Ohio Temp Permit Laws

When I was in school getting my CDL , it was the schools view, and is still their view to this day, is get whatever endorsements you want on your permit EXCEPT Haz-Mat. That is because the inspector/Trooper/Tester can (and will) test you on everything on every endorsement you have on your permit.

The example they use is that they had a student that tested just before my class started, and he had his Haz-Mat endorsement, went through the whole road test and was pulling up the road to return to the school BEFORE the inspector saw his hazmat. The Inspector told the student "oh, you have your hazmat endorsement, keep going by the school, we have to go back out" They went out and went over a set of railroad tracks. The student failed to stop before the tracks, and guess what, it was an automatic fail for the student. He had to go and pay for a retest, take the entire road test again, including the pre-trip, skills, and road test.

I know here in CT it cost $30 to get a new license with all current endorsements. For me, it makes sense to spent $30 to show the endorsement after you get it vs risk having an inspector that is looking to be a stickler. or if you want, get just the endorsements you need, combination, airbrakes, etc, then get doubles/triples, hazmat, tankers, metal coil (if Ohio is like NY and has a coil endorsement), then get them all added on at the same time to make the cost worth it....

For me, it makes sense to spent $30 to show the endorsement after you get it vs risk having an inspector that is looking to be a stickler

If getting your CDL license and endorsements were the ultimate goal, then I would agree. You should just get them the easiest way possible. But that's not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to learn how to drive safely and legally in the real world. To me, it makes no sense to get the endorsement at all if you're afraid of being held to that standard in the real world. Just skip the endorsement altogether, or don't drive a truck in the first place if you're afraid you can't follow the laws or perform at the level that's expected out there.

If your friend at school would've passed that driving exam he could have legally driven a big rig by himself. He would have immediately broken a major law the very first time he crossed a set of railroad tracks in a commercial vehicle with a Hazmat load. Now that won't happen because he'll never forget that law for the rest of his life. It's better for everyone that he failed the exam that first time.

Bottom line - if you're afraid to have someone test you on something then you're not ready to perform in the real world.

Sorry, but if he is going to be permitted to haul Hazmat then he needs to know the rules of hauling Hazmat. I haul Hazmat several times a week or more and sure it can be a pain having to stop at every rail road crossing and having to take special routes, so I agree with Brett better for him to learn that lesson now then forgetting while pulling Hazmat and getting in huge trouble.

Sorry but I gotta call BS on this story to the extent that having his HAZMAT endorsement caused an automatic fail:

The Inspector told the student "oh, you have your hazmat endorsement, keep going by the school, we have to go back out" They went out and went over a set of railroad tracks. The student failed to stop before the tracks, and guess what, it was an automatic fail for the student. He had to go and pay for a retest, take the entire road test again, including the pre-trip, skills, and road test.

Section 2.15.2 of the CDL manual regarding general driving (Non-hazmat section) says "All passenger and hazmat carrying vehicles are required to stop" at railroad crossings. I plan to get my HAZMAT, but I don't plan to get my passenger endorsement. However, if the tester said as I approached a railroad crossing, "assume you are a passenger carrying vehicle." If I failed to stop, I would not fail because the instructor was testing me on specific passenger carrying vehicle knowledge or the passenger carrying vehicle skills test. Rather, I would have failed because of general knowledge that I am required to know as part of the general knowledge section of the CDL manual.

Seems to me, The best way to go in this situation is to address it with the inspector up front. Simply tell him/her you have the Hazmat endorsement and ask them if they want you to take the test as if you were carrying the Hazmat even though you are not. That way you’re both on the same page and you know whats expected of you

If I failed to stop, I would not fail because the instructor was testing me on specific passenger-carrying vehicle knowledge or the passenger-carrying vehicle skills test. Rather, I would have failed because of general knowledge that I am required to know as part of the general knowledge section of the CDL manual

Wow, Rob D, you really nailed that! You're a sharp dude for digging up that quote from the general section of the CDL manual. You make an excellent point.

Unfortunately, many people approach getting their CDL as if passing the test is what matters most. They try to shortcut the learning process by memorizing test questions instead of learning the materials.

I'll ask people, "When you're going down a long, steep mountain grossing 78,000 pounds will you know how to use those brakes properly if all you've done is memorized test questions? Because if you do it wrong you'll probably kill yourself or the people around you. You must know this stuff. It's life or death."

