wannabe wondering how important hazmat cert is

You can still go into ports, you just have to be escorted into "secure areas". Whatever that means.

 

Haz mats a nice thing to have especially when your sitting around waiting for a load and its the only one around. Hauled two haz mat loads so far got 35 bucks extra on both loads from swift and neither one required placards.

 

just get the endorsement and keep it, when you have some experience and go looking for better jobs, you'll be glad you have it.

 

Some companies reimburse costs for a hazmat license.

Brink123 gave good advice there. If you're waiting for a load and get turned down for the next one, because you don't have it, and have to sit & wait for another,then you're losing.

 

My carrier reimbursed me for it and I know another local carrier also does .

 

You don't have to buy placards . The shipper is required to supply them and have a place on the BOL for the driver to initial showing placards were provided .

 

I dont have an hazmat endorsment.Its good to have but can be a pain in the rear while hauling hazmat in some states.Im sure about florida,but there are few highways in PA were hazmat cant be haul on.

 

I see a few here that don't want to haul hazmat because "it's a pain in the butt". I guess I have a hard time with that ethic. Want to have a better chance of keeping a load on/in your trailer? Get the endorsement.

 

It's not as necessary to have the endorsement anymore, but for those that can get the endorsement, go for it. If you can pass the background check, why not? It's not as necessary as it use to be, but it's another 'feather in your cap'. Just like having the tanker and doubles/triples endorsement. Hauling hazmat isn't that much of a pain - your company will provide you proper routing because it's their job.

As others have said, there are plenty of companies out there willing to pay for the background check, etc for drivers to get the endorsement. I had the endorsement years ago(before current requirements), and actually hauled a few hazmat loads. It wasn't a big deal. So I had to stop a little more often and check some things out. Just gave me a couple of extra chances to stretch my legs and make sure things were OK. The only reason I don't have the endorsement even though I still maintain my license is that I don't currently drive, and probably won't again, but that's a whole nother story.

Less companies will be allowed to carry hazmat soon, due to changes being made in the requirements. Some day, you might want to go work for one of those companies. Are you going to let an endorsement stand in your way?

 

I agree with those who say "get it"

It's not that expensive, really

It CAN help you get a job (I was offered a fuel tanker job right out of school because of it)

I think, also, there's a little bit of extra approval on the part of companies hiring,even if they don't haul Haz. NOt a lot, but a little of "this guy wants to keep all his bases covered. That's a good thing"

I agree that watching the sides of a van ripple in the wind is a bit disconcerting, at first. But then you consider that the sides really aren't part of the load bearing structure - any more than a curtain is. In fact, part of their design is to BE flexible - it helps keep down the number of dents and dings you'd have in an otherwise rigid structure, for one thing.

Shippers are supposed to provide the placards, but it has happened that - for whatever reason - they don't. In that case, somebody has to buzz down to the closest source and get some (most truck stops carry 'em)

Others here have said it, too. Most carriers either won't carry haz, or don't pay extra for drivers with the endorsement. But there seems to be a growing number of companies who do both - usually a penny or so more per mile.