Renewing Hazmat Endorsement

Yup, I just renewed my Cali CDL and dropped the Hazmat. Not looking to ever pull another Hazmat load.

 

I would do it and depending on personal preference, look into leasing on with Landstar. I've heard some of their AA&E teams make some serious bank hauling the government stuff. I have no personal experience with it, nor am I trying to advertise for them...it's merely a suggestion.

 

My affiliate owner reimburses us for hazmat checks , TWIC , and passports

 

Well seeing that I am an O/O I get to flip the bill myself......kinda pisses me off tho since I JUST got my TWIC a few months ago and I don't go to anywhere that needs it...same with my hazmat, my dedicated run is not haz-mat

 

We sometimes foot the bill for TWIC depending on what the commodity is and what needs moved. You're crazy not to keep a hazmat endorsement IMHO however as one really good paying load will cover your endorsement cost for years.

 

From a company drivers standpoint, unless you work for a exclusive hazmat outfit, it's a waste of time and money. I've always had hazmat and maybe haul one hazmat load a year.

I used TWIC more than hazmat and even that made me mad. My last company said we had to have it. Yet I seen many of our drivers getting company paid escorts because they refused to get it. So here they are getting in free, while I had to pay.
Then I even went through a full search. Why even have the card??

 

Some carriers require the hazmat endorsement. Their thinking is that there could be a hazmat load coming out of a bad area and that is all that is available. Unless you have the endorsement you will sit for a couple of days or they will need to pay to move your truck. The TWIC will become more critical if you want to pick up or deliver to power plants, airports, ports or some shippers. Both are a ruse as far as I am concerned.

 

My TWIC arrived today at the Port, a mere 5 day wait for it. I'll pick it up Monday. I worked for a carrier that hauled hazmat occasionally, as in I'd get maybe 2 corrosive loads a year. The carrier paid a penny extra mile for ALL miles if you had hazmat, so it was a no-brainer to have the endorsement.

 

Hey, It's all about the money and jobs. Just how do you think they could justify all those office people it anyone figured out they have two different groups doing the same job. Hazmat and TWIC.. They need the money and figure we can supply all the need.