A CDL is the shortened version for Commercial Driver’s License. In the US, a CDL license is required to operate those types of vehicles with the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of at least 11793 kg or 26001 pounds or towing more than 10,000 pounds.

A CDL license is also required for driving a vehicle which transports hazardous materials for which the Department of Transportation requires warning placards. The same type of Driver’s License is required for transporting at least 16 passengers, the driver included. Types of vehicles which enter these categories are buses, tractor trailers and trucks.

Just because you have a CDL license does not give you permission to drive all cdl vehicles or transport 16 passengers or more.

There are additional endorsements which are needed in combination with the CDL license to do some of these jobs.

Some examples of additional endorsements which may be needed are:

• A class A or class B commercial driver’s license holder may not pull a tanker trailer without a tanker endorsement.
• May not haul hazardous materials without a hazmat endorsement.
• May not transport more than 15 passengers without the passenger endorsement.
• May not pull double or triple trailers without the doubles & triples endorsement.
• May not operate a commercial vehicle with air brakes without the air brakes endorsement.

Each of these endorsements cost additional fee, and are obtainable only after passing the required written test for each endorsement, and in some cases road test.

In 1986 the act that regulates the driving of commercial motor vehicles was signed. The main purpose of this act was the improvement of safety on highways by making sure that drivers of such vehicles are indeed qualified to drive these CMVs and to prevent those unqualified drivers from creating any risky situations and potential accidents. States are still entitled to issue CDLs provided they respect the minimum requirements set by the government regarding the issuing of CDL.

How many endorsements are there for CDL?

While the number of CDL endorsements vary by state, there are six basic CDL endorsements including:

	Code	Endorsement	Description
	(N)	Tanker Endorsement	A tanker endorsement is an additional CDL certification for hauling liquids of any kind. Only knowledge test is required for this endorsement.
	(H)	Hazardous Materials Endorsement	The hazardous materials endorsement or HAZMAT is certification required for transporting hazardous materials. Knowledge test is needed for this endorsement.
	(P)	Passenger Endorsement	A certification needed for operating a vehicle that transport 16 or more passengers. Knowledge and skills tests are required to get this endorsement.
	(T)	Doubles/Triples Endorsement	A Doubles/Triples endorsement allows the CDL holder to pull a combination of multiple trailers with the same tractor. A knowledge test is needed to obtain the endorsement.
	(S)	School Bus Endorsement	Required to operate school buses, transit buses, tour buses, 16 passenger buses. Knowledge and skills tests are needed to obtain this endorsement.
	(X)	Tanker/HAZMAT Combo Endorsement	A combo endorsement for tankers and other vehicles that carry hazardous materials. A knowledge test is needed for this endorsement.

How to get CDL endorsement?

First of all, the federal requirements for all CDL drivers are:

• 18 years or older for intrastate trucking
• 21 years for interstate trucking or driving HAZMAT truck.
• No criminal record.

In order to get a CDL endorsement, the applicant need to pass additional tests for operating specific type of a vehicle. If applying for the HAZMAT, school bus or passenger endorsements for the first-time, the driver must take the appropriate Entry-Level Driving Training course with a registered training provider to add the endorsement to their CDL. This is applicable for all entry-level drivers since February 7, 2022.

Each state, however, has the right to add some restrictions to the national ones. To get the CDL, the prospective driver needs to pass the highway safety written test and another test about a truck’s different parts to show understanding and knowledge of the important parts of the rig.

The written test has at least 30 questions and for a student to pass it, he or she needs to answer correctly at least 80% of the questions.

Then another test on actual driving skills needs to be passed. Tests include:

• A pre-inspection test;
• Basic control skills test;
• A driving test;

On this test the student driver has to perform successfully certain driving maneuvers.

This practical test is taken on the type of vehicle that the driver is going to operate.

If the driver successfully passes the tests, need to take the documentation to the counter for processing. The CDL will be issued within a week.

The endorsement letter will be printed on the front of the CDL license, under the “Expiration date” and/or after the letter “E” or “END”.

How long do endorsements last?

The endorsements expire with the Commercial Driver’s License expiration. In some cases, the driver needs to retake the knowledge test, and for HAZMAT and in some states for driving a school bus, a background check is also included. It depends on state’s regulations, but in general the Hazmat endorsement lasts for 4 to 8 years, and should be renewed along with the CDL license. If the endorsement isn’t renewed, the driver may lose that endorsement.

In addition to renewing endorsements, the cdl license it’s self also must be renewed via a paper test and may cost hundreds of dollars to renew. In addition to the cdl renewal and endorsements mentioned the D.O.T medical exam you must pass to get the license must also be renewed every two years as well so maintaining your cdl license will come with a recurring cost and is usually not paid for by an employer but is the drivers responsibility.

What are the costs to obtain CDL endorsement?

The fees for obtain CDL endorsement are different from state to state. Some states will charge you $5 or 10$ for each endorsement you add to the CDL, and in some states it depends if you’re applying for the first time, or renew your endorsement or retest. Also, if you’re apply for school bus endorsement, expect to cost a bit more than other endorsements.

Each state have its own regulation, so better check out your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website for the costs.

Why are CDL endorsements important?

CDL endorsements as additions to the CDL license open up more job opportunities, and in many cases, a better paid position, thus bring more money on the table.

Some companies specifically hire drivers with specific endorsement due to the type of the job.

Check our previous article about jobs you can get with a CDL and see what combination of CDL and endorsements pays off the most.

Which cdl endorsement pays the most?

All endorsements can be crucial at some point of your trucking career. If less people are qualified to obtain a specific job, it’s logical that the salary for that position will go above the average.

According to ZipRecruiter, the following five jobs related to Hazmat, tanker or combo endorsement pay above the average Hazmat or Tanker driver salary:

Job title	Annual salary	Hourly wage
Teen Tanker Owner Operator	$176,688	$84.95
Chemical Tanker Owner Operator	$159,744	$76.80
Hazmat Owner Operator	$150,514	$72.36
Regional Owner Operator Hazmat Truck Driver	$122,162	$58.73
Owner Operator Tanker Truck Driver	$108,362	$52.10

What are CDL restrictions?

Similar to endorsements, that permit you to operate specific vehicle, CDL restrictions limit the vehicles you can operate with. There may be additional restriction depending on the state you operate in. Check that info in the manual.

Here are the most common restrictions, which code is placed on the CDL.

• (E) Manual Transmission Restriction
• (L) Air Brakes Restriction
• (M) Class A Passenger Vehicle Restriction
• (N) Class A and B Passenger Vehicle Restriction
• (O) Fifth-wheel Connection Restriction
• (K) Interstate Travel Restriction
• (V) Medical Variance Restriction
• (Z) Air Brakes Restriction

It’s up to you

Whether your entry-level driver, or want to upgrade your career, a CDL endorsement is always nice to have on your CDL. The procedure for obtaining an endorsement is quite straightforward, although you first must read your state’s manual before taking any further steps. Here, we explained in general about CDL endorsements and the basic steps for getting one. Good luck.