What Is a CDL and How Do You Get One: The Complete Guide

The Short Answer

A CDL is a Commercial Driver’s License. It is a federal requirement for anyone operating a commercial motor vehicle over 26,001 pounds, carrying hazardous materials in reportable quantities, or transporting 16 or more passengers including the driver. If the vehicle is big enough, heavy enough, or dangerous enough, you need a CDL to drive it.

That is the legal definition. The practical definition is simpler: a CDL is the credential that unlocks a career in trucking, and trucking is one of the last industries in America where you can earn $70,000 to $90,000 a year without a college degree.

The Three Classes

CDLs come in three classes. The class you need depends on what you want to drive.

Class A. The big one. Authorizes you to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the vehicle being towed weighs more than 10,000 pounds. In plain English: tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, the big rigs. This is what most people mean when they say CDL. A Class A also lets you drive anything that requires a Class B or Class C.

Class B. Authorizes you to operate any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not exceeding 10,000 pounds. Straight trucks, large buses, dump trucks, box trucks, concrete mixers. The vehicle is big but it is all one piece. No trailer or a small one.

Class C. Authorizes you to operate vehicles that do not fit Class A or B but are designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or vehicles carrying hazardous materials that require placarding. Small buses, passenger vans, hazmat delivery vehicles.

Which one should you get? If you want to drive over-the-road freight, get the Class A. It opens every door. A Class A holder can drive Class B and C vehicles. A Class B holder cannot drive Class A vehicles. Start at the top. You can always drive smaller, but you cannot drive bigger without upgrading.

Endorsements

An endorsement is an addition to your CDL that authorizes you to operate specific types of vehicles or carry specific types of cargo. Each endorsement requires a separate test.

T – Double/Triple Trailers. Allows you to pull double or triple trailers. Written test only.

P – Passenger. Required for vehicles carrying 16 or more passengers. Written test plus a skills test in a passenger vehicle.

N – Tank Vehicle. Required for vehicles carrying liquid or gas in bulk. Written test only. Often paired with the H endorsement (see below).

H – Hazardous Materials (Hazmat). Required for vehicles carrying hazardous materials requiring placards. Written test plus a TSA background check and fingerprinting. This one takes longer to process because of the federal security clearance.

X – Combination Hazmat and Tank. The H and N endorsements combined. If you haul liquid hazmat (fuel tankers, chemical tankers), you need this.

S – School Bus. Required to operate a school bus. Written and skills test.

Do you need endorsements right away? No. Get your base CDL first. Drive for a year. Figure out what kind of hauling interests you. Then add endorsements as your career develops. The hazmat endorsement in particular adds $0.05 to $0.15 per mile to your pay at most carriers, but the background check takes four to six weeks and costs around $100 in fingerprinting fees.

The Requirements

To get a CDL you must meet the following requirements. These are federal minimums. Your state may have additional requirements.

Age. You must be 21 years old to drive interstate (crossing state lines). You can get a CDL at 18 in most states but you are restricted to intrastate only (within your state) until you turn 21. Some states have additional age restrictions for certain endorsements.

Medical card. You must pass a DOT physical examination and carry a valid medical examiner’s certificate (medical card). The exam checks your vision, hearing, blood pressure, blood sugar, and overall physical fitness to operate a commercial vehicle safely. The card is valid for up to two years but may be issued for a shorter period if you have certain health conditions. Some conditions disqualify you outright. Others require a waiver.

Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT). As of February 2022, all first-time CDL applicants and anyone upgrading their CDL class or adding the H or P endorsement must complete ELDT from a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. This replaced the old system where some states let you test without formal training. You cannot skip this. The training provider must be registered and your completion must be recorded in the federal database before you can take the skills test.

Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). Before you can take the CDL skills test, you must obtain a CLP by passing the written knowledge tests at your state’s DMV. The CLP is valid for 180 days and you must hold it for at least 14 days before taking the skills test. While on a CLP, you can drive a commercial vehicle only with a CDL holder in the passenger seat.

Skills test. The CDL skills test has three parts: the pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control (backing maneuvers), and the on-road driving test. You must pass all three. Most states require you to bring a vehicle to the test. Your CDL school or carrier typically provides this.

