Quick answer
There are six federal CDL endorsements: H hazmat, N tank vehicle, X tank plus hazmat, T doubles and triples, P passenger and S school bus. Each needs a knowledge test; P and S also need a skills test, and H needs a TSA security threat assessment ($85.25).
Source: 49 CFR 383.93, 383.153 · checked Oct 2026
Endorsements sit on top of your license class: a Class A driver with N and T can pull tankers and doubles, but not hazmat. They're one of the clearest ways to qualify for more kinds of freight, so it pays to know what each takes before you study. For the license itself, start with CDL requirements.
Trucking endorsements chart
| Code | Lets you drive | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| H Hazardous materials | Hauling hazmat that requires placards | Knowledge test, TSA security threat assessment, ELDT theory (first time) |
| N Tank vehicle | Tanks over 119 gal each and 1,000 gal or more in total, liquid or gas | Knowledge test |
| X Tank + hazmat | Hazmat in tanks: fuel, chemicals, gases | Both the H and N requirements |
| T Doubles/triples | Pulling two or three trailers | Knowledge test |
| P Passenger | Vehicles built for 16+ people, driver included | Knowledge and skills tests, ELDT (first time) |
| S School bus | School buses | Knowledge and skills tests, ELDT (first time) |
Source: 49 CFR 383.93(c); 383.141 · checked Oct 2026
Source: 49 CFR 380.603, 380.609 · checked Oct 2026
Cite or embed this chart
Free to use with the credit link. Paste this into your page:
Endorsements for CDL drivers: plan your plates
Pick the endorsements you want. The board adds up the tests and checks you'll need, so you can plan them into your training instead of going back later.
Your plates: N
- Knowledge tests
- 1
- Skills tests
- 0
- TSA threat assessment
- No
- ELDT theory, if first time
- None
Tap a plate to add or remove it. X counts as H plus N.
What is the X endorsement?
X isn't a separate test. States print it when you hold both H and N, which is what fuel, chemical and gas tanker work requires. Fuel hauling is the classic example: the cargo is hazmat and it's in a tank, so neither H nor N alone is enough. The route to X is the hazmat route plus the tank knowledge test; plan the TSA step early. Our hazmat endorsement cost and timeline calculator lays out the waits.
Source: TSA, Hazmat Endorsement Threat Assessment Program · checked Oct 2026
Hazmat endorsement disqualifications
Before a state can issue or renew H, TSA must find you aren't a security threat. The rules list two kinds of disqualifying felony:
- Permanent: espionage, sedition, treason, terrorism, murder, improper transportation of hazmat, and unlawful dealing in explosives, among others.
- Interim: certain weapons, drug distribution, robbery, fraud and similar felonies, if you were convicted within 7 years of applying or released from prison within 5.
Source: 49 CFR 1572.103(a) · checked Oct 2026
Source: 49 CFR 1572.103(b); 49 CFR 1515 · checked Oct 2026
TSA also checks immigration status, and has a waiver and appeal process for people with a qualifying record. An arrest without a recorded outcome isn't automatically disqualifying, but TSA will ask you to show how it ended. Answer these questions honestly before paying for hazmat training.
CDL restriction codes
Restrictions are the opposite of endorsements: they limit what you can drive, usually because of the vehicle you tested in.
- LNo air brake equipped CMV
- ZNo full air brake equipped CMV
- ENo manual transmission CMV
- ONo tractor-trailer CMV
- MNo Class A passenger vehicle
- NNo Class A or B passenger vehicle
- KIntrastate only
- VMedical variance
Source: 49 CFR 383.153(a)(10) · checked Oct 2026
Test in a truck with an automatic transmission and you may get E; test in a truck without air brakes and you may get L. Lifting a restriction means testing again in the right vehicle. States can add their own codes, explained on the license.
Penalty for hauling hazmat without the endorsement
Driving a vehicle or load your license doesn't cover is a violation for the driver and for the carrier that let it happen. Federal rules allow civil or criminal penalties, with amounts set in a penalty schedule adjusted for inflation each year, and the driver can be placed out of service on the spot.
Source: 49 CFR 383.53(a) · checked Oct 2026
What it means for your next step
The quickest to add are N and T: each needs only a knowledge test, and both widen the jobs you can apply for. H and X take planning around the TSA check. P and S lead to passenger work rather than freight.
Paying for it: some carriers and programs cover training. See what trucking companies will pay for CDL training and CDL grants. Drivers domiciled outside the U.S. should read the non-domiciled CDL guide first.
Further down the road, endorsements matter for owner-operators too: tanker and hazmat freight pays differently and asks more of your insurance. That's where LaneSprint dispatch fits, for drivers with their own authority.
CDL endorsements FAQ
What is the X endorsement?
X is the combined tank vehicle and hazardous materials endorsement. States print X when a driver holds both N and H, and it's what you need to haul hazmat in a tank, such as gasoline, diesel or chemicals. Getting it means passing both knowledge tests and clearing the TSA security threat assessment.
What disqualifies you from getting a hazmat endorsement?
TSA's threat assessment rules out applicants with certain felonies. Some, like espionage, terrorism, murder or unlawful dealing in explosives, are permanent. Others, such as certain weapons, drug distribution, robbery or fraud felonies, count if the conviction was within 7 years or release from prison within 5. Immigration status also matters, and TSA has a waiver process.
Which CDL endorsement is the easiest to get?
T (doubles and triples) and N (tank vehicle) each take only a knowledge test, with no skills test or background check, so they're easy to add while you study for your CDL. Whether they're worth it depends on the freight you want; tanker and doubles jobs ask for them.
How much does a hazmat endorsement cost?
TSA's threat assessment fee is $85.25 (or $41 if you hold a valid TWIC), valid for 5 years. Your state adds its own knowledge test and license fees, and first-time applicants need ELDT hazmat theory from a registered provider.
Can I put endorsements on my permit?
Only P, S and N can go on a commercial learner's permit, once you pass their knowledge tests. H and T are added to the CDL itself after you pass those tests.