| Before the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) | | | | emergency equipment, and emergency response |
| program existed, drivers in many states who | | | | procedures. |
| were licensed to drive passenger vehicles could | | | | A driver obtains a Hazardous Materials |
| also legally operate a tractor-trailer or bus. | | | | Endorsement by passing a knowledge test. Many |
| Licensing systems for commercial motor vehicles | | | | states require drivers to pass the knowledge test |
| (CMVs) varied widely in states where they did | | | | every time they renew their Hazardous Materials |
| exist. This meant that many drivers operated | | | | Endorsement; the renewal must occur every five |
| vehicles they may not have been qualified to | | | | years or less. Drivers also receive ongoing training |
| drive. Also, drivers with numerous traffic | | | | from their employers. Training is also required |
| convictions were able to obtain licenses from | | | | whenever the driver's job description changes. A |
| more than one state because no state-to-state | | | | change in the Hazardous Materials Regulations is |
| tracking system existed. | | | | considered a change in job description. |
| The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of | | | | Because vehicles transporting hazardous materials |
| 1986 was established with the goal of correcting | | | | present a potential threat to national security, |
| the problem by making it illegal for drivers to hold | | | | drivers must pass a Transportation Security |
| more than one license and by requiring states to | | | | Administration security threat assessment |
| meet minimum testing and licensing standards for | | | | process when they apply for or renew a |
| CMV drivers. Drivers who operate special types | | | | Hazardous Materials Endorsement. Individuals who |
| of CMVs must pass additional tests to obtain the | | | | do not successfully complete the TSA's security |
| required endorsements on their CDLs. | | | | threat assessment process will not be issued a |
| Endorsements include: | | | | hazardous materials endorsement. To comply with |
| - T - Double/Triple Trailers | | | | this requirement, states must notify the holder of |
| - P - Passenger | | | | a hazardous materials endorsement that the |
| - N - Tank Vehicle | | | | individual must pass the security threat |
| - H - Hazardous Materials | | | | assessment process at least 60 days prior to the |
| - X - Combination of Tank Vehicle and Hazardous | | | | expiration date of the CDL or hazardous materials |
| Materials | | | | endorsement. The notice must advise a driver |
| CMVs transporting hazardous materials pose both | | | | that, in order to expedite the security screening |
| safety and security risks; therefore, drivers of | | | | process, he or she should file a renewal application |
| these vehicles must meet stringent requirements. | | | | as soon as possible, but not later than 30 days |
| They must be able to take action to minimize the | | | | before the date of expiration of the |
| risk of hazardous materials incidents by following | | | | endorsement. |
| strict procedures. They must be especially careful | | | | Obtaining and maintaining a Hazardous Materials |
| to identify potential problem areas, decide | | | | Endorsement on your CDL can be a daunting |
| whether weather or road conditions could affect | | | | prospect because of the many requirements |
| their shipments, and provide feedback to | | | | associated with this highly responsible occupation, |
| management about potential problems. They must | | | | but the personal and professional rewards will be |
| have highly specialized knowledge of hazardous | | | | worth the effort. |
| materials regulations and handling, operation of | | | | |