Thinking of getting endorsements.

Got a buddy who drives a passenger bus, has to put with some rude rowdy folks at times, whole different ballgame, HOWEVER, He runs the same 385 mile route one way, company puts him up in a 3 star hotel, runs the same route back the next day, then is off two days, repeat. $112,000 last year. But I think he’s been doing it for about 20 years.

 

I had all the endorsements for 10 yrs. Figured I had them if needed for a job. Dropped them when I started with my Authority. Don’t need Doubles, or hazmat. I do need Tanker, and a Twik card. As I recall, the hazmat was the only one that needed to be studied. There’s a few technical rules about mixing partial loads, along with safety rules about parking, crossing RR tracks , location of shipping papers. and a few others that needed memorizing. Also seems I remember needing to take the test everytime I renewed. Maybe not the whole 30 question version, maybe a 10 or 15 question short version. I may be mistaken, just something you look into. Maybe someone else can clarify. It’s been over 20 yrs. since I had hazmat. Refused to get fingerprinted, based on principle. Looks like my principles are headed out the window, when I apply for the Twic card. Lol.

 

It's 30 questions every 5 years.

I never got a twic card. Doubt I ever will.

 

When I got my CDL back in '97, the school I went thru required an extra week of training to get your P2 endorsement, it was classroom and road skills time. In the late 90's, my Dad drove a city bus briefly, his training, despite him already having a class A was 3 weeks of mixed classroom and road time.

 

Before you do anything, check the law that was changed at the beginning of 2022 and see if any of that applies to you. As I understand it, if you didn't have a P, HM, doubles/triples or tank permit or endorsement prior to February, then you'd have to go thru the FMCSA online knowledge/skills course to get them for the first time. I don't know if it's the same in every state, but here in SD it takes about 13 days to go thru all that--it does cover all the knowledge stuff for the written endorsement tests, as well. Can't think offhand what it costs; I think here is was close to $300.

When I got my TWIC, it took about three weeks. But I suppose it really depends on how fast the TSA wants to work.

 

Depends on the office and time of year, when I did my TWIC, couple days before Christmas in 2021, it was 20 days, month later when I did my HAZMAT it was 3 business weeks.

 

I just got my Hazmat and doubles triples.
$59 for the HazMat Theory class
$130 at the DMV for both Doubles/triples and HazMAt.

No new Med card or eye test. Just Study hard and you will pass it.

I got the Hazmat more for the travel perks. Might get the TWIC as my company pulls food grade tanks out of the port. I would like the experience although the run sucks paywise.

 

It was $59 for the ELDT HazMat theory class, The $139 for the DMV background check and doubles and triples.

I don't think Im allowed to post the link but just google ELDT Hazmat and you should see many different options online and in person. Mine was a Mid west online school. They give you the study material then you have to pass the test, then they register you with the DOT. Only then can you go apply for Hazmat.