How to Earn a Hazmat Endorsement on Your CDL
Beginning new career training as a truck driver can be a life-changing experience. Before you start schooling, however, it helps to understand all the opportunities that may become available to you. Applying a hazmat endorsement to your CDL lets you haul more specialized freight. New England Tractor Trailer Training School (NETTTS) introduces hazmat endorsement, requirements for application, and what this CDL endorsement does for a truck driver below.
What Is A Hazmat Endorsement?
Hazmat comes from the term hazardous material. It refers to any material or chemical that can be dangerous if handled improperly. Anything that poses a reasonable risk to health, property, or the environment can qualify. This can include but is not limited to:
- Radioactive waste
- Battery-powered equipment
- Gasoline
- Natural gas
- Poisons and pesticides
- Flammable and combustible materials
- Corrosive agents
- Explosives
Hazardous materials require special placards to warn other drivers and cargo handlers that you carry potentially dangerous cargo. Hazmat cargo may require a higher level of care during loading and unloading and compliance with federal and state regulations to ensure your safety and the safety of other drivers on the road.
A hazmat endorsement, or H endorsement, is a special classification applied to your CDL that demonstrates your proficiency and familiarity with protocol. Only drivers with hazmat endorsements are enabled to operate vehicles that contain hazardous materials.
Benefits of Adding Endorsements to Your CDL
Earning your hazmat endorsement requires additional training beyond entry-level CDL training. This extra effort, however, can become a valuable investment in your career. Endorsements can offer a variety of advantages to the CDL holder by opening up the opportunity to haul different types of cargo or operate specialized commercial vehicles like tanker trucks or double, and even triple-trailers. By earning a hazmat endorsement, you may enjoy:
- Salary: Drivers in hazmat transportation can be eligible to earn higher salaries than entry-level drivers and may also enjoy better benefits.
- Flexibility: Additional certifications open more options when searching for a job. This provides more flexibility to choose opportunities that provide better benefits or match your ideal hours.
- Security: Some employers require drivers to have specific endorsements, making you more competitive during hiring and more likely to keep a position.
- Advancement: A hazmat endorsement may help you stand out as a candidate for promotion, creating extra potential for advancement.
Hazmat Endorsement Requirements
The requirements to apply for hazmat endorsement vary between states. If you are planning to apply for an endorsement, be sure to check your state’s requirements and make sure you qualify. These are the requirements for states NETTTS students typically reside in:
- Connecticut: Be at least 21 years old; be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or hold a valid Employment Authorization Document.
- Massachusetts: Be at least 21 years old; be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or hold a valid Employment Authorization Document; pass a Transportation Security Administration background check.
- Rhode Island: Be at least 21 years old; be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or hold a valid Employment Authorization Document; pass a security check and a Transportation Security Administration background check.
For elsewhere in the U.S., check your state government website for its hazmat endorsement requirements.
Taking the Endorsement Exam
The final step to earning your hazmat endorsement is a written exam. The exam evaluates your knowledge of hazardous material transportation to ensure that you are ready to handle dangerous freight safely. You will be tested on topics such as:
- Federal and state hazmat regulations
- Guidelines for safe transport of hazardous materials
- Procedure for loading and unloading
Though you must hold a valid CDL to earn an endorsement, you can begin training early. Exam preparation courses may be available through your local trucker school and can be taken alongside your CDL training. Planning ahead for a career in hazmat transportation can help you select the appropriate CDL school and get onto the road sooner.
Complete CDL Training Before Pursuing Hazmat Endorsement
If you’re interested in pursuing hazmat endorsement, first complete CDL training at NETTTS. We are a training school with four campuses located in Somers, CT, Bridgeport, CT, Pawtucket, RI, and North Andover and Haverhill, MA, serving the states of CT, RI, NH, and MA with tractor-trailer training. Our students enjoy a variety of benefits, including:
- A fleet of trucks for yard and on-road training
- Experienced instructors with at least 3 years of professional driving
- Flexible scheduling with morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend classes
- Small monthly payments that can extend beyond graduation
- Financial aid available for students who qualify
- Career services to connect you within the industry
NETTTS also has in-house representatives who can help you understand your opportunities and walk you through the financial aid and application process if you qualify. Contact us today to get started or learn more about our CDL Training Programs.