Some total newbie questions regarding getting started

Endorsements are only a written test.  While many people call Air Brake an endorsement, it's technically a No Air Brake restriction.

 

17k to 19.5k, depending on specific model. We'd just ordered a bunch at Martin-Marietta Materials to replace the old crew trucks shortly before I left there.

Tanker and doubles/triples are just a written test.

Some are. Passenger requires a road test in a passenger vehicle appropriate to the class of license. If you have a Class A, but you road test in a passenger vehicle requiring a Class C, then you get to restricted to that category of passenger vehicle, etc. School bus endorsement requires the passenger endorsement plus the background check. And, of course, hazmat includes the fingerprinting and TSA background check.