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How and Why to Get Your Hazardous Materials Endorsement

The trucking industry has grown steadily for the past few years, with a 5.4 percent increase in 2018 and an additional 2-3 percent projected for 2019. With 75% of the freight revenue generated in the United States from trucking, it is clear why the industry is growing and why we at Savannah Transport are looking for career-oriented drivers to fill our hazmat truck driver jobs. In other words, drivers interested in career advancement should consider getting a hazardous material endorsement for their commercial driver’s license!

Have you thought about joining the trucking industry or applying for a hazmat trucking job? This article will teach you what you need to enter this lucrative career.

flammable gas placard you learn about before receiving your hazardous materials endorsement

Hazmat Trucking Jobs

What is hazmat driving?

Hazmat truck drivers are those who transport hazardous materials from place to place. A hazardous material is any radiological, chemical, physical, or biological agent that could potentially harm the environment, animals or humans by itself or through interaction with other factors (e.g., water, air, or another chemical). Examples of hazardous materials include:

  • Explosives
  • Corrosive materials
  • Gases
  • Oxidizing substances
  • Flammable or combustible liquids and solids
  • Radioactive materials
  • Poisons
  • At Savannah Transport, we typically haul industrial waste classified as flammable materials. Vehicles transporting hazardous materials must carry Department of Transportation (DOT) hazmat placards like the ones shown below.

    Hazardous Materials Placarding Chart

    hazmat placard you learn about before earning a hazardous materials endorsement

    Click the image to download the full size image

    How to become a hazmat driver

    Arriving at each location safely without incident is every trucking company’s top priority. However, hazmat CDL driver jobs come with even greater risks, responsibilities and expectations.

    First and foremost, hazmat drivers must have a hazardous materials endorsement on their commercial driver’s licenses.

    Additionally, most companies require at least three years of accident-free driving and hazmat hauling experience. At Savannah Transport, we require two years of driving experience and will assist them with hazmat licensing.

    Here are the first steps to take on your OTR hazmat hauling journey:

    Step 1: Have or obtain a commercial driver’s license

    • Requirements differ from state to state. However, all states require a learning period during which you practice driving with another CDL holder. Learn more about obtaining your CDL in Kansas ​here​.
    • Pass a driving skills test at a certified DMV location after your learning period.

    Step 2: Obtain hazardous materials endorsement

    • Provide proof of identification – you must be at least 21 years of age.
    • Supply proof of citizenship or legal residence.
    • Complete medical and eye exams.
    • Pass a hazmat knowledge test.
    • Submit your application! The fee for submitting a hazmat application typically ranges from $80-$100.

    When you submit your application, the Transportation Security Administration conducts a background check to confirm your training and qualifications.

    Step 3: Obtain a tanker endorsement*

    • Take a tanker endorsement knowledge test (fees apply). Click ​here​ to check your state DMV requirements and regulations on endorsements.

    A tanker endorsement demonstrates that the driver is licensed and prepared to safely haul loads containing large quantities of liquid. It can increase your flexibility and load-carrying options, allowing you to haul more and take on better-paying loads.

    *As of March 2017, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has installed a new regulation changing the definition of “tanker”; this requires that drivers obtain a tanker endorsement. Those who drive  dry vans, reefers, flatbeds, and box trucks are required to have the endorsement if what they are hauling falls into any of the following categories:

    1. Your cargo liquid or gaseous individual containers are larger than 119-gallon capacity.
    2. The containers are loaded, not empty.
    3. The total combined volume in containers exceeds 1,000 gallons.

    hazmat truck driving jobs

    hauling barrels of waste require both a tanker and hazardous materials endorsement

    What to do with your hazardous materials endorsement

    Owner operator or company driver?

    After getting the required license and endorsements, you have two options to enter the industry:

    1. Be a company driver or
    2. Become an owner-operator.

    Each option has its positives and negatives, both of which are affected by who you drive for. Research to find the option that best suits your lifestyle.

    hazmat driver jobs

    Owner Operator: Pros

    • Choose your own equipment – drive whatever truck you like
    • Be your own boss – choose your own routes
    • Time off – greater flexibility

    Owner Operator: Cons

    • Financial risk – More expensive to purchase a truck
    • Dependence – Relying on the truck company for miles
    • Greater stress – Assuming financial risk and handling all truck maintenance

    Company Driver: Pros

    • No startup costs to buy the truck
    • Free time is yours – leave the truck with the company
    • No responsibility for breakdowns

    Company Driver: Cons

    • Less freedom in choosing routes and equipment
    • At the mercy of the company for miles
    • Less home time flexibility

    You can succeed as either an owner operator or a company driver. You just need to decide which option works best for you!

    hazmat driver jobs

    Tips for new hazmat drivers

    The following are industry professionals’ suggestions for drivers who have just received their tanker and hazardous materials endorsements:

    1. Plan ahead. Know your routes, plan for stops and understand construction detours.
    2. Be aware of your surroundings while driving and when dropping loads.
    3. Become familiar with and regularly maintain your truck. This keeps you and fellow motorists safe while helping you avoid breakdowns.
    4. Ask questions of seasoned drivers in the industry.

    Conclusion

    If you want to advance your professional driving career, consider getting your tanker and hazardous materials endorsements. Call today to learn more about owner operator and company hazmat trucking jobs.

    See what Shane says about his hazmat trucking job

    1. Hit The Road Jack, “HAZMAT Trucking | What it’s all about”, 16, October 2018, https://www.alltruckjobs.com/blog/hazmat-trucking-whats-it-all-about/

    2. IHMM,”What are Hazardous Materials?”, 2018,  https://www.ihmm.org/about-ihmm/what-are-hazardous-materials

    3. “How to become a HAZMAT Driver?”,  https://www.truckerstraining.com/become-hazmat-driver/

    4. “What you need to know about owner operator vs company driver jobs” 30, November 2018, Shttps://www.smart-trucking.com/owner-operator-vs-company-driver/

    5. “What is tanker endorsment & how much does it cost?”, https://www.cdl.com/trucking-resources/experienced-truck-drivers/what-is-tanker-endorse ment-and-cost

    6. Suppose U Drive, “Why The Trucking Industry Will Continue To Grow in 2019” 22, January 2019, https://supposeudrive.com/why-the-trucking-industry-will-continue-to-grow-in-2019/

    7. Conway, Lindsay “New Tanker Endorsment Regulations: Are You Driving Illegally?”, 4, December 2014 https://trinitylogistics.com/blog/new-tanker-endorsement-regulations-are-you-driving-illegally/