General Question About Endorsements
Topic 30553 | Page 2
In Pennsylvania you take the written test when you renew your license. That's about 30 dollars. They give you paperwork to take to the fingerprint place and you pay 35 dollars by money order for them to do it.
It's a simple quick process and fairly priced.
I complained about it initially. I take it all back lol
Yeah, your figures sound nice, but it is what it is lol
Does anyone have any opinion on whether or not getting a passport would be worthwhile? According to the government website, that adventure could take up to 6 months from start to finish.
I would get the Passport Card so you can get into Canada. Some companies transit the border, and it costs little. With the Big Government backlog, I would start tomorrow.
For endorsements, I have the HAZMAT and tanker. I don't go to ports, so no TWIC and I'll never pull doubles/triples.
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.
Just took mine a few weeks ago. It was I think it was about 88 dollars for the tsa check. I was cleared less than 24 hours later. Was able to take the test the following day. 5 dollar fee to take it.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Another thing that I forgot to mention is that many companies will reimburse you for any fees associated with the additional endorsements.
Hmm, y'all got me rethinking the cost now. According to NYS.gov the current fee for fingerprinting services is $101.75 through Identogo.
I just renewed my CDL with endorsements two weeks ago. The cost is still $5 to retake the written Hazmat test, and $172.50 to renew.
I still feel like they had their way with me...
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
Thank you everyone for your advice! Looks like passport, hazmat , and tanker it is.
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
If you might be interested in a local job, I would recommend doubles-triples as well. As a LTL linehaul driver, I pull doubles about 95% of the time. I get at least a couple placarded trailers a week, so the hazmat endorsement gets plenty of use too.
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
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
Linehaul:
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.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.
If you might be interested in a local job, I would recommend doubles-triples as well. As a LTL linehaul driver, I pull doubles about 95% of the time. I get at least a couple placarded trailers a week, so the hazmat endorsement gets plenty of use too.
I have given some thought to local/regional/LTL jobs, but I am going with company paid training, so I want at least 1 year OTR before deciding. If OTR works for me, then that's where I'll probably stay. After some miles with dry van , I might try my hand with flatbed, reefer or tankers, who knows?
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
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Linehaul:
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.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.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
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"NOTE:To retain a Hazardous Material Endorsement, you must first complete a fingerprint, and background check from the TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. You should contact the Universal Enrollment Services (UES) Help Desk at 1-855-347-8371, or visit their website at https://universalenroll.dhs.gov to pay the $86.50 fee to start the fingerprint/background check process. All fees are non-refundable. After contacting UES and scheduling an appointment you must visit one of the locations that provide fingerprinting, these locations are listed on their website. When visiting the UES office you must provide proof of identity and citizenship. Visit the UES website for a complete list of acceptable proof documents. Once you have received your approval letter in the mail from TSA stating you have passed the background check then you can return to the DMV office to test for HAZMAT and renew your CDL"
From the WV CDL Handbook
"Required fees are $10.00 for each endorsement and $5.00 for the duplicate license. (For one endorsement the fee would be $15.00. For two endorsements the fee would be $25.00. etc.)"
Also from the WV CDL Handbook
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
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.