Requirements for Hazardous Materials H (HazMat) CDL Endorsement
The hazardous materials endorsement allows drivers to transport materials classified as hazardous. The hazardous materials endorsement works to ensure drivers carrying hazardous materials understand their own role and responsibilities when hauling hazardous materials.Drivers must have a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement before driving vehicles carrying hazardous materials which require placards. Drivers must pass a written test about the regulations and requirements to get this endorsement.
The USA Patriot Act significantly changed the requirements for obtaining a new, renewal, or transfer of a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with transference of HazMat endorsements. A major requirement which all new and renewal endorsement HazMat applicants are now required to complete the required Hazardous Materials Endorsement Application and fingerprint collection process. This is done through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) data collection vendor, and must be approved prior to issuance by the TSA of a CDL with a HazMat endorsement. However, pending all requirements and background checks, new drivers may be issued a temporary CDL, but without a HazMat endorsement.
CDL HazMat Renewal or Transfer of Endorsement
Any driver with a CDL HazMat Renewal or Transfer of Endorsement request are reqired to complete the standardized fingerprint collection process and application by at least 30 days prior to their current expiration date in order for the TSA assessment to be initiated for HazMat Renewal or Transfer of Endorsement.
CDL HazMat Drivers Renewing or Transferring “H” or “X” Endorsements
Any CDL HazMat driver seeking to renew or transfer their “H” or “X” HazMat endorsements (on or after May 31, 2005) may obtain a special 90 day CDL license with HazMat endorsement that will allow the driver to haul hazardous materials while all of the requirements are being fulfilled and verified – depending on whether any or all assessments were completed within their current state of residence, or not.
Ninety (90) Day CDL Expiration Important Deadlines
There are specific deadlines in which a CDL HazMat driver must follow upon their CDL HazMat designated license expiring. Within a ninety (90) days before the drivers CDL license is to expire, a CDL renewal letter and instructions is mailed to the drivers last known legal address on file that are holding a “H” or “X” HazMat endorsement designation. This specific letter will entail all HazMat endorsement requirements including background check requirements and finger print collection sites. The department may use alternative collection methods available for application data and fingerprints for HazMat endorsement applications may be contracted to a prior approved vendor. The department will then notify the CDL applicant by correspondence after the Final Notice of Threat Assessment has been received. After receiving an approval letter from the department, the CDL HazMat applicant driver may apply for a full term license with an “H” or “X” endorsement.A CDL with “H” or X" endorsement will expire no more than 5 years after the date the security threat assessment was completed.
General CDL HazMat Licensure Information
The TSA HazMat Threat Assessment Program website further summarizes the new federal requirements including fingerprinting, background checks, appeals, and waiver information. TSA is responsible for the assessment and subsequent approval or denial and revocation of the HazMat endorsement based on the background check and fingerprint based criminal record check.
Citizenship and Immigration Status
Pursuant to federal requirements, HazMat endorsement applicants must have U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident Alien status to be eligible to obtain a new, renewal, or transfer HazMat endorsement.
H2. Documents required for verifying U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien status
- U.S. Citizen:
- U.S. Birth Certificate – certified with an embossed, stamped, or raised seal issued by a state or local government. (Hospital certificates are not acceptable.)
- U.S. Passport (valid or expired)
- Certificate of U.S. Citizenship, Naturalization, or Birth Abroad
- U.S. Military Identification Card or Discharge Papers accompanied by a photocopy of a U.S. Birth Certificate issued by a state or local government.
- Permanent Resident Alien:
- Permanent Resident Card, Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)
- Temporary I-551 stamp in foreign passport
- Temporary I-551 stamp on Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, with photograph of the bearer
- Re-entry Permit (Form I-327)
Disqualifying Crimes
TSA defines the list of disqualifying crimesto identify those most likely to endanger the nation’s transportation network, current legal status, proof of identity, and relevant international database records that may be useful in helping to determine your eligibility for CDL HazMat licensure.
Appeals and Waivers
TSA has defined an appeal and waiver process by rule. An applicant may appeal if they have been disqualified due to an error or inconsistences in the available query information received. If the results obtained are not warranted to be accurate by an applicant, he/she may appeal. A waiver can be requested if there is a conviction but TSA determines there were admissible factors that specify the applicant is no longer a transportation security threat.
