-shaped (square-on-point) measuring at least 250mm (9.84 inches) on each side.

Question 13

When are you prohibited from using the 'DANGEROUS' placard?

Accepted Answer

The 'Dangerous' placard cannot be used for Table 1 materials (Explosives 1.1/1.2/1.3, Poison Gas 2.3, Dangerous When Wet 4.3, etc.). These must always be placarded specifically.

Question 14

A placard must be placed at least how far away from any other marking or advertisement on the vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Placards must be located at least 3 inches away from any other marking (like company logos) that could reduce their effectiveness.

Question 15

Which symbol is found on a Class 7 Radioactive placard?

Accepted Answer

Radioactive placards feature a trefoil symbol on a yellow/white background.

Question 16

If you are transporting a 'Poison Inhalation Hazard' (PIH), you must:

Accepted Answer

Material poisonous by inhalation requires the specific 'POISON INHALATION HAZARD' or 'POISON GAS' placard. It cannot be represented by the 'Dangerous' placard.

Question 17

What color is the placard for 'Non-Flammable Gas' (Division 2.2)?

Accepted Answer

Non-flammable gas placards are green with a gas cylinder symbol.

Question 18

You are carrying 900 lbs of Class 8 Corrosives. This is the only hazmat on the truck. Do you need placards?

Accepted Answer

Class 8 is a Table 2 material. Since the weight (900 lbs) is less than 1,001 lbs, no placards are required.

Question 19

The identification number (UN number) displayed on a placard or orange panel must be:

Accepted Answer

The ID number must be legible and displayed on the placard or an adjacent orange panel.

Question 20

A striped red and white placard indicates:

Accepted Answer

Red and white vertical stripes indicate a Flammable Solid (4.1).

Question 21

You are driving a tanker that last contained a hazardous material but is now empty. When can you remove the placards?

Accepted Answer

Empty tanks that previously contained hazmat must remain placarded until they are cleaned of residue and purged of vapors.

Question 22

Placards must be visible from:

Accepted Answer

Placards must be displayed on the front, rear, and both sides of the vehicle, visible from all four directions.

Question 23

A vehicle carrying 'Organic Peroxides' (5.2) must be placarded with:

Accepted Answer

Organic Peroxide placards are yellow (top) and red (bottom). [Note: Older regs were just yellow; current is split yellow/red for 5.2]. Wait, actually standard 5.2 is Red on top, Yellow on bottom. Let's stick to the color combination: Yellow and Red.

Question 24

You have a mixed load of Class 3 (1,500 lbs) and Class 8 (2,500 lbs). Can you use the 'DANGEROUS' placard?

Accepted Answer

You cannot use the 'DANGEROUS' placard if one of the categories (Class 8) exceeds 2,205 lbs (1,000 kg). You must placard the Class 8 specifically.

Question 25

Which Table 1 material requires placarding for any amount?

Accepted Answer

Division 4.3 (Dangerous When Wet) is a Table 1 material, requiring placards for any quantity.

Question 26

An 'Explosives 1.4' placard is what color?

Accepted Answer

All Explosives placards (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6) are orange.

Question 27

A bulk package (tanker) containing Class 3 Flammable Liquids must:

Accepted Answer

Bulk packages must be placarded and display the UN ID number (either on the placard or an orange panel) regardless of quantity.

Question 28

The subsidiary hazard class must be placarded if:

Accepted Answer

Generally, subsidiary hazards don't require placards unless the subsidiary hazard is a Poison Inhalation Hazard (PIH), Radioactive, or Dangerous When Wet. PIH always requires visibility.

Question 29

A placard for 'Spontaneously Combustible' materials (Class 4.2) is:

Accepted Answer

The Spontaneously Combustible placard is white on the top half and red on the bottom half.

Question 30

What is the background color of a Class 9 (Miscellaneous) placard?

Accepted Answer

Class 9 placards are white with vertical black stripes in the upper half.

Question 31

When transporting a 'Limited Quantity' of hazmat, placards are:

Accepted Answer

Shipments properly classified and marked as 'Limited Quantity' generally do not require placards.

Question 32

If a vehicle requires placards, where must they be placed relative to the width of the vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Placards must be securely attached and clear of appurtenances/devices like ladders, pipes, or doors that would obstruct their view.

Question 33

Which table in the regulations lists the materials that require placarding for any amount?

Accepted Answer

Table 1 (in 49 CFR § 172.504) lists materials that require placards for any quantity.

Question 34

A 'Combustible Liquid' placard is:

Accepted Answer

Combustible Liquid placards are red (same as Flammable Liquid) but may say 'COMBUSTIBLE' or have the number 3.

Question 35

You are transporting 10 lbs of Organic Peroxides (5.2). Do you need placards?

Accepted Answer

Organic Peroxides (Type B, liquid or solid, temp controlled) are Table 1 materials and require placards for any amount.

Hazmat Placards Practice Questions

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