Is the class 9 miscellaneous placard the only one with black and white stripes?
No. Class 9 (miscellaneous) is white with seven black vertical stripes on top and a 9 below, but it is not the only black-and-white placard. Class 8 corrosives also use black and white: a white top half with a corrosion symbol, a solid black bottom half, and the number 8.
Class 9 is black and white, but not alone
It is easy to assume any black-and-white diamond is Class 9, but Class 8 corrosives are black and white too. Class 9 uses seven black vertical stripes on a white top with a 9 at the bottom. Class 8 uses a white top half showing liquid dripping onto a hand and a surface, a solid black bottom half, and an 8.
How to tell Class 8 and Class 9 apart
The layouts are completely different once you look. Class 9 has stripes and no central symbol. Class 8 has a clear corrosion symbol on top and a solid black lower half. And of course the numbers differ: 8 for corrosive, 9 for miscellaneous.
Why it matters on the test
A question can rely on you assuming black and white means Class 9. Read the actual pattern (stripes versus corrosion symbol) and the number. Practicing the two side by side makes the difference obvious. Verify the specifics with your official manual.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Class 9 the only black-and-white placard?
- No. Class 8 (corrosives) is also black and white, with a corrosion symbol on a white top and a solid black bottom half. Class 9 uses black vertical stripes on a white top. Confirm with your official manual.
- What does the Class 9 placard look like?
- A white diamond with seven black vertical stripes on the upper half and the number 9 at the bottom, with no central symbol.
- What does the Class 8 placard look like?
- A white top half showing liquid dripping onto a hand and a surface, a solid black bottom half, and the number 8. Verify with your official state CDL manual.