DOT HAZMAT Transportation FAQs

Hazardous materials are substances or chemicals that pose a health, physical or environmental hazard. According to the DOT, they include materials that the Secretary of the Department of Transportation has designated as posing an unreasonable threat to the public and the environment.

Hazardous materials include:

• Hazardous substances
• Hazardous wastes
• Marine pollutants
• Elevated temperature material
• And other toxic substances

DOT HAZMAT definitions can be found under 172.101 and Part 173 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires all employees who handle or transport hazardous materials to undergo safety training within 90 days of starting a job or changing job duties.

We offer two complete DOT HAZMAT transportation training courses that satisfy all DOT-required topics outlined in 172.704 Subpart H:

DOT HAZMAT Transportation: Basic General Awareness Training satisfies general training requirements for HM-181 and provides an essential overview of important hazardous materials regulations.

DOT HAZMAT Transportation: All-in-One Training provides a comprehensive training solution for any employee who needs to satisfy DOT HAZMAT requirements, including carriers who transport hazardous materials by highway, rail, air or water.

Both courses cover all DOT-required topics outlined in 172.704 Subpart H, including:

• General awareness/familiarization training
• Function-specific training
• Safety training
• Security awareness training
• In-depth security training

Throughout DOT HAZMAT transportation training, students will learn how to safely handle, transport, package, store, load and unload hazardous materials.

Our HAZMAT transportation training courses are designed for employees who handle, package, store or move hazardous materials. They also apply to workers who respond to emergency situations that involve hazardous materials.

The training you need depends on your job’s role in hazardous materials transportation. The more you handle hazardous materials, the more detailed your HAZMAT training should be.

DOT HAZMAT Transportation: Basic General Awareness Training is a basic overview of hazardous materials transportation regulations, including handling, packaging, labeling and other fundamental HAZMAT concepts. This course is best for most shippers, packagers, office workers, labelers and HAZMAT identification workers. It meets all DOT training requirements for UPS, FedEx and DHL.

DOT HAZMAT Transportation: All-in-One Training additionally covers DOT requirements for shipping hazardous materials by highway, railway, water or air. This is the course of choice for vehicle operators, supervisors or managers who are involved in multiple forms of HAZMAT transportation.

DOT HAZMAT certificate training — also known as DOT HAZMAT Employee Training — refers to any training course that teaches workers how to safely handle and transport hazardous materials in accordance with U.S. Department of Transportation regulations. Upon completion of either DOT HAZMAT Transportation: All-in-One Training or DOT HAZMAT Transportation: Basic General Awareness Training, students receive a certificate of completion.

HM-181 is another common name for DOT HAZMAT transportation training. An HM-181 certificate is required for individuals and companies that transport, package and label hazardous materials. The DOT requires training for anyone who performs functions related to Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), including driving, loading, handling and transporting hazardous materials.

HAZMAT employees are required to complete DOT-compliant training within 90 days of starting employment or a change in job function. The DOT also requires HAZMAT employees to repeat this training every three years.

The DOT requires HAZMAT employees to repeat DOT HAZMAT transportation training at least once every three years.

Both DOT HAZMAT Transportation: All-in-One Training and DOT HAZMAT Transportation: Basic General Awareness Training satisfy the recurring training requirement.

Our DOT HAZMAT transportation courses cover all DOT-required topics outlined in 172.704 Subpart H:

• General awareness/familiarization training
• Function-specific training
• Safety training
• Security awareness training
• In-depth security training

DOT HAZMAT Transportation: All-in-One Training contains additional modules, including carrier requirements for highway, rail, air and water transportation of hazardous materials.

DOT HAZMAT Transportation: Basic General Awareness Training takes at least four hours to complete. This course satisfies basic HM-181 training requirements.

Our more detailed course, DOT HAZMAT Transportation: All-in-One Training, includes at least seven hours of education. All-in-One training provides a more comprehensive overview of HAZMAT regulations for vehicle operators, managers and supervisors.

Either class will satisfy the training requirements of 49 CFR 172.704 Subpart H and provide you with a certificate of completion. All course instruction and testing is available 100% online.

To earn your DOT HAZMAT transportation training certificate, you must pass a brief quiz at the end of each module as well as a final exam.

Each course module ends with a brief quiz, and you’re required to score 70% or higher to pass. The final exam includes 15 questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.

Our online DOT HAZMAT transportation courses provide a variety of benefits, including:

• Satisfy HM-181 Training Requirements with One Course
• Instantly Download Your Certificate of Completion
• Certificate Valid for Three Years
• Audio Narration Included
• Bulk Discounts Available

Yes, our online HAZMAT training programs satisfy all DOT training requirements outlined in 49 CFR 172.704 Subpart H.

HAZMAT employers are required to create and retain up-to-date records of current DOT training for each HAZMAT employee. It must include information for at least the past three years. Employers must retain these records for HAZMAT workers for the full length of their employment and for 90 days after employment ends.

Training records must include:

• The HAZMAT employee’s name
• The most recent training completion date
• A description copy or location of the training materials used
• The name and address of the person providing the training
• Certification that the HAZMAT employee was trained and tested as required

Under Section 172.704(d), employers must create and retain records of current training for each HAZMAT employee. The certificate of completion provided by HAZMAT transportation training can be used to satisfy that training and recordkeeping requirement.

DOT HAZMAT Transportation: All-in-One Training offers continuing education units (CEUs). It is accepted for 1.34 Industrial Hygiene CM Points by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) and 0.8 Continuance of Certification (COC) points from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP).

Students will learn to:

• Identify Hazardous Materials
• Package Hazardous Materials
• Report Incidents
• Maintain Security
• Classify Hazardous Materials
• Document Shipping
• Navigate the Hazardous Materials Table
• And more

Topics are compliant with DOT regulations and satisfy training requirements for HAZMAT handlers.

Yes. However, new employees can perform hazardous materials functions before they finish training if they work under the supervision of a trained HAZMAT employee.