I Need Some Advice On Endorsements:
Topic 20091 | Page 1
NONE of the endorsements require a skills exam - except for PASSENGER, which requires PRE-TRIP and ROAD TEST in a bus.
You Class A CDL allows you to operate ALL LOWER CLASSES of vehicles (Class B, etc.).
Hazmat makes a TWIC Background check go much faster (and in some cases, less expensive, if it's recent) and vice-versa.
FAST Card - has the Canadian Border Patrol do a background - then you must go for an interview at US a US CBP Office at a border crossing (usually only major crossings do the interview) and they have to be SCHEDULED.
Unless you're working for a company that does A LOT OF BORDER CROSSINGS, and requires you to get a FAST Card - they are usually not worth the hassle. Your company must also be a "FAST Carrier", in order for you to take advantage of any time saving features a FAST Card might bring you.
Rick
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
You can get hazmat , tanker, and doubles/triples without a road test. The background check for hazmat and twic are the same, so you can save a little money if you get both. However, it's more than a few dollars for hazmat and twic, so you may want to wait until you need them. I got all my endorsements and a twic card before I started driving because I though maybe it would open up more jobs, but as it turned out, in a year and a half I haven't used any of them.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
NONE of the endorsements require a skills exam - except for PASSENGER, which requires PRE-TRIP and ROAD TEST in a bus.
You Class A CDL allows you to operate ALL LOWER CLASSES of vehicles (Class B, etc.).
Hazmat makes a TWIC Background check go much faster (and in some cases, less expensive, if it's recent) and vice-versa.
FAST Card - has the Canadian Border Patrol do a background - then you must go for an interview at US a US CBP Office at a border crossing (usually only major crossings do the interview) and they have to be SCHEDULED.
Unless you're working for a company that does A LOT OF BORDER CROSSINGS, and requires you to get a FAST Card - they are usually not worth the hassle. Your company must also be a "FAST Carrier", in order for you to take advantage of any time saving features a FAST Card might bring you.
Rick
When you obtain a HAZMAT endorsement, could you also go through the process to get your TWIC card and your PASSPORT? Isn't it the SAME type of TSA background check to obtain all 3? Could you use one background check to get all 3?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
You can get hazmat , tanker, and doubles/triples without a road test. The background check for hazmat and twic are the same, so you can save a little money if you get both. However, it's more than a few dollars for hazmat and twic, so you may want to wait until you need them. I got all my endorsements and a twic card before I started driving because I though maybe it would open up more jobs, but as it turned out, in a year and a half I haven't used any of them.
Can you do BOTH HAZMAT and TWIC at the DMV?
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
When you obtain a HAZMAT endorsement, could you also go through the process to get your TWIC card and your PASSPORT? Isn't it the SAME type of TSA background check to obtain all 3? Could you use one background check to get all 3?
No - all three are seperate, done by separate agencies. HM is a DOT/DMV thing - with background done by TSA. TWIC IS a TSA thing, done by TSA. Passport is totally different from the other two.
Can you do BOTH HAZMAT and TWIC at the DMV?
Nope - HM is done at DMV - TWIC at a TWIC Office.
Rick
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
When you obtain a HAZMAT endorsement, could you also go through the process to get your TWIC card and your PASSPORT? Isn't it the SAME type of TSA background check to obtain all 3? Could you use one background check to get all 3?
No - all three are seperate, done by separate agencies. HM is a DOT/DMV thing - with background done by TSA. TWIC IS a TSA thing, done by TSA. Passport is totally different from the other two.
Nope - HM is done at DMV - TWIC at a TWIC Office.
Rick
Thanks so much for the clarification on this I appreciate it. How are you enjoying the new promotion?
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
Just an update on this: After careful consideration and research, I have decided to keep my CDL as is. For what I want to do with my truckin career, I already have what I need. If however in the unlikely case I do change my mind, I will most definitely come back to this topic if I need a refresher on what to do to obtain them. So thank you all for your advice on here. Its much appreciated.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
I got my TWIC right at the Prime terminal so ask your company if they have a set up for it. Took a few days....maybe a week or so...but it gives me access to military bases and the shipping ports. It cost like $125 and Prime took it in two payments from future checks so I wouldn't be surprised if other companies do too.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
Hey millionmiler I don't remember what company you went with but you might check to see if they'll cover the cost of the Hazmat. I decided to get my HM after I was already working for Swift and they reimbursed me for the cost of the background check.
I recommend eventually getting all three endorsements (HM, doubles/triples, tanker) because you never know when they might come in handy. Get them all at the same time so you don't have to renew your license three separate times.
Sorry, a little late to the party here but that's my 2 cents.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
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I am needing to know: What CDL endorsements can I aquire now that I have a CDL Class A that do NOT require a retake of the skills exam? In other words what endorsements can I get that are just a quick written test only? I know HAZMAT also requires a TSA background fingerprinting check. Also, if I obtain Hazmat, would I also be able to EASILY obtain a TWIC or FAST card and a US PASSPORT?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.