Going to start CDL school soon, need some advice

Many dry van and reefer outfits require hazmat endorsement. Those companies also haul paint, fingernail polish, maybe a few totes of liquid. Totes of liquid require tanker endorsement.
This is a tote for liquids. The liquids may not be hazmat at all, but enough of them require tanker endorsement.

 

That's your choice. When I pulled reefers, that Hazmat endorsment saved the day many times and kept the wheels rolling.
One time in Ohio there were five of us from the same reefer company at a truckstop and waiting for our next load. I was the only one with Hazmat endorsment. The only load available was cans of spray paint going to Los Angeles. I snagged that load and headed West. The other four drivers had to wait until the next day for a load.

 

Post #64 - I edited it to explain.
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That's a benefit to pulling reefers, can haul refrigerated freight, dry van freight, hazmat freight.
The hazmat freight won't be the dangerous stuff; other specialized companies haul that.
Delivered the paint to Los Angeles then a 5 stop newspaper ad load within California, then a load of produce to El Paso, TX, then a load of ceramic tile to Jacksonville, Florida.

 

Unless you don't think you can pass the background check, getting the hazmat endorsement is a no-brainer.

A few pallets of bug spray or weed killer going to Home Depot - hazmat. Car batteries going to AutoZone - hazmat. Probably half the stuff under your kitchen sink needed hazmat placards on the truck that delivered it to the store.

If you like the idea of being home daily and having weekends off, you'll want to consider LTL. They'll require tanker and hazmat, as well as doubles/triples.

 

Autozone has a distribution center in Ocala, and that could be your load home.

 

He means that HAZMAT doesn’t just include botulism samples and rocket fuel. But normal every day innocuous items. It’s stupefying sometimes what is labeled HAZMAT and it’s just a silly idea to gimp yourself from those loads, opportunities or jobs. Unless $90 and couple hours of your time, along with being entered into a federal database is a non-starter, there’s literally no reason not to have it.

Additionally, it’s the same deal with a TWIC. Same database. Same background check. Without it, you’re ineligible for intermodal, dock and rail yard work down the line. The barrier for entry is quite small, but it does open doors.

Think of it as a modifiable weapons or armor slot in a video game for your character. Without extra endorsements, you’re refusing to equip dropped loot that will upgrade your dude.

 

Given the current overall freight market, & your specific location -- YOU NEED EVERY ADVANTAGE YOU CAN GET RIGHT NOW.

As others have suggested above -- load up on those endorsements.

While you're at it, be smart....& get ALL the good ones: tanker, hazmat...& doubles/triples.

The expense for such is modest -- but you'll make many times more than that after you start driving, & need them.

Those endorsements are door-openers -- & money-makers!!!

-- L