N Tank Vehicle (N) Endorsement
Quick answer
- Code
- N
- Test type
- Knowledge test only
- ELDT required?
- No
- Renewal
- Renews with your CDL on your state's normal license cycle; there is no separate federal renewal for the tanker endorsement.
- Typical cost
- A small state endorsement fee (often around $5–$10). No federal fee.
Requirements verified July 20, 2026
The tanker (N) endorsement lets you haul liquids or gases in bulk. It's a knowledge test only — no skills test and no background check — and it covers the special handling that liquid surge and a high center of gravity demand.
The tank vehicle (N) endorsement covers driving CMVs that haul liquids or gases in bulk. Federally, a 'tank vehicle' is one with a tank rated over 119 gallons individually and 1,000 gallons or more in total. The endorsement is a knowledge test only — there's no skills test and no TSA check for tanker by itself.
The test focuses on what makes tankers dangerous to drive: liquid surge (the load sloshing and pushing the vehicle), a high center of gravity that makes rollovers easy, and 'outage' — the empty space you must leave for the liquid to expand. If you'll also haul hazardous liquids, you'll need the combined tank + hazmat (X) endorsement, which adds the hazmat knowledge test and the TSA background check.
ELDT does not apply to the tanker endorsement, so there's no federally required training provider — though studying the tank vehicle section of your CDL manual is well worth it.
Who needs the N endorsement?
Any driver of a tank vehicle — a CMV designed to haul liquid or gas in a tank (or tanks) with an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more, permanently or temporarily attached.
What it takes
Test: Knowledge test only.
Federal requirements: Pass the tank vehicle knowledge test. No skills test and no background check are required for tanker alone.
ELDT does not apply to the tanker endorsement. On a Commercial Learner's Permit, an N holder may only operate an empty tank and may not haul a tank that previously held hazardous materials and hasn't been purged.
Practice the N knowledge test
25 free Tank Vehicles (N) practice questions written from the official CDL manual — not real exam questions, but great preparation.
Start the Tank Vehicles (N) practice testTank Vehicle (N) Endorsement FAQ
Is there a skills test for the tanker endorsement?
No. The tank vehicle (N) endorsement is a knowledge test only. You take it in addition to your regular class tests, but there's no separate driving test just for tanker.
What's the difference between N and X?
N is the tank vehicle endorsement. X is the combined tank + hazardous materials endorsement — you get it by passing both the tanker and hazmat knowledge tests and clearing the TSA background check. You need X to haul hazardous liquids in bulk.
Does ELDT apply to the tanker endorsement?
No. Entry-Level Driver Training is required for a first Class A/B CDL and for first-time hazmat, passenger, and school-bus endorsements — not for tanker. You still have to pass the knowledge test.
Official sources
Every requirement on this page traces to one of these official sources.
Back to the endorsements hub.