When do I need to placard my vehicle?

Table 1 materials (Class 1.1-1.3 explosives, toxic gas, dangerous when wet, radioactive) must ALWAYS be placarded regardless of quantity. Table 2 materials only require placarding when the total gross weight of all Table 2 hazmat on the vehicle is 1,001 pounds or more.

What is the DANGEROUS placard?

When you have 1,001+ pounds of two or more Table 2 hazard classes, you may use a single DANGEROUS placard instead of individual class placards. However, if 5,000+ pounds of any single Table 2 class is loaded, that class must have its own specific placard and cannot be replaced by DANGEROUS.

DOT Placard Calculator

Enter all the hazmat on your truck from your shipping papers. This tool calculates the minimum placards required for your mixed load per 49 CFR 172.504, including the Table 1/Table 2 rules and the DANGEROUS placard option.

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Placarding Rules Summary

Table 1 materials (49 CFR 172.504(e)) ALWAYS require placarding regardless of quantity. These are the most dangerous: Class 1.1-1.3 explosives, Class 2.3 toxic gas, Class 4.3 dangerous when wet, Class 6.1 PG I (toxic inhalation hazard), and Class 7 radioactive.

Table 2 materials require placarding only when the aggregate gross weight of all Table 2 hazmat on the vehicle is 1,001 lbs or more. Below 1,001 lbs, no Table 2 placards are needed.

DANGEROUS placard option: When you have 1,001+ lbs of two or more Table 2 classes, you MAY use a single DANGEROUS placard instead of separate class placards. Exception: if 5,000+ lbs of one Table 2 class is loaded, that class MUST have its own placard (not DANGEROUS).

Subsidiary hazards: Some materials require subsidiary placards in addition to the primary. For example, a corrosive material that is also flammable may need both CORROSIVE and FLAMMABLE placards.

Need to look up a UN number? Use our UN Number Lookup for full hazard info, ERG guides, and emergency response data. Check Special Provisions for packaging and transport requirements.