Why Buy a Category B+ Driving License?
You will need an endorsement for Class B in order to operate a vehicle with a trailer that weighs more than 26,000 pounds. It is possible to add an endorsement to the CDL class you already have by taking a new knowledge and skills test.
A successful passing of an exam in the category C1+E can upgrade your licence to include full B+E entitlement. (Subject to the weight limit of your B licence.) This is only applicable to UK drivers.
Passenger Endorsements
This endorsement is required if you wish to operate a vehicle that has 16 or more seats (including the driver) in order to transport passengers. You must pass the P written knowledge test as well as the road skills test pertaining to passengers to receive this CDL endorsement. School bus drivers require an additional endorsement, and require an FBI background check.
The Class B with a Passenger Endorsement allows you to operate vehicles with a weight of 26,001 pounds or more when the towing vehicle is not more than 10,000 pounds. School, tour, and city buses are the most common type of vehicle. This class of CDL is typically used by professional bus drivers.
This endorsement is not required by drivers working for a company that does not transport property or people such as Realtors, plumbers, and meters readers. However, your employer may require you to obtain this endorsement to meet the requirements for insurance or safety. The regular (Class) Driver License with the Passenger (F), Endorsement, can be added to your Commercial Driver's License in the event that you are taxi driver, shuttle bus driver, courier, or ambulance driver. An endorsement for employment can be added to any CDL Classification. The endorsement code is on the front of your license, underneath the expiration date and just below the letter "E".
Hazardous Materials Endorsements
The Hazardous Materials endorsement informs employers that you have the qualifications to transport certain kinds of freight. This certification will improve your chances of advancing in your career, and could help you get better driving positions, specifically in trucking. It requires a heightened level of safety awareness that goes above and beyond the regular rules of the road. This includes managing passengers, handling onboard emergencies, and leading evacuation procedures.
To get lowest price (hazardous materials) certification, you'll have to pass a written test and undergo a rigorous background check conducted by the Transportation Security Administration. This is because these materials are explosive, corrosive or toxic, which is why only trained individuals can handle these materials. This certification is required by truck drivers who transport liquid gas and chemicals and construction workers who carry materials to their job sites.
You might require a CDL endorsement P (passenger), if you drive vehicles that transport passengers, like city buses and tour buses. School bus drivers require a separate S (school bus) endorsement to operate these vehicles. You can also add the tanker or N (tank vehicles) CDL endorsement to you driving license to transport liquids and gases like oil, gas dairy, beverage waste management, or agriculture. Certain companies, such as Schneider, offer HazMat (X) and tanker (H) endorsements that permit you to transport both types of cargo without requiring an additional endorsement.
The company that you want to work for will decide whether you require additional endorsements in order to operate certain commercial vehicles. To make sure that you are investing your time and money in the right direction it is recommended to determine the kind of endorsements your potential employer requires or prefers. This will give you an idea of what credentials to acquire before you start your driving career and minimize the risk of wasting money on unnecessary endorsements. Many companies offer reimbursement to drivers for the costs associated with obtaining CDL endorsements. This is an excellent way to begin your journey as a driver.
Combination Endorsements
The right endorsements give drivers access to vehicles that they otherwise wouldn't be able to operate. This allows them to expand their horizons and position themselves as the most polished source on the job market. Schneider advises drivers to talk to professionals in the field and career counselors to be aware of the types of endorsements that may be most beneficial for their desired career path.
The T combination endorsement, for example, allows CDL Class B and A license holders to drive multiple trailers, which includes double and triple ones. This requires advanced driving skills and an understanding of how the trailers move relative to one another, as they are more susceptible to jackknifing and overturning than single-trailer trucks. In the same way the X endorsement grants Class A and B CDL holders the ability to move HazMat freight through tanker trucks.
Trailer Endorsements
Drivers who transport passengers as a profession must have the endorsement for For-Hire (F) added to their Regular (Class C) driver's license. Examples of drivers who require this endorsement are taxi drivers, shuttle service drivers couriers, delivery services and couriers (flowers, pizza) as well as ambulance drivers. Some employees who are on commission or who run their own company and don't transport property or people as part of their jobs (such as Realtors plumbers, plumbers, or meters readers) may also require the endorsement for employees.
The "T" endorsement allows CDL holders to operate vehicles with double or triple trailers. Schneider does not reimburse drivers who have obtained this endorsement. The "X" endorsement allows Class A and B CDL-holders to haul HazMat on a tanker. This combination of endorsements could be referred to as a "combo" or an "all hazards" endorsement.