Endorsements Questiom
Topic 28155 | Page 1
In my opinion I would not get them unless you are going to use them, but that's just me.
The only one id get is tanker. I was told that some shippers require you to have it before you can pull drums of liquid in a van.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
I say go for it and keep them up because you never know when you'll have an opportunity and might need them. I don't have my Hazmat because I really never wanted to do that. However I did get my TWIC card and ended up running fresh beef to the port in Oakland CA for a year. I renewed my CDL on my birthday last year and the attachments didn't cost ... It was just the basic CDL cost. So if money is no object and you have enough to cover them, go do it!
Laura
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.
I'd get them. Much easier to do it now than trying to find time once you're on the road. I wouldn't want to spend my precious hometime in line all day at the DMV. With the exception of hazmat it's a one time test and you have it for good. If freight is slow do you really want to be sitting somewhere even longer because you don't have an endorsement that load needs? Also you never know what the future holds. What happens if you find what seems like a perfect fit for you but they require one of these endorsements? You're not supposed to be in your homestate for another 2 weeks so you can't go take that test. Will that potential "perfect fit" be willing to wait or will they go with a different candidate that already has them.
Most of the mega carriers haul some loads that require hazmat endorsement. It's not all extremely dangerous, explosive materials. It could be something like household bleach or automobile chemicals but due to the quantity it would harm the environment if the load were to end up in the ditch.
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
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.
Get the endorsements. There's no real reason not to. As most of the others have noted, you'll be way more marketable to potential employers if you can show your readiness to meet any requirements necessary.
As for the money, it really isn't all that much. The most expensive part would be the background check at roughly $150 or so. Bear in mind that the Hazmat and TWIC card will take a little time due to the background check. Start the process now to avoid delay.
Also, simply having a HazMat endorsement doesn't necessarily mean you'll be hauling anything crazy dangerous. Some companies like mine just require it, but I have yet to haul anything Hazmat. However, if they need me to bring a backhaul of paint or something back to the DC, I'm ready.
Do it now while you have the time, you'll be thankful you did.
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.
I too would get HAZMAT and tanker endorsements now.
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
Congratulations moe! Good job sticking with it! I would get them now while u have time. Why not make yourself marketable? Def get the twic
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.
Agree with all previous comments. I've been trying to squeeze in time to study & get them done myself. Nothing easy about it while running loads & trying to keep all that hazmat details together in my head. Especially with my memory not being as sharp as when I was your age Moe. :[
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
I agree with everyone else. Get them now. Also, my company assigns additional scorecard points for passport, hazmat and twic. Those three are worth enough points for an additional pay grade which works out to about $1,000 extra pay per year. Not bad for a small investment of time and a few hundred bucks in fees. I think the twic and hazmat are good for 5 years. So it’s only like $30 per year when you break it down.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Tanker, Hazmat , and twic for sure. Doubles/triples would be personal preference in my opinion.
FMCSA caught on a few years ago that vans and flatbeds were hauling liquid totes and changed the rules requiring the tanker endorsement. They are more common than alot of folks realize.
Port escort fees can get really expensive so the twic is your freepass around those. You can apply for both at the same time.
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
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
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.
Fm:
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.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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
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Since I just got my CDL yesterday, I am wondering if I should use this time in between gigs and just get my endorsements out of the way? Haz, tank double and triple? Money is not really a concern, I have some IRA funds I got out penalty free ala the CARE stimulus. I'm really thinking I should do this NOW while I have the time?
What say you all?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: