Free practice test
CDL Hazardous Materials practice test
The free test below follows the real Hazardous Materials test: 30 questions, 24 right to pass, 30 to 40 minutes. It has the most rules to learn of any endorsement test, and it is the one that needs a background check.
FirstTry CDL is not affiliated with any DMV, FMCSA or government agency. Practice questions are exam-style questions built from the official CDL manual, not actual test questions.
How the Hazardous Materials test is scored
You need 24 of 30 right, which is 80%. That means you can miss 6. Drivers who want the H endorsement, or the X endorsement that combines tank and hazmat. Before the state issues it, you also need a TSA background check with fingerprints.
What is on the Hazardous Materials test
- Who has to follow the hazardous materials rules
- Shipping papers, markings, labels and placards
- The nine hazard classes
- Loading, unloading and driving rules
- What to do in an emergency: spills, leaks and fires
- Security: the TSA background check
What trips drivers up
The nine hazard classes
Explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, toxic and infectious materials, radioactive materials, corrosives and miscellaneous.
Placards and shipping papers
Know when a load needs a placard, and where the shipping papers go so emergency crews can reach them.
Emergency steps
In a spill or a fire your first jobs are to keep people away and call for help. Do not rush in.
The TSA check
You need the background check before the endorsement is issued. Start it early.
Numbers come from the CDL manual and federal rules. A few differ by state or manual edition, so check your own state's manual. See our sources.
More practice tests
Common questions
How many questions are on the CDL Hazmat test?
The national default is 30 questions, and you need 24 right (80%) to pass.
Do I need a background check for the hazmat endorsement?
Yes. The TSA requires a security threat assessment with fingerprints before a state can issue a hazmat endorsement.
Is the Hazmat test hard?
It has a lot to memorize, like the hazard classes, placards and shipping papers. Drivers who study the classes first and practice with explanations do best.
What is the X endorsement?
X means you hold both the Tank (N) and the Hazmat (H) endorsements. You take both tests.