How to get a Tanker endorsement
Who needs the N endorsement
Anyone driving a tank vehicle: a cargo tank or portable tank with an individual capacity over 119 gallons and a total of 1,000 gallons or more, permanently or temporarily attached. Fuel, milk, water, chemicals, liquid asphalt. Since the 2011 rule change, hauling a load of portable tanks like IBC totes that add up to 1,000 gallons also requires it.
Why tanker is different from hazmat
Tanker is about the vehicle. Hazmat is about the cargo. Hauling gasoline needs both, which shows as an X on the license. Tanker has no ELDT, no TSA check, and no fingerprints, just the knowledge test. Hazmat has all three.
What the test covers
Liquid surge and how it moves, baffled versus unbaffled and smooth-bore tanks, high center of gravity and rollover, outage (room for expansion), weight limits by liquid density, inspection points on tank vehicles, and the driving adjustments: slower on curves, longer following distance, gentle braking.
How to prepare
Read the tank vehicles section of your state CDL manual, then drill practice questions until you consistently score above 80 percent. The ELDT365 tanker course is that drill: the full topic list in order, in English and Spanish, with a certificate of completion for your records.
Questions drivers ask
Does the tanker endorsement require ELDT?
No. The FMCSA ELDT rule covers Class A, Class B, the B to A upgrade, and the H, P, and S endorsements. N and T are knowledge test only.
How many questions is the tanker test?
Typically 20 questions, 80 percent to pass. Exact counts vary by state.
Can I add tanker and hazmat at the same time?
Yes. Pass both knowledge tests and, once TSA clears the hazmat check, the license shows X.
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