If the idea of trading a desk for the open road sounds appealing, a career in commercial driving offers a totally different kind of day at work — one with independence, variety, and room to move. Commercial driving is not a job; it’s a profession with options.
It all starts with a well-rounded training program where students aren’t just prepared to take their licensing exam, they also are prepared for a professional commercial driving career.
From there, you can build on your skills with commercial driver’s license (CDL) endorsements, opening the door to more specialized roles and new opportunities behind the wheel.
Here’s a closer look at six key endorsements and how you can earn them.
What Is a CDL Endorsement?
A CDL endorsement provides licensed commercial drivers additional qualifications to operate certain types of commercial vehicles. Similar to certifications in other industries, CDL endorsements can demonstrate expertise in a specific area of the profession and enable drivers to take on more specialized trucking positions.
CDL endorsements are issued by the state in which the driver resides. Drivers seeking endorsements must pass a test issued by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or secretary of state’s office and pay a fee.
Key Skills for Commercial Truck Drivers
To earn a CDL, you will have to pass a test and show that you have all the skills required to transport cargo safely. Tests vary by state, but there is typically a vehicle inspection test and a basic control skills test. Here are a few of the skills you might be tested on as well as the skills you will need to have a successful career and pursue endorsements further down the road.
Vehicle Control Skills
The most fundamental skill commercial truck drivers must have is the ability to actually drive their vehicles. This includes backing up with a trailer, negotiating tight spaces, driving defensively, and using air brakes and other features unique to a commercial truck.
Technical and Mechanical Skills
While many trucking companies employ mechanics and contractors to maintain their fleets, commercial truck drivers need to be able to keep their rigs in working order.
Commercial truck drivers must often be able to:
Check and change fluids such as coolant and oil
Inspect and change tires
Identify potential issues with air brake systems
Ensure that trailers and other equipment are properly secured
As a commercial truck driver, you will conduct inspections to ensure that everything is in working order. However, anything can happen on the road — having these technical skills in your tool kit can help you get home safely.
Navigation Skills
Today, most commercial vehicles have some sort of GPS system. Some of these systems might even be assisted by artificial intelligence (AI). That being said, GPS systems can go down or be out of date. You will want to be comfortable navigating using maps, landmarks, signs, and other basic tools.
Regulatory Knowledge
Depending on which CDL endorsements you earn, you could be hauling anything from chemicals to food. However, no matter what you have in tow, you will have to follow all rules and regulations, many of which vary by state. On top of that, you will have to fill out and maintain the right paperwork and present it to authorities when needed.
Soft Skills
While hard skills such as changing fluids are important for commercial drivers, you will also find yourself using a number of soft skills throughout your career. These include the ability to stay focused on the road; keep your paperwork organized; stay on schedule; and communicate with authorities, managers, and other drivers.
Soft skills are crucial for all commercial drivers, but they are especially important if you would like to get into transportation management, run your own trucking company, or be an independent owner-operator.
6 CDL Endorsements
There are six common types of CDL endorsements, each associated with a specific type of vehicle or cargo. The requirements for earning these endorsements differ by state, and the time needed to complete them can vary as well.
1. H Endorsement
An H endorsement, or hazmat (hazardous material) endorsement, allows you to operate a vehicle carrying potentially dangerous materials, such as flammable and combustible liquids, gases, or explosives. Due to the nature of the freight, this endorsement typically takes longer to earn than others.
To receive an H endorsement, you will need to pass a written test, complete a Transportation Security Administration Agency (TSA) Security Threat Assessment application, provide fingerprints, and pass a background check. An H endorsement can be one of the most challenging CDL endorsements to earn, but also one of the most lucrative.
2. N Endorsement
An N endorsement is a tanker vehicle endorsement that allows you to operate tanker vehicles. These trucks typically haul various liquids, from water and milk to chemicals and gases. On occasion, they can haul bulk dry goods such as grain or sand.
Hauling liquids involves special training on safety rules, since liquids present additional driving challenges, including a higher center of gravity and movement inside the tank. Earning this endorsement typically requires passing a written test.
3. P Endorsement
A P endorsement is a passenger vehicle endorsement that allows a driver to operate a vehicle or bus that seats a specific number of people. The precise number of passengers you can carry depends on state specifications.
Before earning a P endorsement, you will need to go through training that covers pre- and post-trip vehicle inspection, vehicle loading, and safety practices. This endorsement typically requires passing a written and road test.
4. S Endorsement
While a P endorsement allows you to carry passengers, school bus drivers need a specific school bus transport endorsement called an S endorsement. This endorsement requires receiving training on safely boarding and exiting children from the bus, as well as on managing student riders. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for a P endorsement, you will need to pass a federal background check.
5. T Endorsement
A T endorsement, also called a double and triple endorsement, allows you to tow double or triple trailers. Because this type of vehicle has multiple segments and is more prone to rollovers, you will need to receive training on safe hauling. Then, you will need to pass a written exam. Some states prohibit hauling double or triple trailers, so it is important to review your own state’s laws.
6. X Endorsement
An X endorsement is a combination endorsement that permits you to transport hazardous materials in tanker vehicles. Because so many hazardous materials are carried in tank trucks, this endorsement can give you a little more flexibility to take on more jobs. Like the other endorsements, you will need to pass a written test.
CDL Classes
In addition to choosing the right CDL endorsements for your career, you will want to choose the right CDL class. CDLs are categorized into three classes: Class A, Class B, and Class C. These classes determine which types of CDL endorsements you can earn.
You can declare which endorsements you intend to pursue when you apply for a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). Some states may impose limits on the endorsements a driver may have. Generally, the more endorsements you hold, the more flexibility you may have in your career options.
Class A CDL
Class A CDLs are for those who drive tractor trailers and flatbeds, livestock carriers, tank vehicles, truck and trailer combinations, tractor-trailer buses, and semitrucks with a flatbed trailer. Class A CDL holders can receive any of the endorsements.
Class B CDL
With a Class B CDL, drivers can operate straight trucks, city and tourist passenger buses, segmented buses, school buses, box trucks, dump trucks with a small trailer, and tractor trailers. Class B CDL holders can obtain all except the T endorsement.
Class C CDL
Class C CDL holders can drive small trucks equipped to transport hazardous materials, passenger vans, and small trucks towing a trailer. Class C CDL holders can obtain only the H, P, and S endorsements.
Job Outlook for Commercial Truck Drivers
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were over 2.2 million heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers working in America as of 2024. While the commercial truck driving workforce is already massive, the BLS expects demand for these types of professionals to grow by a steady 4%.
Four percent growth may not sound like a lot, but that is equivalent to an average of 237,600 job openings every year over the next decade. Some industries and areas may need more commercial truck drivers than others, but with that kind of growth, now is a great time to earn your CDL, pursue endorsements, and launch your career.
Take the Road Toward an Exciting Career
Earning CDL endorsements can put you in the driver’s seat of your commercial driving career. In addition to creating new professional opportunities, these certifications can give you more flexibility to choose the types of trucking assignments and schedules that suit you best, making a rewarding career even more fulfilling.
If you are considering a career on the road, the Commercial Truck Driver Training Program at the Scranton, Pennsylvania, campus of Fortis provides classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training to prepare you to apply for your CDL. Our program is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills you will need to establish yourself as a trusted, in-demand driver.
Request more information today and discover how Fortis can help you build a strong foundation for success.
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