Endorsements: Hazmat And Tanker
Topic 29800 | Page 1
Yes you can. It's actually best to go ahead and knock them out now. After you're driving it's hard to get them done because you're just going to be too busy. I did all my endorsements at the same time I tested for the permit.
Not only yes, but it is better to do it now, especially the HazMat.
You now need a hard card License to do the TSA part of the HazMat (paper temp is not acceptable). If you wait until you pass the CDL Skills Test, then you'll have to wait up to a month or so until you receive your new hard card in the mail (as many DMVs will take your old card instead of hole-punching it), or can use a Passport.
The TSA HazMat process takes a month once started, so at best it is a month delay, and possibly more than two.
Get it done now so you are immediately employable after passing Skills.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
How about doubles and triples, should I get that endorsement also ?
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
How about doubles and triples, should I get that endorsement also ?
Funny you should ask. For the first time that I can ever remember FedEx contracted out hauling doubles to O/O a few weeks ago. We were so backed up due to the weather in the Midwest we couldn't catch up.
Point being, in general folks would say 'NO' about getting your doubles endorsement. I mean, who would use it?
But there were these two long-nosed Petes sat in our yard hooked to a couple of sets so I know we found at least two drivers that had the endorsement :)
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
How about doubles and triples, should I get that endorsement also ?
Might as well, it doesn't hurt to have it even if you do not use it. Plus like Auggie said LTL companies are backed up and have been using 3rd parties, I have see a couple different OTR companies pulling sets.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
I would reccomend getting a TWIC as well especially if you get a hazmat it may even save you some money if you already have the HAZ endorsement. I'm actually renewing mine tomorrow.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
How about doubles and triples, should I get that endorsement also ?
Might as well, it doesn't hurt to have it even if you do not use it. Plus like Auggie said LTL companies are backed up and have been using 3rd parties, I have see a couple different OTR companies pulling sets.
I will say if you have the endorsement, be prepared to use it :) Hooking doubles or triples can be somewhat involved.
In our case, and what would probably happen a majority of the time, the O/O were just "Power only". In other words, the sets they picked up were already put together. All they had to do was backup and go.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
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I would like to get some advise on endorsements. I have obtained my CLP and DOT Medical Card. I am waiting to start CDL School in about 10 days. Some of the companies that I am interested in possibly working for after obtaining my CDL require Hazmat and Tanker Endorsements prior to starting training with them.
While I am waiting around to start school, can I take the tests for the endorsements?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
CLP:
Commercial Learner's Permit
Before getting their CDL, commercial drivers will receive their commercial learner's permit (CLP) upon passing the written portion of the CDL exam. They will not have to retake the written exam to get their CDL.