• Truckers don’t want to take on the long haul assignments that keep them separated from their families for long periods.

• The 21 year old age limit to get a CDL license leads those who have just graduated high school to seek other trades instead.

• The federal government’s publication of trucking company safety records have lead trucking companies to hire only those drivers with near spotless driving records.

• The cost of attending a truck driving school is prohibitive for some.

• Veterans can use their GI Bill. According to the Veterans Affairs website:

The Post-9/11 GI Bill

Non-College Degree (NCD) programs offered at non-degree granting schools: Pays the actual net costs for in-state tuition and fees or $17,500, whichever is less. 

Also pays your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), based on the location of the school and up to $83 per month for books and supplies.

Check with your local Veteran’s Affairs office for details.

• Veterans whose GI Bill benefits have expired may qualify for the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) through the Department of Veterans Affairs. For details and qualifications, visit: http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htm

• Non-Veterans can check to see if there may be some form of grants or re-training funds through their local state Department of Labor Workforce Development Office or One-Stop Career Centers.

• Some trucking companies may offer reimbursements for CDL training. Your local truck driver training school will have information on programs for those who qualify

• Air Brakes
• Combination Vehicles
• Tankers
• Hazardous Materials
• Doubles/Triples

Labels: CDL endorsements, commercial drivers license, commercial truck drivers

The requirement to have a CDL in order to drive a CMV (Commercial Motor Vehicle) has been mandatory since 1992, however a CDL by itself is not enough. Depending on the type of vehicle a driver operates, he or she may still be required to undergo testing for one or more CDL endorsements. Normally, the most common type of endorsement required is the one for air brakes. Air brakes are the most efficient and effective type of braking system for large, heavy vehicles but their use and maintenance requires special knowledge on the part of the commercial driver.

Air brakes normally consist of three different braking systems: the service brake, parking brake, and emergency brake. The service brake system operates when the brake pedal is used during normal driving. The parking brake system operates when the driver uses the parking brake control. The emergency brake system kicks in to stop a vehicle during brake system failure, and utilizes parts from both the service brake and the parking brake.

Knowing first what kind of air brake system a driver will operate should be top priority. If a driver is going to pursue an air brake endorsement, these are the things he/she should know first:

• Air Brake System Parts
• Dual Air Brake Systems
• Inspecting Air Brakes
• Using Air Brakes

Air Brake System Parts

Air brake systems are not standard on all vehicles; there are different types of systems depending on the make of the vehicle, and the date it was manufactured. There are many parts to an air brake system, and having an intimate knowledge of what each part does will make it easier for a driver to diagnose a potential problem. There are parts that are specifically designed to alert the driver if there's anything wrong, and knowing these parts is the key to maintaining proper air brake functionality in a vehicle.

Dual Air Brake Systems

Most of the bigger vehicles utilize a dual air brake system connected to one set of brake controls. These systems, designed for safety, control two separate sets of brakes for the front and rear axles. Maintaining proper air pressure in both the primary and secondary system is key to maintaining harmony in the dual system. Should the pressure in either system drop to 60 psi or lower, it will turn off that brake system and it will take longer for the vehicle to come to a complete stop. Should this happen, the safest option is parking the vehicle in the nearest available stop and getting the brake systems fixed.

Inspecting Air Brakes

There are more parts to inspect in a vehicle with air brakes than one without, and knowing how to properly inspect the parts for any possible trouble is key to maintaining safe vehicle operation. Since air brakes operate on compressed air, there will be several gauges and warning lights in the vehicle that would tell if air pressure is at optimum working efficiency. If there is any suspicion that the system is not working properly, the driver needs to take immediate action to prevent longer braking or the need to rely on the emergency brake due to failure of the system.

Using Air Brakes


Knowing how to use the braking systems properly is the first step in making sure that the air brake system(s) will last for a long time. Knowing how to perform emergency stops while the ABS (Antilock Braking System) is on, remembering to use the parking brake system, and knowing the proper stopping distance for the vehicle a driver would be operating are what makes for safe operation of vehicles with air brake systems.

In order to get proper training for air brake endorsement, a driver must pass a written exam, and perform specific maneuvers on the vehicle they plan to operate, in order to gauge their knowledge about air brake systems.

Learn more about how to get you CDL or take a FREE Air Brakes test at TestQuestionsAndAnswers.com.

