Should I Get A PASSPORT?

hazmat would be a good option .passport is optional .

 

I would'nt get a passport till you know who you'll drive for.I think the company pays for it.So if you get it now,you're on your own.That's not going to help you get hired.

 

If you are looking at doing cross border hauling, a passport or passport card will be required. About a hundred bucks for 10 years, not a bad investment, if you need it.
As to endorsements, the more you have, the more saleable you are. I have hazmat, tanker, doubles/triples, myself. I am also TSA and Alabama Coils certified. There isn't much that I can't haul and do get offered loads others can't handle, because they are not qualified, or don't have the certifications.

 

Depends on the company, not many that I am aware of will pay for it.

 

try not to spend more money now than you need to.

for instance, get the hazmat..YES..but you need to be finger-printed and background checked, and that alone will cost "about" $130. then the hazmat test.

the TWIC card is in my opinion, just an added double cost of the hazmat, and i think useless, UNLESS you go with a carrier that goes into the seaports, OR goes to ANY warehouse that wants it.

get your doubles/triples and tanker endorsements..

these are written tests which you pay at the DMV to take.

a passport is only needed if going into Mexico or Canada. you may end up with a job with a company, that DOES NOT go there.

 

I have a passport, but when I was OTR, I sure as hell didn't tell anyone in the company that I had one. I did Canada when I was with Swift, back when all you needed was your license to get across the border. While I do think motorists in Ontario are easier to deal with than motorists in the US, it still didn't leave me with any particular desire to make crossing the border a regular thing. If I want to go to Canada, I'll do it on my own time. Canada's a great country to visit - I just have no desire to take a big truck there.

 

true, that the less your company knows what you have the better chances you have of NOT going places you have no desire to.

 

You may need it soon to go to Commifornia.