Commercial Driver Handbook ( PDF ) - California Department of ...

• You drift between lanes, tailgate, or miss
traffic signs.
• You keep jerking the truck back into the lane.
• You have drifted off the road and narrowly
missed crashing.
If you have even one of these symptoms, you may
be in danger of falling asleep. Pull off the road in
a safe place and take a nap.
When you do BeCome sleepy
When you are sleepy, trying to “push on” is far
more dangerous than most drivers think. It is a
major cause of fatal accidents. Here are some
important rules to follow:
• Stop to sleep. When your body needs sleep,
sleep is the only thing that will work. If you
have to make a stop anyway, make it whenever
you feel the first signs of sleepiness, even if
it is earlier than you planned. By getting up
a little earlier the next day, you can keep on
schedule without the danger of driving while
you are not alert.
• Take a nap. If you can’t stop for the night, at
least pull off at a safe place, such as a rest area
or truck stop, and take a nap. A nap as short as
a half-hour will do more to overcome fatigue
than a half-hour coffee stop.
• Avoid drugs. There are no drugs that can
overcome being tired. While they may keep
you awake for a while, they won’t make you
alert. And eventually, you’ll be even more tired
than if you hadn’t taken them at all. Sleep is
the only thing that can overcome fatigue.
• Do not. Do not rely on coffee or another source
of caffeine to keep you awake. Do not count
on the radio, an open window, or other tricks
to keep you awake.
IllneSS
Once in awhile, you may become so ill or fatigued
that you cannot operate a motor vehicle safely. If
this happens, you must not drive. In case of an
emergency, drive only to the nearest place where
you can safely stop.
hAzmAt RuleS FOR All
cOmmeRcIAl DRIVeRS
All drivers should know something about hazardous
materials (HazMat) and wastes. You must be
able to recognize hazardous cargo and you must
know whether you can transport it without having
a HazMat endorsement on your CDL.
To get a HazMat endorsement, you must pass a
written test based on the information in Section 9
of this handbook. You also will need a tank vehicle
endorsement if you transport hazardous products
in a cargo tank.
If you apply for an original or renewal HazMat
endorsement, you must undergo a Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) federal security
threat assessment (background records check). You
start the TSA background records check after you
apply for your CDL at DMV, successfully complete
all appropriate law tests, and submit a valid medical
form. You must submit fingerprints, a fee, and any
additional required information to one of TSA’s
designated agents. You must also provide the TSA
agent with a copy of your CDL permit and one of
the following identification documents:
• A California DL/ID card.
• An out-of-state DL.
• Your CDL permit accompanied by a DMV
photo receipt.
For a list of TSA agent sites, go online at
hazprints.tsa.dhs.gov or call 1-877-429-7746.
What are the rules?
The Federal Hazardous Materials Table lists
materials that are hazardous. They can be a risk to
health, safety, and property during transportation.
You must follow the many rules about transporting
them. The intent of hazardous materials rules and
regulations is to:
• Contain the product.
• Communicate the risk.
• Ensure safe drivers and equipment.
To contain the product. Many hazardous products
can injure or kill on contact. In order to protect
drivers and others from contact, the rules tell
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