What is a Tanker Endorsement?

A tanker endorsement is a certification attached to the truck driver’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) signifying their legal ability to transport bulk quantities of liquids and gasses via truck.

What is considered a tanker? A Tanker is any commercial Truck that is transporting any liquid or gaseous material within a tank or tanks having an individual rate capacity of more than 119 gallons. Your business should ensure compliance with tanker endorsement requirements to reduce your supply chain from being disrupted. Make sure to ask your carrier or broker, if you are transporting even Non-Hazmat Liquids, to see if your truck driver needs an endorsement called “Tanker Endorsement”.

To receive this endorsement, Truck drivers must pass a test, and their is usually a surcharge for a Truck driver with a Tanker endorsement. All States in the US began enforcing the Tanker endorsement in 2015, to protect for highway safety.

  1. Your cargo includes liquid or gaseous individual containers larger than 119-gallon capacity.
  2. The containers are loaded, and not empty.
  3. The total combined volume in those containers exceeds 1,000 gallons.

Find out from your friends at The Shipping Emporium if you need any special requirements for all of your LTL and TL shipping.