If you are 21 or older and interested in adding a Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) endorsement to your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), you are setting yourself up to expand your career options and boost your earning potential in Wisconsin. With the Hazmat endorsement, you’re legally permitted to transport materials the U.S. government classifies as hazardous. These include explosives, certain types of fuel, industrial chemicals, infectious substances, and radioactive materials. If these materials sound a little intimidating, they should. This is precisely why the U.S. government has an arduous set of requirements to obtain this endorsement. But you’ll soon see why it’s worth the effort.
To obtain the endorsement, you must first make sure all Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements have been fulfilled. Once done, your next step will be to obtain Transportation Security Administration (TSA) clearance by passing a fingerprinting and background check. This should be started as soon as possible because results can take weeks. That won’t be time wasted because you can then study for your third and final hurdle before endorsement: passing the DMV HazMat Knowledge Test. This exam covers federal regulations, substance handling, packaging, quantity limits, and transport configurations. Wisconsin requires a score of at least 80%. The test has 30 questions, 24 or more of which must be answered correctly to pass (Wisconsin CDL Handbook 2025).
The topics tested on the official exam are extensive. Passing the test will set you apart from unendorsed drivers. To help you pass, our experts have created a series of Wisconsin HazMat Practice Tests that mimic the official exam. We have also designed our practice materials to focus only on tested material, removing any unnecessary fluff. Furthermore, our practice tests provide immediate feedback on responses (instead of bombarding you at the end). This practice test is just one in our series. Once you’ve mastered it, check out another one here: https://driving-tests.org/wisconsin/wi-cdl-hazmat-practice-test/. You should also check out our Wisconsin Air Brakes Practice Tests and Combination Vehicle Practice Tests to add more diversity and opportunity to your driving career.
In the Badger State, there is a great demand for Hazmat-certified drivers across several industries like chemical manufacturing (SC Johnson in Racine, Hydrite Chemical Co. in Brookfield), petroleum and fuel distribution (Kwik Trip in La Crosse, U.S. Oil in Appleton), waste management, and industrial gases. With so many great opportunities just around the corner, start preparing today!