Do you want a CDL HazMat endorsement and are a seasoned commercial truck driver? This article seeks to educate you on what the HazMat license is and how to receive a HazMat endorsement, whether you are just beginning the process or you are looking into what a HazMat endorsement is and how to obtain one, or you are prepared to begin preparing for the test.
What are a HazMat Endorsement’s Benefits?
Given that your interest in obtaining a HazMat endorsement was probably sparked by its advantages, we will start by looking through some of the more appealing advantages for drivers.
- Increased Salary Rates – Acquiring a HazMat endorsement sticker also often comes with a sizable pay boost because of the extra hazards associated with carrying hazardous goods.
- Resume Booster – A HazMat endorsement is an excellent approach to make your resume stand out. This is particularly helpful for drivers who are new to the profession and beginning the application process since it helps display initiative and gives you a more adaptable employee.
- Allows for Additional CDL Endorsements – Consider earning a tanker endorsement if you are applying for or already have your HazMat endorsement. A tanker endorsement (N) is referred to as an X endorsement when it is combined with a HazMat endorsement (H). You may transport 119 gallons of liquid gas and hazardous liquid with a tanker endorsement, which increases your revenue per mile.
How to Get a HazMat Endorsement
Your patience will be put to the test since getting your HazMat endorsement might take a long time. The prerequisites for obtaining a HazMat Endorsement are summarised here, along with information on how to do so.
- Being an American citizen or having naturalized
- Being a non-immigrant alien or a legal permanent resident
- Possess legal status as a refugee or asylee
- Pass a medical check and eye test to prove you are physically capable of doing the job.
- Possess a CDL issued by a U.S. state
If everything above is accurate, you will first need to go through a TSA Security Threat Assessment, a comprehensive background check meant to make sure it is safe for you to carry dangerous items. After that is finished, you must prepare for, take, and pass the DMV’s written test on hazardous materials CDL knowledge. You will have obtained your HazMat Endorsement after all of the aforementioned have been satisfactorily resolved.
Your HazMat license will be valid for the next five years after you have received it. You must reapply for your endorsement when it expires, go through the full TSA background check process again, provide fresh fingerprints, and pay the accompanying expenses. Please be aware that you may also need to retake & pass the written test in certain states.
Does it pay to get a HazMat Endorsement?
Obtaining a HazMat endorsement combined with other endorsements like the tanker endorsement is nearly always worthwhile if you are dedicated to developing your career as a truck driver. We constantly advise drivers to take the necessary steps to accumulate as many endorsements as possible since they may assist open a variety of employment options.
It is time to apply and begin your studies now that you are more knowledgeable about the prerequisites for a HazMat endorsement and how to get one. Call Truck Driver Academy at 909-655-4707 right away if you are still at the stage where you need your CDL. We are eager to assist you in starting and developing a career in the trucking sector.