Possibility of a waiver for hazmat?

1977 to 2009 I worked in various capacities with a number of carriers transporting Haz Mat almost everything except Radioactive and the upper class explosives.

Handled some part of the application and hiring process and the one statement I consistently heard from potential drivers was:

I thought this hazardous stuff would pay more

The reality is the average driver makes about the same as regular freight while carrying the extra responsibilities needed for safety.

Guys with their own tractor and the accessories needed for chemical transport do pick up some extra revenue generated by using those accessories and their capabilities to capture most, maybe all the revenue not available to a driver.

The carriers use this to their advantage when they decide how to provide the power needed to service a new account and usually keep some of the accessorial revenue the leased owners generate for back office costs, etc.

Matlack was ferocious in chasing down detention charges [yeah, I know most aspects of trucking gave this up eons ago] and is wasn't uncommon for a leased operator to quit while 'upside down' in fuel charges, advances, etc. only to start getting checks as long outstanding detention charges came in months later.

That's right after the payments covered the outstanding Matlack send them checks, sometimes a year or so later.

So yeah you can make money with a haz mat endorsement but you are gonna earn it!

 

Outside of ltl and fuel having hazmat is generally a waste of time and an annoyance if you're on forced dispatch.

Generally in regards to the feds, involuntary commitment is classified as involuntarily adjudicated which is by a judge. As in you have a court hearing and a court ordered appointment. 72 hour holds are generally referred to as being baker acted on the East Coast or a 5150 hold on the West coast.

I was baker acted at around 9-10 years old for suicidal depression. 72 hours handcuffed to a bed and a bunch of psychiatric pills thrown at me. I have a hazmat. Threat level 0 according to the TSA. This is with a schizophrenia and bipolar/unipolar depression diagnosis from other docs.

Never failed my dot physical, 2 year cert. Legal for hazmat. Can't take benzo's and a couple other meds anymore. Wish I could still get benzo's though but oh well. A career is preferable to them I guess.

You don't need hazmat to truck and you almost certainly won't be denied based on what you've said.

One giant caveat though:
Getting into trucking with mental problems is an absolutely terrible idea. I have never hated my life more than after becoming a trucker. OTR, Regional, LTL, I hate it all but those pay better in order. I am an extreme loner and can only function in isolated jobs. However being isolated and mentally ill is a bad combo as well. It's a terrible duality. Good luck, maybe it'll work out for you. It mostly hasn't for me. If I wasn't pulling down 100k+ a year, I'd have nothing positive in my life.