Endorsements

Thull · Jan 9, 2016

When your CDL expires & you have to renew it do you have to take the permit test & endorsements tests all over again?

Bob Dobalina · Jan 9, 2016

Thull said: ↑

When your CDL expires & you have to renew it do you have to take the permit test & endorsements tests all over again?
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No. Just hazmat.

Moose1958 · Jan 9, 2016

Bob Dobalina said: ↑

No. Just hazmat.
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Yes, and you also have to go through the fingerprint and background thing again.

Thull · Jan 9, 2016

So yea or no? I'm confused lol.

Moose1958 · Jan 9, 2016

When you renew you just do an eye check and give them your DOT card, and of course your cash. This works with all the endorsements but hazmat. You have to re test and do the background thing at every renewal.

Thull · Jan 9, 2016

Ohhh ok thanks! & so I have to get a new DOT physical every 2 years then right

Moose1958 · Jan 9, 2016

yes, and if you get hazmat the retest and the background.

MACK E-6 · Jan 9, 2016

Bob Dobalina said: ↑

Get all your endorsements right off the bat. They equal money. If you get some experience and end up wanting a home-daily job, having those will increase your options. You need all your endorsements to land an LTL job down the road, for instance.

To answer your questions, whenever you take the main tests (general knowledge, air brakes, and combination vehicles), also take the other tests (tanker and doubles/triples). The exception is hazmat. I believe the last time I renewed my hazmat endorsement I had to wait until the TSA cleared my background check. That may vary by state. You can ask the people at whatever school you end up going to how that all works. There may be a specific order that the hazmat stuff has to be done for a new CDL holder. Is the company-sponsored CDL school in your state?

Don't worry about the specifics at this point, just make sure when the time comes that you get them all. Don't take the tests too early, and make sure you aren't wasting your time by getting them in your state and going to school in another. When I went to school out of state, I had to transfer my regular driver license to that state, then take the written tests for the permit. At that point you should do all the tests. Later, after you pass the skills test, you get the CDL with those endorsements. The hazmat will have to wait until you transfer everything back to your home state if you are in that situation.
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Hazmat he can't get right off the bat anyhow. He won't get the authorization for it until the background check comes back from TSA, and that could take 6-8 weeks.

Thull · Jan 9, 2016

I already have a TWIC card because I work in the Plants here in Louisiana. It's good until 4/14/2018

Moose1958 · Jan 9, 2016

Thull said: ↑

I already have a TWIC card because I work in the Plants here in Louisiana. It's good until 4/14/2018
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All that gets you is a possible reduced cost for the TSA background check. You still have to go through the process to get hazmat.

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