Labels: air brakes, cdl, CDL endorsements, CDL practice test, commercial drivers license, commercial truck drivers, commercial vehicles

Before Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) program existed, drivers in many states who were licensed to drive passenger vehicles could also legally operate a tractor-trailer or bus. Licensing systems for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) varied widely in states where they did exist. This meant that many drivers operated vehicles they may not have been qualified to drive. Also, drivers with numerous traffic convictions were able to obtain licenses from more than one state because no state-to-state tracking system existed.

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 was established with the goal of correcting the problem by making it illegal for drivers to hold more than one license and by requiring states to meet minimum testing and licensing standards for CMV drivers. Drivers who operate special types of CMVs must pass additional tests to obtain the required CDL endorsements. Endorsements include:
•T – Double/Triple Trailers
•P – Passenger
•N – Tank Vehicle
•H – Hazardous Materials
•X – Combination of Tank Vehicle and Hazardous Materials

CMVs transporting hazardous materials pose both safety and security risks; therefore, drivers of these vehicles must meet stringent requirements. They must be able to take action to minimize the risk of hazardous materials incidents by following strict procedures. They must be especially careful to identify potential problem areas, decide whether weather or road conditions could affect their shipments, and provide feedback to management about potential problems. They must have highly specialized knowledge of hazardous materials regulations and handling, operation of emergency equipment, and emergency response procedures. A driver obtains a Hazardous Materials Endorsement by passing a knowledge test.

Many states, including New York and Ohio, require drivers to pass the knowledge test every time they renew their Hazardous Materials Endorsement; the renewal must occur every five years or less.

Hazardous Materials drivers also receive ongoing training from their employers. Additional training is required whenever the driver’s job description changes; a change in the Hazardous Materials Regulations is considered a change in job description.

Because vehicles transporting hazardous materials present a potential threat to national security, drivers must pass a Transportation Security Administration security threat assessment process when they apply for or renew a Hazardous Materials Endorsement. Individuals who do not successfully complete the TSA's security threat assessment process will not be issued a hazardous materials endorsement. To comply with this requirement, states must notify the holder of a hazardous materials endorsement that the individual must pass the security threat assessment process at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the CDL or hazardous materials endorsement. The notice must advise a driver that, in order to expedite the security screening process, he or she should file a renewal application as soon as possible, but not later than 30 days before the date of expiration of the endorsement.

Obtaining and maintaining a Hazardous Materials Endorsement on a CDL can be a daunting prospect because of the many requirements associated with this highly responsible occupation, but the personal and professional rewards will be worth the effort.

Labels: CDL endorsements, hazardous materials, hazardous materials endorsement, hazardous materials endorsement renewal

Standards for testing and licensing Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers are developed and issued by The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). These standards mean that states can only issue Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) to CMV drivers if the drivers pass knowledge and skills tests that relate to the type of vehicle the driver will be operating. CMV drivers have been required to have CDLs since April 1, 1992.

Drivers may have a commercial drivers license (CDL) with certain endorsements or restrictions. Endorsements mean that a driver is qualified to operate a particular type of vehicle. Restrictions mean that a driver is not qualified to operate a particular type of vehicle. If a driver fails the air brake component of the general knowledge test or performs the skills test in a vehicle that does not have air brakes, the driver’s CDL will indicate that the driver is restricted from operating a CMV that has air brakes.

How Do Air Brakes Work?

Air brakes use compressed air to make the brakes stop the vehicle. There are actually three braking systems in the air brake system: service brake, parking brake, and emergency brake. The service brake system applies and releases the brakes when the brake pedal is used during normal driving. The parking brake system applies and releases the parking brakes when the parking brake control is used. The emergency brake system uses parts of the service and parking brake systems to stop the vehicle in a brake system failure.

Stopping distance is greater on vehicles with air brakes because with air brakes there is an added delay when stopping. The delay comes from the time required for the brakes to work after the brake pedal is pushed; it takes one-half second or more for the air to flow through the lines to the brakes. Drivers of CMVs with air brakes need to be aware of brake lag distance so they can allow for additional stopping distance.

What Do CDL Drivers Need to Know about Air Brakes?

All commercial motor vehicle operators must have knowledge of air brakes, unless they have a restriction on the CDL indicating that they are not qualified to operate a CMV with air brakes or have your CDL Air Brakes endorsement. The driver must have knowledge of:

• Air brake system nomenclature


• The risks of a contaminated air supply


• The consequences of severed or disconnected air lines between the power unit and the trailer(s)


• The implications of low air pressure readings


• A method of conducting a safe and accurate pre-trip inspection


• Procedures for performing en-route and post-trip inspections of air actuated brake systems, including the ability to identify defects which may cause the system to fail

Labels: air brakes, cdl, CDL endorsements, commercial drivers license