Wisconsin, with its rolling hills, forests, and several lakes, provides a diverse landscape to explore while you drive throughout the state. Explore it with increased marketability and potentially higher income by adding a Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) endorsement to your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)! Federal law dictates that the minimum age for the Hazmat endorsement is 21. So, for those 21 and older, let’s look at what this endorsement involves and how to get it!
With the Hazmat endorsement, drivers are permitted to transport materials that the U.S. government has classified as hazardous. These range from explosives and certain types of fuel to industrial chemicals, radioactive materials, and infectious substances. Did we say “radioactive?!” Yes, but keep in mind: the most important objective of this endorsement process is to ensure your safety and protect people and the environment in your driving area.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires you to pass both a fingerprinting and a background check. Additionally, the DMV mandates passing a knowledge test, which addresses topics like federal regulations, substance handling, material packaging, quantity limits, and transport configurations for hazardous materials. You’ll need a score of 80% on Wisconsin’s knowledge test to pass. There are 30 questions on the test and 24 out of 30 answers must be correct (Wisconsin CDL Handbook 2025).