Hazmat endorsement? Yes or no?

[mf2004champ]

Hi,

I'm going through trucking school currently and have been trying to decide if I should get the Hazmat endorsement? It is $94.00 for the background check, plus they say you have to get tested every 2 years.

Are many co's requiring Hazmat, especially flatbeds b/c I'm leaning towards flats. I know TMC doesn't require it.

Is it worth getting for a newbie?

thanks guys.

[Sentinel]

Hi,

I'm going through trucking school currently and have been trying to decide if I should get the Hazmat endorsement? It is $94.00 for the background check, plus they say you have to get tested every 2 years.

Are many co's requiring Hazmat, especially flatbeds b/c I'm leaning towards flats. I know TMC doesn't require it.

Is it worth getting for a newbie?

thanks guys.

I would recommend the endorsement as well as the remainder. Not sure how many companies, which ones, require Hazmat but even those that do not regularly haul Hazmat from time to time may. Having the Hazmat, especially in companies that do not haul much, provides additional opportunities for loads to haul. Also, if you consider another company it is better to have the endorsement now as your options do open up.

[Sealord]

Having a HazMat endorsement and TSA approval allows a greater selection of loads, even for flats. I've hauled bagged feritilizer, which requires placarding, on a flatbed. BOL

[btinc]

Get the hazmat endorsement, you might come across a great paying job that requires it one day and not have and miss out on a great job.

[Blacksheep]

Hi,

I'm going through trucking school currently and have been trying to decide if I should get the Hazmat endorsement? It is $94.00 for the background check, plus they say you have to get tested every 2 years.

Are many co's requiring Hazmat, especially flatbeds b/c I'm leaning towards flats. I know TMC doesn't require it.

Is it worth getting for a newbie?

thanks guys.

Go ahead and get it, the test is quite simple as long as you read the study guide put out by your state.
It just gives you more opportunities to make money. :wink:

[mf2004champ]

Thanks guys for the quick responses.

[trick_knee]

All I can say is just get it now while you're still in learning/testing mode. $94.00 isn't really THAT much money. Same with the other endorsements, none of them are a big deal as long as you study the book. I got them all, just to have them, you never know. It sure felt good when I interviewed for my current job and they asked, "You got Hazmat?" Yep. "Doubles?" Yep. Wasn't sure if I would ever use Hazmat, NEVER thought I would use doubles, yet here I am running a set nearly every day. Don't know if I'll ever use the Tanker endorsement, but at least the option is there.

[Blacksheep]

All I can say is just get it now while you're still in learning/testing mode. $94.00 isn't really THAT much money. Same with the other endorsements, none of them are a big deal as long as you study the book. I got them all, just to have them, you never know. It sure felt good when I interviewed for my current job and they asked, "You got Hazmat?" Yep. "Doubles?" Yep. Wasn't sure if I would ever use Hazmat, NEVER thought I would use doubles, yet here I am running a set nearly every day. Don't know if I'll ever use the Tanker endorsement, but at least the option is there.

Yea there was no such thing as a CDL when I started, you didn't need any endorsements.
Grand fathered in, but I hold all endorsements because you never know what you'll be doing down the road.

[tjv189]

I have been told by a couple different drivers to not bother with HAZMAT unless you absolutely need it, because it can end up just being a hassle a lot of times. Take it for what its worth.

[Skywalker]

I have been told by a couple different drivers to not bother with HAZMAT unless you absolutely need it, because it can end up just being a hassle a lot of times. Take it for what its worth.

And if you asked 10,000 drivers who have and have had their hazmat endorsement for at least 5 active years of driving employment if it was worth having..... 98% or more would say yes.

Me, I drive for Superior Carriers, a Tanker Company that pulls alot of bulk liquid hazmat....so having the X (hazmat and tanker endorsement combined) is mandatory. My company also reimburses us for the cost of the hoopla.

If you know you are going to work for a company that pulls hazmat, get it, even if its not mandatory.....because it can make the difference between sitting and waiting for a load, and getting a load while others sit and wait.

There really isn't that much of drill to go through when you are pulling a box or skateboard....at least not like we have with tanks. Its a little different when you are working with a smooth bore tank with valves and all,.... but if you learn the stuff and get good at it...its no more a hassle than shifting or anything else.

