Who needs the Doubles and Triples Endorsement Training course?

The T endorsement authorizes a driver to operate a combination vehicle with two or more trailers — most commonly two trailers (doubles) and, in some states, three (triples). It's a Class A-only endorsement because the underlying license has to permit combination vehicles in the first place. Drivers typically add T when they move into LTL freight (less-than-truckload), package delivery on long-haul routes (FedEx Freight, ABF, XPO), or fuel and tanker operations that use double tankers. FMCSA requires ELDT theory training before the state DMV will let you take the T endorsement skills test for any first-time applicant after February 7, 2022.

The driver populations that add T are largely concentrated in specific freight segments where multi-trailer combinations are economically advantageous. LTL networks rely on doubles for efficiency on long-haul lanes between hubs, where one tractor can move twice the trailer volume per trip. Fuel distribution operations use double tankers because regional fuel demand often exceeds what a single tanker carries economically. Drivers entering these segments typically add T early in their career because the segment-specific job market expects it as a baseline credential rather than an optional add-on.

For drivers in general dry-van long-haul who are uncertain whether T is worth adding, the practical test is whether the carriers they want to work for run doubles operations. Many large LTL carriers won't hire drivers without T (or won't promote them to higher-paying lanes without it), so the endorsement is a gating credential for that career path. Drivers planning to stay in conventional single-trailer operations may never need T, but drivers who anticipate moving between freight segments often find the upfront investment in T pays off when the next career move opens up. Our commercial team can advise on segment-specific endorsement strategy for individual drivers.