Chicago is one of the largest transportation hubs in the United States, with major tanker routes running through the I-55, I-80, and I-94 corridors. The Windy City offers plenty of opportunities to tanker drivers—companies like Schneider National, Crete Carrier, and numerous dairy haulers actively recruit drivers with the Tank Vehicles endorsement. Illinois also has many rural routes in the central and southern regions, where hauling agricultural liquids (milk, fertilizers, liquid feed) is common.
You must obtain a Tank Vehicles (N) Endorsement on your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to drive tankers transporting liquids or gases in tanks with individual capacity larger than 119 gallons and aggregate capacity of at least 1,000 gallons. Without this endorsement, you cannot legally haul liquid cargo—significantly limiting your job options and earning potential in Illinois’s thriving trucking industry.
What to expect on the official Illinois Tank Vehicles test:
- Questions: 20 multiple-choice
- Passing score: 80%
- Cost: Approximately $20-30 (varies by location)
- Retake policy: Wait period applies if you fail
This endorsement is granted after passing a Tank Vehicles knowledge test. As you begin your learning journey, familiarize yourself with the official 2026 CDL manual (Illinois CDL Handbook 2026).