How much difference would the endorsements make… eg, doubles/triples, hazmat, tanker, etc… mace for a brand new CDL driver?

Posted by SigFen@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 7 comments

Just what title says… I’ll be going through a local CDL academy soon, and it seems obvious that I should get those endorsements at the same time. But, for someone with zero commercial experience, would it really make a difference in opportunities?

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Mystery_Chaser@reddit

What do you wanna drive? And how much do endorsements cost to keep if you’re not using them?

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Cfwydirk@reddit

Those three endorsements are required at most LTL companies.

Local LTL jobs pay $35hr. 10-12 hours per day M-Fri.

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BADzioba@reddit

Focus on getting your 1st year of EXP down, then start thinking about endorsements.

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Capn_T_Driver@reddit

Based on my personal experience, I strongly recommend you have at least your tanker endorsement, but the best endorsement all around to have--at least, in my opinion--is the combination tanker/hazmat, or X endorsement. Just about every mega deals with hazmat to some extent, even for retail loads, and there's lots of loads that have liquids in large casks, barrels, or totes that require the driver to have a tanker endorsement to legally transport it.

Note: beverage loads such as beer, soda, bottled water, etc., do not require tanker endorsement, but sometimes you might get a warehouse guy or a DOT officer who makes a joke about it.

Doubles/Triples are a good bonus endorsement to have, but I personally do not have that endorsement, as I've only ever pulled single trailers, be they 28ft or 53ft.

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Good luck.