Sorry but I gotta call BS on this story to the extent that having his HAZMAT endorsement caused an automatic fail:

The Inspector told the student "oh, you have your hazmat endorsement, keep going by the school, we have to go back out" They went out and went over a set of railroad tracks. The student failed to stop before the tracks, and guess what, it was an automatic fail for the student. He had to go and pay for a retest, take the entire road test again, including the pre-trip, skills, and road test.

Section 2.15.2 of the CDL manual regarding general driving (Non-hazmat section) says "All passenger and hazmat carrying vehicles are required to stop" at railroad crossings. I plan to get my HAZMAT, but I don't plan to get my passenger endorsement. However, if the tester said as I approached a railroad crossing, "assume you are a passenger carrying vehicle." If I failed to stop, I would not fail because the instructor was testing me on specific passenger carrying vehicle knowledge or the passenger carrying vehicle skills test. Rather, I would have failed because of general knowledge that I am required to know as part of the general knowledge section of the CDL manual.

The Inspector was specifically testing the student on the hazmat endorsement regulations (ie carrying a placardable hazmat load), not a non-hazmat load, not a "passenger carrying vehicle". So therefor, since the student failed to stop at a railroad crossing, the student failed.

Chris,

My point is that the inspector could do the same thing even if he didn't have a hazmat endorsement or passenger endorsement. It's part of the general knowledge that all drivers must know to obtain a CDL-A.

I get your point that because you have a Hazmat endorsement, an inspector may add a scenario that applies to a hazmat load. But the inspector can add any scenario that's part of the general knowledge. The requirement to stop at a railroad crossing is part of the general knowledge and therefore fair game on the road test.

And IMHO, knowing that vehicles carrying hazardous materials is also relevant to your general driving.

In fact, the Missouri Driver's license manual specifically states:

Vehicles carrying hazardous materials must stop at all railroad crossings. Be prepared.

As for me, I will get my hazmat endorsement and be prepared to handle any scenario on the road test. In fact, if the inspector says "oh, you have your hazmat endorsement, let's go back out" the first thing I'm going to be looking for is a railroad crossing.

Also, with regard to your story, I would guess that the inspector didn't feel comfortable with the student's driving ability, but had no objective reason to fail him. So at the end of the test, he added another scenario to give him another chance to fail him.

Also, with regard to your story, I would guess that the inspector didn't feel comfortable with the student's driving ability, but had no objective reason to fail him. So at the end of the test, he added another scenario to give him another chance to fail him.

That's highly speculative, and a little cynical.

I don't want to lose track of what matters - you must prepare yourself to perform safely and legally in the real world. Every moment of every day on the road is a test.

Chris,

My point is that the inspector could do the same thing even if he didn't have a hazmat endorsement or passenger endorsement. It's part of the general knowledge that all drivers must know to obtain a CDL-A.

I get your point that because you have a Hazmat endorsement, an inspector may add a scenario that applies to a hazmat load. But the inspector can add any scenario that's part of the general knowledge. The requirement to stop at a railroad crossing is part of the general knowledge and therefore fair game on the road test.

And IMHO, knowing that vehicles carrying hazardous materials is also relevant to your general driving.

In fact, the Missouri Driver's license manual specifically states:

Vehicles carrying hazardous materials must stop at all railroad crossings. Be prepared.

As for me, I will get my hazmat endorsement and be prepared to handle any scenario on the road test. In fact, if the inspector says "oh, you have your hazmat endorsement, let's go back out" the first thing I'm going to be looking for is a railroad crossing.

Also, with regard to your story, I would guess that the inspector didn't feel comfortable with the student's driving ability, but had no objective reason to fail him. So at the end of the test, he added another scenario to give him another chance to fail him.

Rob we constantly stress communication. My suggestion; inform the instructor you have the endorsement on your permit and inquire if you are to conduct yourself as if you have a placarded load or not. Own the outcome.

Brett's point is important and relevant...please do not focus entirely on passing the test, focus on knowing the information and knowledge that can ultimately safe your life.

Same thing holds true for the PTI...no different. Case in point, I had a trailer on Saturday with faulty turn-signals and hazards, dark clearance lights. Could not determine from the cab they were malfunctioning. If I had not performed a through pre-trip on the trailer coupled and connected, nothing would have stopped me from taking it out and delivering to three stores in the congested and impatient heart of North Jersey; Linden, Secaucus & North Bergen. Imagine the possibilities with an inability to signal my intentions of a left hand turn or in the event of a roadside breakdown without the trailer emergency-lights blinking. The traffic on NJ 3 & 1-9 is beyond belief during the holiday shopping season.