Think you know your hazmat? Take the test..

[BobWolf]

I am in the process of renewing my medic cards and our FEMA friends require us to take three different classes two of which have almost nothing to do with EMS. One however the hazmat was worth the test out. Although I don't transport hazmat I skipped the training and challenged the final. I threw my stuff against the wall to see if it would stick and passed.

50 questions and when you pass FEMA will issue a certificate of completion.
This might help with company meeting training and possibly insurance or the cdl endorsement. Besides even those of us who don't touch hazmat should have some working knowledge of what we might be sleeping only a couple feet away from.

First try to challenge it. If you blow it you can take it again.
Most was what we should know, some just a good idea to know.

Give it a try
http//training.fema.gov/emiweb/is5.isp

Good luck.
Bob Wolf

 

[Turtle]

Besides even those of us who don't touch hazmat should have some working knowledge of what we might be sleeping only a couple feet away from.

SSSSHHHHH!!!!! They can hear you. They're everywhere around here! They think learning about HAZMAT is a ridiculous waste of time unless you actually haul it.

 

[ATeam]

I took the exam but was unable to learn my score without entering personal information which I am reluctant to do, so I disengaged.

One of the test questions mentioned the NFPA 704 rating system. Curious to learn more, I read up on the "fire dimond" here. That was interesting. The NFPA 704 rating system is not discussed in the HAZMAT training we receive to obtain and maintain our HAZMAT endorsements on our CDL's, but the NFPA 704 symbols are frequently seen at pickup and delivery sites. It was fun to lean more about them.

 

[BobWolf]

Yeah, I agree the employer and CDL hazmat training is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY insufficient.
You can request a user number if you want the certifications. Might not be a bad idea.

And Turtle has a good point unfortunately allot of people don't want to learn unless its required or forced on them usually a job or means of their lively hood is used as leverage.
If anything the more we know the better we can protect ourselves..

Be safe.
Bob Wolf

 

[BillChaffey]

Not trying to get off subject, here in Missouri I received a letter from MVD. Saying you have 60 days from date of this letter to get a D.O.T. physical or lose your CDL status.

 

[purgoose10]

Not trying to get off subject, here in Missouri I received a letter from MVD. Saying you have 60 days from date of this letter to get a D.O.T. physical or lose your CDL status.

All states are starting that. S.Carolina has been doing it for a year now.

 

[zorry]

Indiana probably 5 years.

 

[Turtle]

It only went into effect a couple of months ago where you self-certify with the state and give them a copy of your medical certificate, and you no longer have to carry your medical card with you.

 

[zorry]

In 2006 Indiana threatened to pull my CDL over an incompletely done physical. They were one of the first few states messing with it.
I took 3 physicals before the clinic got it right.

 

[zorry]

It only went into effect a couple of months ago where you self-certify with the state and give them a copy of your medical certificate, and you no longer have to carry your medical card with you.

I think you still have to carry your medical card until all states get in line.

It's quite a burden, but I'll carry mine as long as they give me one.

Eventually it'll be coded into your CDL.

 

[Turtle]

I think you still have to carry your medical card until all states get in line.

Until Jan 30, 2014.

It's quite a burden, but I'll carry mine as long as they give me one.

In all my years with a medical card, I've only been asked for it by my state driver's licensing agency when renewing my CDL, and by my carrier after I've gotten the new medical card.

Eventually it'll be coded into your CDL.

Sooner than you think. And it's why people need to read those letters carefully. My medical certificate expired in September, but my CDL doesn't expire for 2 more years. I had to self-certify and then send in (email) a copy of my new medical card to the state driver's licensing agency before the expiration date of the old card.

Here's the information about it.
New Medical Certification Requirements: A Guide for Commercial Driver?s License (CDL) Holders - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

 

[layoutshooter]

"In all my years with a medical card, I've only been asked for it by my state driver's licensing agency when renewing my CDL, and by my carrier after I've gotten the new medical card."

It all depends on what kind of freight you haul and for what kind of shippers. We are asked for our medical cards OFTEN and many make copies of both our CDL's and Med cards before we can load.

 

[zorry]

I haul what Joe hauls and show it often too.

When I pulled bulk haz-mat I got a level one often.

Never leave home with out it.
I also keep a photocopy in my permit book.

 

[Turtle]

My statement still stands. It doesn't matter what kind of freight I haul or for whom I haul it, I've still nevertheless not once been asked to show my medical card by anyone other than the two entities I've already stated. That doesn't mean that others have different experiences, it only relays my own experiences. It's why I used the first person singular in my comment.

 

[zorry]

We share other real life experiences for the visitors..
It is common practice to be asked for it..

Maybe you've lived a SHELL-tered life ?

 

[Turtle]

We share other real life experiences for the visitors..
It is common practice to be asked for it..

Common practice to ask for what? Your real life experiences?

I simply stated my experience, then Layout quoted me and told me that it depends on what I hauled and who I hauled it for. Yet that's not true, because no matter what I've hauled or who I've hauled it for, I've never been asked for my card. If he's using a general "you" then he shouldn't have quoted me and tried to contradict my own experiences, because my experiences are what they are. I don't doubt that others have been asked for their card. It's just that I haven't.

Maybe you've lived a SHELL-tered life ?

Possibly. There are certain types of HAZMAT that I cannot haul in a van, maybe that explains it. But I have hauled sensitive and/or high dollar White Glove and Elite freight many times, and I have picked up and delivered in a few places where the normal security clearances won't get most expediters into. On the other hand, I have only had my van approached one time by a lit lizard, so maybe I have lived a SHELL-tered life.

 

[zorry]

I see where you're coming from.

The lit lizard. Coming to you about battery issues ?

 

[Turtle]

Typing lessons.

 

[pearlpro]

Im about to go back to my CDL A WITH THE TX endorsement, I scored pretty high on the haz mat after not having one for 9 years, I used to haul roofing materials and had to get a hazmat for the tars and Liquids they used in these Hi Rise roofing jobs, as far as the Medical Card last time I got my CDL B I had to sefl certify and supply a copy, I carry my Med Certificate and a copy of the long form in my permit book also, I enlarged the Med cert also....Il next year I believe will have this all on digital files ....

 

[Dynamite 1]

Get DOT'd, they will ask for it and what the rest are stating is correct on both sides. What most people haul never requires pulling out the card. Hauling govt., high value, etc. does sometimes require proof. We have been ask for it a few times since being here at load one for general freight that was valued quite high. In the past with Conway hauling Northrop Grumman loads they would ask on certain loads. Most depends on what it is.