What are CDL endorsements?

Endorsements are extra authorisations on your licence that let you carry something specific or drive a specific type of vehicle — hazardous materials, passengers, a school bus, a tanker, or doubles and triples. Each has its own knowledge test, and some need more than a test.

Which endorsement costs the most to get?

Hazardous materials. It requires a federal security threat assessment that takes time and money before the endorsement is issued — on top of the knowledge test. The guide explains what each endorsement requires and what work it opens.

What are CDL endorsements?

Endorsements are extra authorisations on your licence that let you carry something specific or drive a specific type of vehicle — hazardous materials, passengers, a school bus, a tanker, or doubles and triples. Each has its own knowledge test, and some need more than a test.

Which endorsement costs the most to get?

Hazardous materials. It requires a federal security threat assessment that takes time and money before the endorsement is issued — on top of the knowledge test. The guide explains what each endorsement requires and what work it opens.

CDL endorsements

Each letter, what it requires, what work it opens — and what a restriction is and how to remove one.

An endorsement is an extra authorisation printed on your licence that lets you carry something specific or drive a specific type of vehicle. Each one has its own knowledge test, and some need more than a test.

H — Hazardous Materials. The test plus a federal security threat assessment that takes time and money before the endorsement is issued. This is the endorsement that costs the most to get.

P — Passenger. For a vehicle designed to carry sixteen or more people. A separate knowledge test for the responsibility of passengers.

S — School Bus. For a school bus, and usually held with the Passenger endorsement. A separate test for the responsibilities of carrying children.

N — Tanker. For hauling liquids or gases in a tank of a certain size. A separate test for how a moving load behaves.

T — Doubles / Triples. For pulling two or three trailers. Not every state allows them, and the ones that do set their own rules.

A restriction, by contrast, is a limit — the most common being the “L” restriction that says you may not drive a vehicle with air brakes. You remove it by taking the air brakes test. The endorsement banks here ship as coming soon; until they land, your state’s manual is the thing to study.

Common questions

What are CDL endorsements?: Endorsements are extra authorisations on your licence that let you carry something specific or drive a specific type of vehicle — hazardous materials, passengers, a school bus, a tanker, or doubles and triples. Each has its own knowledge test, and some need more than a test.
Which endorsement costs the most to get?: Hazardous materials. It requires a federal security threat assessment that takes time and money before the endorsement is issued — on top of the knowledge test. The guide explains what each endorsement requires and what work it opens.

Common questions

What are CDL endorsements?: Endorsements are extra authorisations on your licence that let you carry something specific or drive a specific type of vehicle — hazardous materials, passengers, a school bus, a tanker, or doubles and triples. Each has its own knowledge test, and some need more than a test.
Which endorsement costs the most to get?: Hazardous materials. It requires a federal security threat assessment that takes time and money before the endorsement is issued — on top of the knowledge test. The guide explains what each endorsement requires and what work it opens.