DOT Safety: Hazardous Materials Training Course

Hazardous materials, or HAZMAT, are any solids, liquids, or gases that could be explosive, flammable, toxic, or corrosive. There are hazardous materials around us daily, including household items like aerosol sprays, hand sanitizer, and perfumes. Because these materials can pose safety and health risks when transported, the Department of Transportation, or DOT, has developed regulations for HAZMAT vehicles. This training will teach you how to identify hazardous materials and the DOT guidelines for driving, parking, and registering HAZMAT vehicles. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, requires all HAZMAT vehicles to be properly registered. To do this, vehicles must have a USDOT number, a hazardous materials safety permit, and proof of liability and insurance. Drivers must also pass a HAZMAT knowledge test to earn the HAZMAT endorsement on their commercial driver's license or CDL. Making sure that all vehicles and drivers are properly permitted is the first step in safely transporting hazardous materials.  

Drivers must also follow certain guidelines and precautions when operating a HAZMAT vehicle. Regulations govern where a driver can park a HAZMAT vehicle, how to safely refuel, the pre-travel inspections that must be completed, and the paperwork drivers need to have on hand. Failure to follow these regulations is dangerous and could also lead to civil and/or criminal penalties. 

This course will help you understand what hazardous materials are and how they should be identified during transport. You will also learn the specific regulations in place for HAZMAT transportation and what happens when these regulations aren’t followed. Hazardous materials are part of our everyday lives, and getting them from one place to another can be dangerous. Following the DOT guidelines keeps everyone safe from a potentially deadly situation!

This program is available with Spanish and French closed captions.