Should I Get HAZMAT?

Discussion in 'Oilfield Trucking Forum' started by D9Dozer, Jul 7, 2014.

  1. D9Dozer

    D9Dozer Bobtail Member

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    Jul 7, 2014
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    New here, and happy to be here. Already seen a lot from browsing around.

    Most of the oil field jobs seem to be HAZMAT / Tanker.

    I have zero tank experience, pulled flatbed for five years. Should I get HAZMAT on the license? Or just focus on the other jobs?
     
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  3. POINTDEXTER

    POINTDEXTER Light Load Member

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    If you have an idea where you might be working and they require it, than get it. If there is no real need you can always get it later. You can probably go in to you local DMV and take test anytime. You probably have to pay for the back ground check. Hazmat has fees and in virginia you have to take the test upon renewal. If you feel it might give you an advantage in a job search than It would probably be worth it to get it.
     
  4. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    i have hazmat. 15 years and it only got used once. 15 years ago.

    my brother in law keeps trying to talk me into hauling oil. he makes good money when he's working. i just don't have the desire to run the same circle day after day after week after month after year. and i certainly don't have the desire to throw chains 9 months out of the year.
     
  5. fencitup

    fencitup Light Load Member

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    Get everything you can to make yourself more marketable. Always position yourself for the next opportunity!
     
    Chibob Thanks this.
  6. TLeaHeart

    TLeaHeart Road Train Member

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    There are flatbed jobs in the oil field. All depends on what you want to do.
     
  7. McCauley

    McCauley Medium Load Member

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    I have another question about HAZMAT. I've been planning on finding a job as an Operator Assistant on a fuel truck somewhere in this country. I was planning on getting my CDL-A permit with tanker and also getting the ball rolling on the background check for HAZMAT before finding the job. Then I came across this tonight on TSA's website:

    Since I'm not quite sure which state I will end up in, I guess shouldn't get the ball rolling on the background check since the new state may or may not require me to just do it again, right? I thought I would just be able to walk into a DMV in my new state with my letter of eligibility, transfer my permit/license over and take the endorsement test.
     
  8. D9Dozer

    D9Dozer Bobtail Member

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    Jul 7, 2014
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    I can't speak for everywhere, but I definitely lost my HAZMAT when I moved to Alabama.

    Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to try to get in w/out HAZMAT. Reason is that it will be hard for me to get it right now (2000 miles away from local DMV). Also I don't want to go thru the trouble just to find out I don't have any tanker experience!
     
  9. Rodeorowdy

    Rodeorowdy Light Load Member

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    You don't need experience to get a tanker job. There are tanker companies in the busy oil fields that finding a job in TX & ND, among other states, is not a problem. I know because I too was VERY skeptical about finding a tanker job because I had little self confidence in my ability to get hired. I had nothing to offer the company I work for except my CDL. But I AND many others after me were hired with zero CDL experience!

    As stated already, there are many non-tanker/flatbed jobs in the oil field (in March I was offered a job hauling pipe for a company in Midland), but if you want to pull tankers, get a HazMat endorsement as it will make you more valuable to an employer. If you don't care about tankers specifically, just get a job flat-bedding. I went with tankers because my original goal was to haul crude.

    Good luck & safe driving
     
    wtxiceman Thanks this.
  10. Chibob

    Chibob Medium Load Member

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    If you plan on fueling pumps and trucks on frac sites all you need is a class B with haz-mat and tanker. The tanker test is easy so you should just take it when you get your permit.
     
    glenn71 Thanks this.
  11. Arky

    Arky Heavy Load Member

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    GET the freaking Hazmat AND Tanker endorsements!! It's the absolute cheapest and most marketable combination of credentials you can bring to the oilfields. Come on guys $100-$200 to get into $80k-$100k+ jobs? Geez.
     
    glenn71, wtxiceman and Skydivedavec Thank this.
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