The X endorsement isn’t a separate test. It’s what the DMV stamps on the back of your CDL when you hold the Hazmat (H) and Tanker (N) endorsements at the same time. You need both whenever you haul bulk liquids that also count as hazardous materials — a tanker full of gasoline being the obvious example.

That’s the short version. The longer one covers what it actually lets you haul, what it costs to add, how long it takes, and why drivers who pick it up tend to find it pays for itself faster than they expected.

What the X Endorsement Actually Is

The Hazmat (H) side covers anything FMCSA classes as a regulated hazardous material — fuel, certain chemicals, corrosive substances, the freight that needs special placards and special handling. The Tanker (N) side kicks in whenever the vehicle hauls liquid or gas in a tank with an individual rated capacity over 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more. Put the two together and you cover the freight a lot of carriers can’t find enough drivers for: fuel haul, certain agricultural and industrial liquids, anything where the load is both hazardous and in bulk.

How to Get the X Endorsement

Each side of the X has its own steps, and you don’t have to do them in the same week.

For the Hazmat (H) side, FMCSA has required ELDT theory training since February 2022 — that piece runs online from a provider on the federal Training Provider Registry. You also need a TSA security threat assessment, which includes fingerprinting and a background check that runs $85.25 (a valid TWIC card knocks that down to about $41). Then you take the Hazmat written knowledge test at the DMV.

For the Tanker (N) side, there’s no ELDT requirement and no TSA check — just the Tanker section of your state CDL manual and the written knowledge test at the DMV.

Once both written tests are passed and your Hazmat background check clears, you pay a small CDL update fee at the DMV and walk out with the X printed on the back of your license. The whole process typically runs three to five weeks, with the TSA background-check turnaround as the usual bottleneck.

What the X Endorsement Costs

The honest all-in numbers for a first-time X look something like this:

  • Hazmat ELDT training: $50–$100, depending on the provider. Midwest Truck Driving School’s online Hazmat ELDT course runs $69.
  • TSA background check: $85.25, or about $41 with a valid TWIC card.
  • DMV written tests: $10–$50 each for the Hazmat and Tanker exams, depending on the state.
  • CDL update fee: $5–$20 to get the X printed on your license.

Plan for roughly $175–$275 all-in. Renewals don’t require ELDT or a fresh background check from scratch, so they run substantially less than the first time through.

What Jobs the X Endorsement Opens Up

The X is one of the better return-on-investment moves in CDL work because it’s gated freight. A driver with only a Class A can’t take a fuel-haul load. A driver with H but not N can’t take it either. The X is the price of entry for some of the highest-paying entry-level work in the industry.

Fuel hauling, certain agricultural chemicals, industrial liquids, and specialized chemical freight all fall on that side of the line. Drivers in those lanes regularly clear $80,000 to $100,000 a year once they’re past their first year on the road. You can model the math for your situation in the earnings calculator.

Common Questions About the X Endorsement

What’s the difference between H, N, and X?

H is the Hazmat endorsement (regulated hazardous materials). N is the Tanker endorsement (bulk liquids or gases over the 119-gallon and 1,000-gallon-aggregate thresholds). X is what you have when you hold both at once — it isn’t a separate test.

Do you need ELDT for the X endorsement?

Only for the Hazmat (H) side. FMCSA’s ELDT rule, in effect since February 2022, requires entry-level driver training for first-time H, P, and S endorsements. The Tanker (N) side has no ELDT requirement — that one is just the written knowledge test at the DMV.

How long does it take to get the X endorsement?

Typically three to five weeks from start to license-in-hand. The TSA background check is usually the longest wait; the ELDT theory course itself runs a few hours, and each written test is over in well under an hour.

Can you get the X endorsement online?

The Hazmat ELDT theory portion runs online. The written tests for both Hazmat and Tanker have to be taken in person at your state DMV.

How much can you make with an X endorsement?

Specialized freight that needs the X — fuel, certain chemicals, industrial liquids — regularly pays $80,000 to $100,000-plus once you’re past the first year. Even in year one, drivers with the X tend to earn a premium because they’re qualified for loads other drivers aren’t.

The Bottom Line

The X is two letters on a license, and it opens up freight a lot of drivers can’t touch. If you already hold a CDL and you’re looking for the most efficient way to step up to better-paying work, this is one of the cleanest moves on the board. Start with the Hazmat ELDT course, schedule your TSA appointment, and study the Tanker section. Three or four weeks later, you’ll have the X.

If you’re earlier than that in your research and not yet sure trucking is the right starting point, we put together a free playbook on exactly that decision — Before The Wheel walks through it without the sales pitch.