The basic description of a hazardous material includes the hazard class, the id number, and the proper shipping name. The identification number must appear first on the shipping paper.

CDL Manual Section: 9.3.5 – The Item Description * More than one year ago, the sequence of the basic description on hazardous materials shipping papers changed in the DOT regulations. Here is the new order of information per 49 CFR 172.202: Identification number Proper shipping name Hazard class Subsidiary hazard (in parentheses) Packing group To ease the transition to this new order, DOT is allowing shippers to use the old sequence of information until Jan. 1, 2013, which is: Proper shipping name Hazard class Subsidiary hazard (in parentheses) Identification number Packing group Here is the official regulation: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title49-vol2/pdf/CFR-2011-title49-vol2-sec172-202.pdf Apparently, many states have not picked up on this, as many official state CDL manuals still have the old sequence as the proper one. Until corrected, I advise using the order that's specified in YOUR state's CDL manual.