california cdl endorsements question.

PT919 says calif is the same as NV.I dont know it could be just for new/ first timers.But then again I've had my hazmat long before this TSA thing came along and last time I renewed I just took the written test..I know now we have to take our DOT physicals and turn them into the DMV in person now..So yea R & Rs are changing and getting more ridiculous

 

Yes get it all now. You pay one time. This is the time to get your motorcycle too if you dont have it and you want it. You pay the fees one time. If you wait after a year, you will have to take everything all over again including the general knowledge for the car as I had to do. Thats alot of test. But definetly get airbrake, tanker, hazmat, doubles.

 

What office did you test in? That must make all the difference.

The Ukiah office still does "written" testing on paper and you absolutely CAN take your hazmat test without doing TSA first. It is a lot of testing to do all endorsements at once, but it is still easier then standing in line twice.

 

I did it in the Oakland office. Yes, some offices might still use the paper written test, however, the DMV employee told me that it is state wide that theres nothing they can do until the TSA approve you first.

 

Yes, you still need the TSA background to validate the endorsement, but at our local DMV you can take the written test prior to the TSA office visit. I watched it happen this past week.

If the employee told you there was no way to test at any DMV prior to the background check, they where flat mistaken.

The confusion may very well be because their office does computer based testing, and ours does not.

 

Oh ok thats good to know. Heres a question for u Scott. When I went to turn in my medical report form maybe 2 months ago, cause my medical card is expiring sometimes in September. The employee looked over my medical form and highlighted some parts that were missing, and then she asked if I had Hazmat? At the time, I didnt but I told her I was in the process, just waiting for TSA. She said that once I get my Hazmat, this form cannot be completed by a Chiropractor but must be from a M.D. or Nurse Practioner. So I went back to my company and told them about it, they said thats the first time they've heard something like this. So they attached a form which shows that the chiropractor is registered in the National Registry, office #, maps to his office, and told me to go back to the DMV and see what they say. I wont get a chance to get back to Cal. maybe in 2 weeks from today. So do u know if this is true, I'm just hoping that this lady is wrong as well and they will take my medical report form this time around.

 

This is the first I have heard of that too.

Here is the Medical Examiners Handbook:

http://nrcme.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/FMCSAMedicalExaminerHandbook-2014MAR18.pdf

I tried searching for Haz and got several hits, but no mention of a restriction on who can examine drivers with a hazmat endorsement. --I would thing the handbook would clearly point that out. Maybe I missed something?

Please do let us know what they say when you go back to DMV with the additional doc's. If you get the same person, ask to speak with a supervisor to verify. You might even get a good answer by calling instead of having to go to the oiffce.

 

Yup, I asked to speak to a supervisor and said it was fine. Guess that employee was new and did not know all the laws and rules. Thanks for your help Scott.