Commercial Driver’s License

Getting a CDL involves several steps. There are medical requirements and residency requirements besides knowledge and skills requirements.

• The first step is to get a copy of your state’s Commercial Driver’s Licensing (CDL) Manual. The manual is available in their field locations, downloaded from their website, and printed. Each state has its own process for getting the CDL.
• The second step is to decide which type of vehicle and what kind of driving you want to get the license for.
• There are 3 classes of CDLs with endorsements for specialized qualifications for vehicles like school buses, tank trucks, tractor-trailers, etc. Each type of CDL and endorsement requires you to pass a skills test and, in some cases, a written test. It is essential to ensure you pass all the required tests or risk having restrictions on your license.
• Applicants for certain CDLs and CDL endorsements must complete entry-level driver training before taking the CDL skills test or hazardous materials endorsement written test–see Entry-Level Driver Training for more details.

Once you’ve finished getting informed and making decisions, there are three basic steps to getting a CDL:

A commercial learner’s permit (CLP) is a permit that only authorizes you to practice on public roads with a qualified CDL holder sitting next to you. Getting the permit involves more than just passing all the knowledge tests for the driving you want to do. To ensure you are eligible, your driving record must be checked for the last ten years in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. You need to bring in the proof that your state accepts to show that you are medically qualified. Most types of commercial driving require a DOT medical card and a DOT physical. Your state may require specific documents it wants to see to prove your name and proof of residency. There are fees for getting the CLP. Reading and following the instructions in your state’s CDL Manual streamlines the process.

Drivers applying for a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time who are issued a CLP on or after February 7, 2022, must complete entry-level driver training with a registered training provider before testing. Some States may have additional requirements above and beyond the Federal training requirements.

Note: There is no Federal requirement for drivers to complete their entry-level driver theory training before applying for a CLP.

Visit the Training Provider Registry (https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/) to search for a training provider. Once you have completed training, the provider will electronically submit certification of your training completion to the Training Provider Registry. Drivers may look up their training certification information using the “Check My Record” tool.

You must possess the (CLP) Commercial Learner’s Permit for 14 days and complete applicable entry-level driver training to be eligible for the CDL skills test.

You must pass the Skills Test’s three parts: the Vehicle Inspection Test, the Basic Controls Test, and the Road Test. Your state may even allow you to use their “training aid” to help you remember items on the vehicle inspection checklist. Taking the skills test is no guarantee that you will pass.

Once you have passed the skills test, you must take the documentation to the counter for processing. Some states will give you the CDL that same day, while others will send it to you via mail. Regardless, make sure that everything is correct before you leave the counter. It can be costly and embarrassing if you find a mistake later.