WHAT IS AN AZ LICENSE?
An AZ driver’s license is the license class that allows you to drive the biggest vehicles in the truck driving school. The standard license that many truck drivers get is the DZ license. A DZ license allows you to haul and tow 4,600 kg or less. An “A” license, on the other hand, gives you the flexibility to carry any haul without restriction. As you can imagine, this opens up the door to all kinds of opportunities within your career. For one thing, it makes it more valuable to potential employers. An AZ license makes it easier to land a job in an industry that is packed to the brim with ambitious drivers. Not only that but because you’ll have an edge against your peers with this license you’ll be assigned more lucrative hauls than those working for the same company. In other words, if you’re looking to get into the truck driving industry, the AZ license is the best way to jumpstart your career. It’s also a great solution for those who are already in the industry and feel like they need an extra boost to reach the next level.
The “Z” Endorsement
There are two portions of the AZ license. The “A” – which, as we just covered, allows you to carry any size haul unrestricted – and the “Z”. The Z-endorsement is what gives you the credentials to operate a vehicle with air brakes. This is extremely important for all kinds of truck drivers, recreational vehicle operators, and other commercial vehicles operators – not just those seeking the AZ license. No matter what kind of driver you are, it’s in your best interest to earn your Z endorsement.
The reason why is that most vehicles with more than two axles use air brakes instead of traditional brakes. This is why you hear a loud “whoosh” sound when a large bus or 18-wheeler completes their stop. Air brakes use pressurized air to clamp the brakes on the tires rather than brake fluid. The reason air brakes are used on large vehicles instead of hydraulic brakes is that pressurized air stores energy, making it a safer and more reliable way to stop larger vehicles.
While air brakes are too complicated and expensive to justify being used on something like a Prius, on a truck they can literally save lives. In order to drive a vehicle that uses air brakes, however, you’re going to need your Z-endorsement which the AZ license includes.
When trying to obtain your Z-endorsement, it helps to go through the official Air Brake Handbook. This is a handbook created by Ontario’s administration of transportation specifically to explain how to drive with air brakes in accordance with their rules and requirements. The tests you’ll need to pass to earn your Z-endorsement come straight from this handbook, making it an invaluable resource during your studies.