I guess what I'm saying is if "you want to enhance your earnings, or increase your potential to earn.....get the endorsement".

[Malaki86]

I've had my HazMat since I got my cdl 7 years ago. I've hauled a grand total of 3 hazmat loads. Was it worth getting? Hmmm - the loads paid me nothing additional for the extra headaches. So, myself, when my license renewal comes up next year, the hazmat is gone. Definitely not worth spending the time/money to get the TSA background for it.

[crankyazz]

to me it's just not worth it. you get more hastle from DOT. not to mention all the other headaches... just my two cents.

[Skywalker]

to me it's just not worth it. you get more hastle from DOT. not to mention all the other headaches... just my two cents.

Thats interesting.... I've heard people say that, but on the other hand, I have never had that experience. In fact I would say the opposite.... they seem to make an effort to not bother me when I have placards on.... Maybe its just been my lucky days!!

[GMAN]

I have had a hazmat endorsement since they started issuing them. I haven't hauled a hazmat load in probably at least 2 years. Before that, perhaps 1 per year at the most. The hazmat loads I got during the preceding years paid more than anything else, at the time. I am not sure it was worth it for one load.

I haven't had any more hassle due to having placards on my trailer. There were rumors after 9/11 that they were cracking down. Kentucky was supposed to be stopping all hazmat loads. I hauled a placarded load into Kentucky right after I heard the rumor. I was never stopped. Unless you or your company has a poor safety record, I see no reason why you should be stopped any more frequently than a non hazmat load. At least I have never had a problem.

[PhuzzyGnu]

I've pulled loads with 9 placards from Crane, IN to Houston with no problems. I've pulled local loads with 1 placard in Houston and got DOT'd twice in one day.

Go figure. I don't see any extra hassling and I pull placarded loads every day.

I say get the endorsement. Better to have it and not need it that need it and not have it, I say. Experience and flexibility pay off in this industry. All I haul in Haz-mat, and I've hauled it with vans, tankers, flatbeds, intermodals, roll-offs, and straight trucks. Haven't done an end-dump load yet, but my company does have some end-dump trailers, so it's only a matter of time.

When it's time to change jobs I'll be able to pick my job.

-p.

[Ian Williams]

I've pulled loads with 9 placards from Crane, IN to Houston with no problems. I've pulled local loads with 1 placard in Houston and got DOT'd twice in one day.

Go figure. I don't see any extra hassling and I pull placarded loads every day.

I say get the endorsement. Better to have it and not need it that need it and not have it, I say. Experience and flexibility pay off in this industry. All I haul in Haz-mat, and I've hauled it with vans, tankers, flatbeds, intermodals, roll-offs, and straight trucks. Haven't done an end-dump load yet, but my company does have some end-dump trailers, so it's only a matter of time.

When it's time to change jobs I'll be able to pick my job.

-p.

9 Placards! What was the load?

Its pretty much mandatory on the LTL side this racket. I'm not aware of any reputable LTL carrier that will hire you without it.

[PhuzzyGnu]

It was a military haz-waste pickup from the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center.

Flammable Gas 2
Flammable liquid 3
Flammable solid 4.1
Spontaneously Combustible 4.2
Dangerous when wet 4.3
Oxidizer 5.1
Toxic 6
Corrosive 8
Bulk 3077 class 9

My personal record is 12 placards on a load of New Orleans Katrina Haz-Waste, which my company hauls out. We're over 2,500 truckloads I'm told.

-p.

[belpre122]

My personal record is 12 placards on a load of New Orleans Katrina Haz-Waste, which my company hauls out. We're over 2,500 truckloads I'm told.

-p.

Phuzzy,
That would have made one hell of a pic :shock:

[mf2004champ]

After reading the responses I will be getting my Hazmat b/c my goal in a few years after going OTR is too work for a tanker company hauling and delivering gasoline locally b/c it is tough to start a family driving OTR from what I am told.


I have talked with a Shell tanker driver and he told me he makes $70,000 per year! Sounds good to me, just hope the job is not impossible to get.

[Jack_07]

I am finished with trucking school and I go to take my pretrip test, backing range and driving test on monday, then on thursday I go to get my fingerprints taken for the hazmat, but Tuesday I can go take to hazmat written exam at DMV, trying to get my ducks in a row.
The company I am going to work for makes hazmat a requirement.