Deciding to get your CDL and start a career in the trucking industry is not enough. Even if you know that you want to become a truck driver, you are still going to need to figure out what kind of endorsements you will need. These endorsements will allow you to drive a multitude of different types of vehicles, and choosing the right ones will either mean more money for you or a smaller set of career options. Your endorsements are the most important decision you can make in regards to your driving career.CDL endorsements will include things like hazardous waste cargo, tankers, double trailers, triple trailers, passenger/bus endorsement, and air brakes. Depending on what career you are hoping to start in the trucking world, these endorsements will give you more options and a larger selection of companies to choose your employment from.
Some of the endorsements will only require an extra written test while some will require much more than that. In fact, one of the hardest endorsements to get these days is the hazmat endorsement, especially after the 9/11 aspect, and the thought that terrorists could use the hazardous materials to attack sites in the United States.
The government has really cracked down on the hazmat aspect of truck driving and taking a written test isn’t enough to be qualified anymore. Along with your extensive written test, you will also need to have a complete background check. These tests and background checks will need to be performed every couple of years, depending on your state, and failure to comply could result in the suspension of your CDL permanently. This may seem like a bit too much to handle at first, but with all the regulations that are involved; you will find it fairly easy after your first testing experience.
All the other endorsements only require you to pass a written test in order to be qualified for them. However, some states will require an additional driving test if you are planning on being endorsed with double or triple trailers. This is all dependent on your states regulations, and you can contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles to find out what is required for the endorsements that you are hoping to receive.
Once you decide which endorsements you are going to get, you can focus your attention on finding the companies that pay the most for those endorsements and work on getting hired by them.