There will be a fee that you have to pay for taking the exam, typically $20. The first step is to visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles, and ask to take the Tanker Endorsement Knowledge Test. The question is: how do you obtain this endorsement? It’s not as complicated as you might think. Some employers will require you to take both the tanker test and hazmat test. Ignoring the law is not an option, and failure to abide can cost you your job.Īlthough the endorsement is not a part of the CDL requirements, it will likely be necessary if you’re hauling large amounts of gaseous or liquid cargo. You may also face a 90-day license suspension for not abiding by the law.

If you’re caught driving without the appropriate endorsement, you may be charged a fine of up to $5,000 per instance. If your cargo meets the requirements above, you will need to obtain the tanker endorsement if you want to haul the freight legally. What Happens If You Don’t Obtain the Tanker Endorsement?

If you’ve yet to obtain this endorsement and it will be a requirement for the job, you will need to pass an exam to get it. The new tanker endorsement regulation went into effect in July 2015, and states are enforcing the law.

The combined volume of all containers is greater than 1,000 gallons.

Your cargo contains individual containers of gaseous or liquid containers with a capacity of over 119 gallons.

This means that even if you’re driving a reefer, dry van, box truck of flatbed, you’ll need to obtain this endorsement on your CDL license if you meet the following requirements: A new regulation from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires drivers who are hauling large amounts of gaseous or liquid freight to obtain a tanker endorsement on their commercial driver’s license.

California tanker endorsement test