Hazmat endorsement

Bkpigs · Jan 29, 2011

I have been thinking of getting my Hazmat endorsement for my Class A CDL. Anyone have tips or better books/manuals to read. I have read the CDL test book section on Hazmat and I think with some note-taking and studying I could pass. Just curious as to what your experiences were/are.

Thanks

Dean Olson · Jan 29, 2011

I/we chose not to get the Hazardous Material Endorsement due to the fact that our Liability Insurance premium would increase and also the fact that the loads that require a hazmat endorsement do not pay any more or not enough more to justify the cost of the insurance.

As far as the test goes just study the booklet it's not that hard.

RossMN · Jan 29, 2011

When I got my CDL I had to get my hazmat (hauled L.P.) It wasn"t too hard. The biggest pain in the butt was getting my finger prints taken for the background check.

old · Jan 29, 2011

Well unless you are going to use it then it is not worth it. Look at the fine print. You have to renew every 2 years or so and that means taking the test every time and that is at a cost of renewing your license. I dropped haz/mat from mine years ago but still keep my class A CDL even though I can and will never drive drive over the road again. I can not pass the physical but if something happen I can maybe help with things. Plus the way I understand it is if I drop the CDL I have to go and take a driving test to see if I can still drive a car which to me is a stupid thing to have to do since if you can drive something that is 80,000 lbs you have to take a test to drive a 4000lbs car

Jim350 · Jan 29, 2011

I dropped mine also. Hauling hazmat has gone crazy with regulations and no matter how much you know about it if it's in your trailer they can find a way to right you a ticket.

cshess · Jan 29, 2011

You will hhave to get fingerprinted an wait for a FBI background check before you can get your cdl.You will also have to be re finger printed every 2 years at a cost of at least $94 dollars an depending where you are you will have some extra traveling to be finger printed.I had my cdl with hasmat ever since a cdl was required but refused tto pay for a second fingerprint. Dont think your finger prints change an i was due for it the same time period the Ft Hood incident happened.Needlless to say didnt think i would fall for that an have dropped hasmat from my cdl.
4

msb · Jan 29, 2011

Guess I'll just have my fireworks delivered. lol.

john in la · Jan 29, 2011

I have a X endorsement. Hazmat Tanker combined.

Study the guide. You can also google haz mat endorsement and you will get hits for many free practice test online that you can take.

The test is not really hard but they do have questions the average Joe will not know so you have to study for it.

You will need to be fingerprinted by a private contractor that will do a federal background test on you and take the haz mat test every time you get the license renewed. For me that is every 4 years.

JMS/.MN · Jan 29, 2011

Hazmat was the only test or endorsement I didn"t pass until the second time. Only study material was the book from MNDOT. Just paid more attention the second time around. Think I had to wait a day for the retest.

john in la · Jan 29, 2011

You must have a lot of fireworks. LOL!!!!

Fireworks are class 1.4
Need to have 1000 lbs or more before you need to install placards or have a haz mat endorsement.

I think (would have to look it up) there is also a exemption for haz mat endorsement for fireworks between date X and date Y. (just before new years and 4th of july)
This allows people that only transport fireworks for special occasions not to fall under haz mat license laws.

NEKS · Jan 29, 2011

I dropped the Haz-mat part when I sold my business. Since then have had guys ask if I still had it because they needed a driver. They will have a lot of fun with you when they pull you over. You better know all the regulations you have to abid by, because they don't.

Adirondack case guy · Jan 30, 2011

I debated last summer about keeping my hazmat and class A CDL. I dropped the haz. but decided to maintaine my CDL. It was pricy at about $165.oo plus DOT physical, however my doc. wrote the physical up as an anual, and my insurance paid it in total. I'm now good until 5/2018, licence wise. Wow I just did the math and that's less than $21.00 per year. I guess that if I live to 2018 that's a really god deal.

dbernie · Jan 30, 2011

Not driving right now, dropped my hazmat mainly cause the DOT facility I was at didn't offer it, and I had never hauled anything requiring it. As others said, if you study the booklet, all the answers are there. The test is relatively not that difficult. I can't remember the publication number, but if hauling a variety of materials, it would be nice to have in the truck with you. Its referenced in the study guide. That book tells you all the specifics--what can be loaded with what, how much weight, when to placard and which placard, etc. Not expected to memorize all that material, though, just nice to have as a reference once you do have your hazmat.

unclemerle · Jan 30, 2011

It's not that big of a deal, just pick up a CDL book from your local license testing offic and read the Haz mat part. Read it once a week for about two months and take the test.

