How To Get Your CDL - The Complete Guide

What New Truck Drivers Need to Know About Commercial Driver's License (CDL):

• Most drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) will be required to obtain some class of Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
• CDL drivers are required to get a CDL from their declared state of residency, and state laws vary on residency requirements.
• While licensing is done by states, the Federal government sets minimum testing and licensing requirements.
• Pulling certain types of freight, or certain types of trailers, will require drivers to test for and obtain additional license "endorsements".
• Military CDL drivers are exempt from having to get a CDL, and individual states are authorized to exempt emergency, farm, and government workers, as well as drivers of recreational vehicles. These exemptions may vary state-to-state.

On This Page

Do I Need a Commercial Driver's License (CDL)?

What Are the Different Classes of CDLs Required to Operate Commercial Motor Vehicles?

How do Drivers Get Their CDL?

Why Is a CDL Required to Drive Commercial Motor Vehicles?

What New Truck Drivers Need to Know About Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

What New Truck Drivers Need to Know About Minimum Qualifications for Getting A CDL

Qualifications For New CDL Drivers

Who Is Exempt from Getting a CDL?

Types Of CDL Endorsements And How To Get Them

CDL Restrictions

Sources to Incorporate

Do I Need a Commercial Driver's License (CDL)?

Driver's will need a CDL to operate any of the following vehicles or combination vehicles:

• A single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) over 26,000 lbs.
• A combination vehicle with a GVWR over 26,000 lbs, towing a unit over 10,000 lbs GVWR.
• A passenger vehicle designed to carry 16 or more people, including the driver.
• Any size vehicle requiring hazardous material (Hazmat) placards, or carrying a select agent or toxin listed in 42 CFR Part 73.

What Are the Classes of CDL's Required to Operate CMV's?

Class A:

Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight of 26,001 pounds or more, with trailer(s) weighing 10,000 pounds or more.

Class B:

Any single vehicle having a gross weight of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing another weighing 10,000 pounds or less.

Class C:

Any vehicle or combination of vehicles not meeting the definition of Class A or Class B, designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver), or any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded to carry hazardous material:

Class D:

Many states issue a "Class D" license, which is not part of the FMCSA standards. Some use it to classify regular, passenger car drivers licenses, while some use it to classify specific weights or types of vehicles. This varies from state-to-state.

How do Drivers Get Their CDL?

See Also: Steps to getting your CDL

Decide That You REALLY Want to Become A Truck Driver:

As with many career changes, it is a life-altering process, and drivers need to be prepared both mentally and physically.

See Also: TruckingTruth's Truck Driver's Career Guide.

Choose Your Method of Truck Driver Training:

Most new drivers will have attended either a private trucking school or a company-sponsored driving school. Getting a CDL on your own is generally not recommended and may make it more difficult to find a job driving trucks.

Take the Written CDL Knowledge Exam:

Drivers will be required to pass a written CDL knowledge exam.

Pass the CDL Skills Test:

The physical driving test, inside an actual truck. Just like any other driving test, but on a much bigger scale.

Pass the DOT Physical:

The FMCSA has issued guidelines on the physical requirements for over the road (OTR) CDL drivers. Additionally, regular drug and alcohol testing should be expected.

Why Is a CDL Required to Drive Commercial Motor Vehicles?

Driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) requires a higher level of knowledge, experience, skills, and physical abilities than that required to drive a non-commercial vehicle. These higher standards require passing a higher level of knowledge and skills tests and hold CDL drivers to higher standards when operating a CMV.

Piloting an 80,000-pound vehicle down the road is a definite public safety concern. Before 1986, CDL standards were set by individual states, and many drivers held CDL's in several states to spread out any violations.

The FMCSA has devised a specific set of rules regarding CDL drivers and the requirements for interstate driving of Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV's), as well as standards, restrictions, and penalties for alcohol and drug use and testing.

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act (CMVSA), along with the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS), standardized CDL requirements that had varied wildly from state-to-state.

See Also: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

See Also: Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act (CMVSA).

What New Truck Drivers Need to Know About Commercial Driver's License (CDL):

Most drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV's) will be required to obtain some class of Commercial Driver's License (CDL).

CDL drivers are required to get a CDL from their declared state of residency, and state laws vary on residency requirements.

While licensing is done by states, the Federal government sets minimum testing and licensing requirements.

Pulling certain types of freight, or certain types of trailers, will require drivers to test for and obtain additional license "endorsements".

Military CDL drivers are exempt from having to get a CDL , and individual states are authorized to exempt emergency, farm, and government workers, as well as drivers of recreational vehicles. These exemptions may vary state-to-state.

What New Truck Drivers Need to Know About Minimum Qualifications for Getting A CDL:

• Driving interstate commercial motor vehicles will require meeting minimum standards set out by the FMCSA.
• The FMCSA sets federal guidelines for CDL drivers age and physical requirements.
• States can still impose more restrictive rules than federal guidelines.

State CDL Manuals And Motor Vehicle & Licensing Information

Qualifications For New CDL Drivers:

To be eligible to drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), you will have to meet specific requirements:

Minimum Age For Getting Your CDL:

In most states, drivers can get a CDL at age 18. However, federal regulations set 21 as the age which drivers can legally drive CMV's across state lines. Always check with your individual state DMV for specifics on your state's requirements.

In addition, drivers will generally need at least a year of "regular" driving experience to get hired by most trucking companies, and some states require it.

General Driver's License:

Trucking schools and companies, and some states, will require that drivers hold a regular passenger car license for at least 1 year before getting their CDL.

Education Requirements:

Most truck driving schools and trucking companies will require CDL trainees to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent before accepting them into their programs.

