Beyond CDL Training: Earning Endorsements
Every day, tractor trailer drivers supply goods and materials to restaurants, retailers, factories, and businesses across the country. Most of this freight can be delivered by any professional driver with a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Certain types of cargo, however, require specialized training for transport which require CDL endorsements.
New England Tractor Trailer Training School (NETTTS) provides CDL training programs for prospective drivers in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Find out how a CDL endorsement can lead to new opportunities as a CDL truck driver.
Explore Niches Within CDL Driving
Endorsements are special permissions that can be earned and applied to your CDL. They let drivers pull more types of cargo, operate specialized vehicles, or haul specific kinds of freight. Many of these niches can be more rewarding than standard truck driving. As a result, endorsements can be a way for drivers to become more specialized. Other benefits of earning endorsements include:
- Flexibility: The more endorsements you have, the more diverse jobs you can take. More options mean greater flexibility to select the driving jobs that best meet your needs.
- Employability: In the hiring process, employers may prioritize drivers with diverse endorsements, making you a more competitive job applicant.
- Security: Extra qualifications may help you hold onto jobs as demands or requirements change in the industry.
- Advancement: Endorsements can open opportunities for specialized jobs and higher-ranking positions, helping you advance in the industry.
Earning a CDL endorsement requires additional training to prepare for a knowledge or skills test. This can be a worthwhile way to invest in your future as a CDL truck driver.
Types of CDL Endorsements
Though endorsements aren’t earned until after licensing, student drivers can plan for them early in their training. Requirements also vary between states. Be sure to check your state’s requirements when preparing for your test:
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) outlines six types of CDL endorsement for different types of commercial vehicles or freight. Each provides a unique opportunity for drivers to operate within a new niche, ranging from tanker driver to hazmat.
T Endorsement
Also known as doubles and triples, this endorsement lets you pull two or three trailers. Drivers can pull more cargo with an extra trailer, which may be ideal for long-distance hauling, towing, or construction. The T endorsement can be earned with a knowledge test.
P Endorsement
Passenger drivers will want to earn the P endorsement. This allows you to operate commercial vehicles designed for 16 or more people, including the driver. This includes shuttles and both commercial and school buses. The application involves both a knowledge test and a skill test.
N Endorsement
This endorsement lets you drive tank vehicles that hold liquid or gas. Most states require an N endorsement if the total volume of all tanks is over 1,000 gallons, or if the tanks individually hold over 119 gallons. Earning it requires completing a knowledge test.
H Endorsement
If you wish to transport hazardous materials, you will need the H endorsement. This endorsement allows drivers to haul any substance that requires a safety placard under FMCSA hazardous material and dangerous goods regulations. Earning one involves a knowledge test.
X Endorsement
The X endorsement is a hybrid of the N and H endorsements, allowing drivers to transport hazardous materials in a tanker truck. It also lets you carry nonhazardous materials in a tank in most states. Like the two endorsements it combines, the X requires a knowledge test.
S Endorsement
All school bus drivers require an S endorsement. This allows you to transport students to and from school. It also applies to school-sponsored events such as field trips and sporting events. The S endorsement is earned with a skills and knowledge test. Some states may also require additional an driving record screening and a background check.
Investing in Your Future
Several CDL endorsements are earned through a knowledge test. Preparing for this test may require additional training, and one place to start is receiving CDL training from a nearby trucking school. NETTTS is a registered Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) provider with the FMCSA with a commitment to comprehensive CDL driver education. We provide a variety of support services, including:
- A fleet of Class A and Class B trucks for hands-on student training
- Diverse class schedules including mornings, afternoons, evenings, and weekends
- Experienced instructors with at least three (3) years of professional road experience
- Monthly payments that can extend beyond graduation
- Financial aid available for students who qualify
- In-house financial aid representatives to thoroughly explain our process
- Career services support to help prepare you for working in the trucking industry
NETTTS offers training from four campuses located in Somers, CT, Bridgeport, CT, Pawtucket, RI, and North Andover and Haverhill, MA. Contact us to learn more about admissions or CDL endorsements.