Sure it is. Hauling HazMat is not any harder then hauling anything else. If the company hauls HazMat on a regular basis from the same company, then the company will have all the forms completed correctly. They will also give you the correct placards that needed for the load(if any needed). You just the verify signatures, phone numbers, amounts and have the HazMat book with you. Follow HazMat routing. Getting a HazMat endorsement is not that hard. Cost about $10.00. Test takes about 15 minutes to complete. It is not like you have to know everything about HazMat and it's classes. Normally, companies will pay more with HazMat endorsement then not.
A lot of companies will reimburse for the background check and the endorsement on your license. I get an additional .05 a mile for hazmat. I'll do it everyday if I could. My company has new trucks and trailers which helps. Been inspected once in Ohio and it was clean. Just make sure to use load locks, keep the paperwork in the right place and make and log your inspections....
You're forgetting all the red tape you have to go thru to get hazmat.cost around 100.00 by the time it's all said and done.
most Companies don't require it and most the drivers doesn't have hazmat.you can look at it as if you to get that endorsement you may get more loads then other drivers.some companies pay like 3 cents more per mile for hazmat loads.
No. Hazmat isn't necessarily liquid, or if so, doesn't necessarily require bulk transport in a tanker. Dry vans, reefers, and flatbeds also haul hazmat. For example, 3 drums of a flammable liquid in a dry van trailer can be enough to require placards (if over 1,000 pounds) even though it is a relatively small shipment.
To the original question: I drove for over 6 years for companies that didn't haul hazmat. Some companies just don't want to deal with everything that goes along with that. Also, many companies that do haul hazmat don't require all their drivers to do so. It just gives you more options.