Past Legal Issues or Felonies:

Federal requirements do not specifically address the issue of past legal problems. Potential drivers who have records for things like DUI's, felony convictions of any sort, drug convictions, etc., should expect trucking companies to examine a drivers hirability a bit closer than normal.

See Also: Trucking Companies That Hire Drivers With Felonies

Most companies will require a minimum number of years to have passed since the issue occurred. Generally, a minimum of 7-10 years having passed is a requirement for most companies to hire you. In addition, drivers with a poor or shaky driving history should expect that they may run into problems getting hired. The liability of poor drivers piloting an 80,000 lb vehicle down America's highways is too much for many trucking, and insurance, companies to bear. Especially hard to overcome is any DUI record. Drivers will normally need a minimum of 5-10 years to have passed before a company will even consider hiring them, and even then may have a hard time getting doors to open.

See Also: Trucking Company Policies For Drivers With DUI-DWI

Medical and Physical Requirements:

As a CDL driver, you will be required to submit to regular DOT physical exams in order to be medically certified to drive. The FMCSA has issued regulations regarding the medical and physical condition of truck drivers.

Most frequently, drivers run into issues with high blood pressure (or hypertension). If blood pressure is too high, it can medically disqualify CDL drivers. Properly managed hypertension , with or without medication, should not be an issue for most drivers.

Most trucking schools and all companies will require physical exams before attending school or being hired.

See Also: DOT Physical

English Language Requirements:

As the official language in the U.S. is English, CDL drivers are required to be able to read and speak it well enough to converse with the general public, understand traffic signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and to fill out forms and records.

Who Is Exempt from Getting a CDL?

FMCSA regulations specifically exempt only military personnel with comparable safe-driving experience from getting CDL's. States are authorized to provide exemptions for the rest of the following at their own discretion:

Military Vehicle Operators:

States must exempt individuals who operate vehicles for military purposes from the requirements for CDL drivers. This exemption includes active military, reserves and members of the National Guard. This exception does not apply to U.S. Reserve technicians.

Service members who are or were employed within the past year (12 months) in a military position requiring the operation of a military motor vehicle equivalent to a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) and who want to drive CMV's in civilian life can apply for a Skills Test Waiver to get their CDL.

See Also: Military Skills Test Waiver

Farm Equipment Operators:

Covering actual farm-to-market operations, not commercial grain haulers. Drivers must be 21 years old, and vehicle must have farm plates. Farm workers are not required to have a CDL to operate vehicles:

• Used and operated by a farmer, a member of his family, or an employee.
• Used to transport farm products, equipment or supplies to or from a farm.
• Used within 150 air miles of the farm.
• Used in a nursery or agricultural operations.
• Not used in the operations of a contract motor carrier.

Firefighting Equipment Operators:

Those who operate CMV's necessary to preserving life or property, or performing emergency governmental functions, have signals that can be seen and heard, and are not subject to normal traffic laws. These include fire trucks, foam or water transport trucks, police SWAT team vehicles, ambulances and any other emergency vehicles.

Drivers operating recreational vehicles (RV's) for their own non-commercial use can be exempted from CDL requirements.

Township or Government Workers Exemptions:

Many states will have specific CDL exemptions that apply to workers in smaller towns or to state and local government employees in general. You will have to check with your specific state regulations.

Types Of CDL Endorsements and How To Get Them:

Pulling certain types of freight and trailers will require CDL drivers to hold certain license endorsements. As always, TruckingTruth recommends getting every available endorsement in the interest of having more job opportunities.

• Double/Triple Endorsement
• Passenger Endorsement
• Tank Vehicle Endorsement
• Hazardous Materials
• School Bus
• Hazardous and Tank Combined
• Metal Coil Endorsement (New York State only)

See Also: CDL Endorsements and Restrictions.

CDL Restrictions

CDL drivers can also have certain restrictions placed on them, depending on circumstances such as taking their skills test in a vehicle without air brakes, or with automatic transmission, or in a lower class vehicle. Endorsements and restrictions will appear as a letter code on a drivers license.

Sources to Incorporate:

Weigh Safe's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Explainer

FMCSA Overview on Getting a CDL

FMCSA Training Provider Registry

S.1903 - Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986

CDL Class A Form B Inspection Procedures Video

New York State Commercial Driver's License Class A Young Adult Drivers Program Overview

Arizona CDL Regulations, Endorsement, and Exemption Definitions

How Stuff Works Guide to GVWR

FMCSA Guide to English Requirement

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

HAZMAT:

Hazardous Materials

Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

Over The Road:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

Combination Vehicle:

A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.

Commercial Motor Vehicle:

A commercial motor vehicle is any vehicle used in commerce to transport passengers or property with either:

• A gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more
• A gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more which includes a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds

CSA:

Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)

The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle

FMCSA:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.

What Does The FMCSA Do?

• Commercial Drivers' Licenses
• Data and Analysis
• Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
• Research and Technology
• Safety Assistance
• Support and Information Sharing

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

GVWR:

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

GVWR is the maximum operating weight of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer, minus any trailers.

CMV:

Commercial Motor Vehicle

A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:

• Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
• Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
• Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
• Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
• Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards

Interstate:

Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).

Hypertension:

Abnormally high blood pressure.

BMI:

Body mass index (BMI)

BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:

• Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
• Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit

It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

Fm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

DMV:

Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.

CDLIS:

The Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) is a nationwide computer system that enables state driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) to ensure that each commercial driver has only one driver’s license and one complete driver record.

A drivers file will include their driving record as well as their medical certification status.

Commercial Driver's License Information System:

The Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) is a nationwide computer system that enables state driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) to ensure that each commercial driver has only one driver’s license and one complete driver record.

A drivers file will include their driving record as well as their medical certification status.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

DUI:

Driving Under the Influence

DWI:

Driving While Intoxicated

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

OOS:

When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.