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DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation

This course covers the fundamentals of shipping hazardous materials by ground. Our 10-step approach encompasses the activities which must be addressed when preparing a hazardous material for shipment. Participants will learn how to classify hazardous materials, select proper packaging, mark and label containers, and prepare required shipping documents, all in accordance with the USDOT regulations. New requirements enacted over the past year are highlighted throughout the course.

The USDOT requires training for anyone who handles hazardous materials including individuals who ship or receive hazardous materials, prepare hazardous materials for transportation, mark and label containers, complete shipping documents, select packaging and load or unload hazardous materials.

This course is designed to meet the training requirements as specified in 49 CFR 172.700 Subpart H, which specify that employees must be trained at least once every three years. At the completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate which includes the participants name, completion date, and copy of the test scores. The certificate includes the name and address of the trainer as required for recordkeeping.

This course is based on the requirements for training as specified in 49 CFR 172 Subpart H, including testing of participants. This training is also referred to as HM-181 training, Subpart H training, and hazmat training. While this course is meant to satisfy DOT's general training requirements, it does not go into detail on the shipping of radioactive materials.

This course does not cover driver training as required for each hazmat employee who will operate a motor vehicle.

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Course Fee
$175.00 USD
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Includes:

  • Instant Access
  • Certificate, Wallet Card, Scoresheet
  • Accepted by: DOT

For help call Toll-Free 866-523-9108

Group Discount Information

Shipping by Air?
If you are shipping hazardous materials (dangerous goods) by air, we suggest you take a look at our IATA Dangerous Goods online course.

  • Who Should Attend
  • Objectives
  • Topics
  • Instructor
  • Contact Hours

Who Should Attend

Hazardous materials (hazmat) training now applies to any individual who;
  • Ships hazardous materials by ground;
  • Loads, unloads, or handles hazardous materials;
  • Marks, labels, or otherwise prepares containers, drums, or packagings for transportation of hazardous materials;
  • Prepares hazardous materials shipping papers for transportation;
  • Is responsible for safety of transporting hazardous materials;

Objectives

Upon completion of this online course, participants should be able to:
  • locate and use the Federal hazardous materials regulations;
  • properly label and mark hazardous material containers for shipment;
  • complete Bill of Lading for hazardous materials;
  • select proper packaging for hazardous materials;
  • understand the vehicle placarding requirements;
  • develop appropriate emergency response information to accompany shipments;and
  • understand security awareness and plan requirements.

Topics

  • General awareness and familiarization
  • Identification of hazardous materials
  • Packaging operations
  • Marking and labeling
  • Shipping papers
  • Placarding
  • Security Awareness & Plan
  • Federal Register update

Instructor

Linda R. Taylor, PE
Ms. Taylor is a faculty member in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Technology at NC State University and is the former Director of Environmental Health & Safety at North Carolina State University's IES. She has over 20 years of engineering experience working in industry and environmental consulting, most recently with Progress Energy. She has provided instruction on a wide range of environmental, health, and safety topics at conferences and training courses, both live and online, and she is an OSHA authorized instructor.

Ms. Taylor received a BS in Civil Engineering from Stanford University and a MS in Environmental Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Valuable assistance was provided by CDM during the development of this course.

Contact Hours

4 Contact Hours
This represents the estimated time to complete the online course, including exercises. Actual times may vary from user to user.

Training Requirement

Citation: 49 CFR 172.704 (Subpart H)

DOT's training requirements for shipping hazardous materials is located in 49 CFR Part 172 Subpart H. In addition to initial training [49 CFR 172.704(c)(1)], DOT requires "recurrent training" every 3 three years.

"A hazmat employee shall receive the training required by this subpart at least once every three years." [49 CFR 172.704(c)(2)]

Refresher Training Required: Every 3 year(s).

Course FAQs

Is this course "certified" by the DOT?

No. The DOT does not certify courses. Neither does OSHA or EPA. This means that while our courses are not certified, neither are any other courses. We know this is difficult to believe and even more difficult to accept. According to 49 CFR 172.702:

(a) A hazmat employer shall ensure that each of its hazmat employees is trained in accordance with the requirements prescribed in this subpart. And then in

(b) ...It is the duty of each hazmat employer to comply with the applicable requirements of this subchapter and to thoroughly instruct each hazmat employee in relation thereto.

(c) Training may be provided by the hazmat employer or other public or private sources.

(d) A hazmat employer shall ensure that each of its hazmat employees is tested by appropriate means on the training subjects covered in Sec. 172.704.

We get this question a lot, so it really is a Frequently Asked Question. It's also a FAQ for the DOT, and here's how they answer it:

Q. Who certifies that an instructor is qualified to train, test, and certify in accordance with ยง 172.704?

A. Except for certain FAA required CFR 14 training, the U.S. DOT does not review or certify training programs for pre-approval purposes. The employer must determine a trainer's qualifications based on their need.

Q. Does the trainer who teaches and tests the hazmat employee, certify that the hazmat employee is trained/tested?

A. No, the hazmat employer must certify that the employee has been trained and tested.

But I've seen DOT "certified" courses elsewhere... what's up with that?

Good question. We wonder that same thing. Perhaps "DOT Certified" means that the course was certified by the Dipolar Oscillating Transistor... because the Department of Transportation does not certify third-party training courses. Or perhaps it means they have self-certified the course for their own employees. Or perhaps they offer a DOT Certification course, which means they offer a course that is intended to help you certify your employees (we hope this is what they mean).

If I take this course, will I be certified?

That's entirely up to your company, the "hazmat employer". The regulations place the onus on the company to ensure ("certify") that their employees are adequately trained. A training course that is perfect for one company may be entirely inadequate for another. If you have questions about whether one of our courses is appropriate for your situation, feel free to contact us and we'll do our best to answer your questions.

Your DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation Course is 4 contact hours. Is this comparable to the 2 day DOT course other providers offer?

Yes, we think so. Our DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation Course meets the requirements for training as specified in 49 CFR 172 Subpart H, including testing of participants. It covers the same material that is usually presented in a 2 day course. The contact hours we present are a rough estimate of the time it might take an average user to complete the course. We've found that it is highly variable and depends on the individual. Also take into consideration that in the 2 day course there are lunch breaks, numerous other breaks, and usually time given to familiarize yourself with the DOT book and tables.

The course fee entitles a single user to participate in the online course for at least six (6) months. Requests for additional time will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but are almost always honored. Hardcopy certificates are mailed (first class for domestic locations/standard airmail for international locations) and included in the course fee. Expedited shipping costs are additional.