Merle

Dean · Jan 30, 2011

I dropped my Hazmat endorsement several years ago because it became too much of a burden and expense to maintain for someone who does not drive commercially.

As to testing: Both the Ohio and Indidna INDOT books were entirely adequate for preparation.

Dean

fixerupper · Jan 30, 2011

Like bernie said, get the book and read it for awhile before the test. I got my hazmat just for the challenge, would you believe? Got the tanker, hazmat, double,triples just because of the challenge, not because I needed them. At the time Marilyn was cramming for a big test for more teaching endorsements and I got caught up in the frenzy. She passed hers with a perfect 4.00. I barely squeeked by. Took all the tests in one sitting. NEVER AGAIN!

I've dropped the hazmat because uncle sam has turned into big brother. Jim

Bob Bancroft · Jan 30, 2011

I think it would be better to study only the "official" material. As it and the test should follow one another.
I got mine probably 12 years ago to help a friend deliver fuel. I think it lasted two years, which was just long enough for what we needed.

DoubleR · Jan 30, 2011

Read and study the book and the test is a piece of cake. Its the required finger printing thats the big hassel not to mention expense.

Bkpigs · Jan 30, 2011

Thanks for the insight everyone. I am thinking of getting the hazmat endorsement because I am thinking of applying for a regional route with UPS (or any other regional hauler) and the application said that I needed a hazmat endorsement. I wouldn"t have thought I needed one for UPS. Reason I am looking at short haul/regional trucking is because that seems to be the only thing hiring and I would be home every night. And I kinda like driving trucks (atleast to the river and back, guess I may find out what a whole day is like).

JDseller · Jan 30, 2011

135fan and cshess, must be in Canada. In the US you only need the finger print/background test when you renew your license. The first time I had to do it was in year 4 of my five year license. So I had to have it done again the very next year. That was two years ago and it is good for five years just like my license. That being the case the only thing different is that you have to take the HZ-MAT written test when you renew your license. Here in Iowa you have to go to one of fifteen places that do the electronic finger printing. The cost for that is determined by that agency. Last time I had mine was through Dubuque County Sheriff office and it was $30.00 The application for the background check to the TSA is $89.25 everywhere in the US.

I have kept mine so far. The cost per year is not that high, $30+$89.25= $119.25 divided by five $23.85 per year. It does not make one difference to my personal insurance cost. It would make a difference if I wanted HZ Mat coverage for my truck, I don"t carry it. I have kept my HZmat endorsement as a backup if I need to get a CDL job. Most national companies require the endorsement. As for the finger prints you are in the system if you ever where in the service anyway.

Jim350 · Jan 30, 2011

Once you get it don't try to make since out of the rules.
They are written so you are never right.
They have a statement that you can only haul a material if it will not spill, or mix mith other freigt in an accident.
Nobody can guarantee that. Ticket Time!!!!
They also have placard rules that are strange.
You can have two trailers loaded with the exact same materials and weights but both trailers are placarded different because of the way it was pick-up. Something to think about????????????????

Jim350 · Jan 30, 2011

I remember hauling soda pop flavorings to a soda pop bottling company with dangerous placards.
Makes you wonder if you want to drink pop. LOL

If you really want to have fun and waste a day with the DOT and get alot of tickets haul some radioactive material.
That will be an interesting and $$$$$$ day for you.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 30, 2011

dont sweat the test its not hard to pass, the hardest part is driving to the city and sitting in line to get fingerprinted so they can tell if youre a terrorist or not. As far as the placards go, make sure you always have em on when youre loaded and off when empty

Scott430 · Jan 31, 2011

I have kept my endorsements even though I don't use HAZ at my current job, it's still a nice option to have to fall back on.
The Haz test wasn't too difficult 15 years ago with a little studying, not sure how it changed since then.
A few years back I had to get fingerprinted to keep it.
Our drivers haul double tankers, and most of the new applicants have HAZ from previous jobs.
I would reccomend you get it even if you don't use it, just keep refreshed on the laws

skycarp · Jan 31, 2011

(quoted from post at 11:40:52 01/30/11) dont sweat the test its not hard to pass, the hardest part is driving to the city and sitting in line to get fingerprinted so they can tell if youre a terrorist or not. As far as the placards go, make sure you always have em on when youre loaded and off when empty

One thing wrong with the above statement is when hauling flammable and combustible liquids, the tank is never empty. Placards must always be on the tank unless it has been triple washed.

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