Clean record. You cannot hold CDLs in more than one state. If you have a suspended or revoked license in any state, you cannot get a CDL until it is resolved. Certain criminal convictions, particularly those involving a commercial vehicle, can disqualify you.

The Process Step by Step

Step 1: Get your DOT physical. Find a certified medical examiner on the FMCSA National Registry. The exam costs $75 to $150 and takes about 30 minutes. If you pass, you receive a medical card valid for up to 24 months. Do this first because if you fail, nothing else matters.

Step 2: Study for the written tests. The CDL knowledge test covers general knowledge, air brakes (if testing for a vehicle with air brakes, which is almost all Class A trucks), and combination vehicles (for Class A). Each section is a separate test. Study the CDL manual for your state. It is free online at your state’s DMV website. Use a practice test app or website to drill the questions.

Step 3: Pass the written tests and get your CLP. Go to the DMV. Take the general knowledge test, the air brake test, and the combination vehicle test (for Class A). If you pass all sections, you receive your Commercial Learner’s Permit. You must wait 14 days before taking the skills test.

Step 4: Complete ELDT. Enroll in a CDL training program registered with the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. This can be a company-sponsored program, a private CDL school, or a community college program. Training typically takes two to six weeks depending on the program. Your training provider submits your completion to the federal database.

Step 5: Practice. With your CLP and a CDL holder in the passenger seat, practice driving. Your school handles this during training. Practice backing, parking, turning, highway driving, and city driving. Practice the pre-trip inspection walk-around until you can do it in your sleep.

Step 6: Pass the skills test. Schedule your CDL skills test with your state’s testing authority. Bring the vehicle (your school or carrier provides this). Complete the pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control maneuvers, and the road test. Pass all three and you walk out with a CDL.

Step 7: Start driving. Apply to carriers. Interview. Choose your first job. The CDL in your pocket is the key that opens every door in the industry.

How Long Does It Take?

From zero to CDL: four to eight weeks for most people. One week for the DOT physical and written tests. Two to six weeks for training. One to two weeks for scheduling and completing the skills test. Some accelerated programs can get you through in three weeks. Some take longer if you are doing it part-time.

The CLP 14-day waiting period is the bottleneck most people do not plan for. Get your CLP as early as possible so the clock starts ticking while you are in training.

How Much Does It Cost?

Company-sponsored route: $0 upfront. You sign a 12 to 18 month commitment to drive for the sponsoring carrier. If you leave early, you repay the training cost ($3,500 to $7,000). The training is not free. It is a contract.

Private CDL school: $3,000 to $7,000 out of pocket. No commitment to any carrier. You graduate free and clear.

Community college program: $2,000 to $4,000. Financial aid eligible. Often the best value if available in your area.

Workforce development funding: Many states fund CDL training through workforce development boards. The training is free to qualifying applicants. Check your state’s workforce development website. This is taxpayer money allocated for high-demand careers. Trucking qualifies in every state.

VA benefits: The GI Bill covers CDL training at approved schools if you are a veteran.

The total cost beyond tuition: DOT physical ($75 to $150), CLP permit fee ($10 to $50 depending on state), skills test fee ($50 to $150 depending on state), and the endorsement test fees if applicable ($10 to $25 each).

What Happens After You Get It

Your CDL does not expire like a regular license. It remains valid as long as you renew it on schedule (typically every four or eight years depending on your state) and maintain your medical card.

However, your CDL can be suspended or revoked for serious traffic violations, DUI (in any vehicle, not just a commercial one), railroad crossing violations, or certain criminal offenses. A CDL is held to a higher standard than a regular license. What would be a ticket in your car can be a career-ending violation in your truck.

Your first year driving is your proving ground. Keep your record clean. Follow HOS rules. Do your pre-trips. Drive professionally. That first clean year on your record is worth more than any certification because it is what allows you to move to better carriers with better pay and better routes.

The CDL is the starting line. What you build from it is up to you.

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Keep Reading

• How to Pass Your DOT Physical: What They Check and Why You Might Fail
• Company-Sponsored CDL vs Paying for Your Own: The Real Math
• CDL Air Brake Test Cheat Sheet: Everything on One Page

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Gear We Recommend

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• ▶ Cooler — Keep your food fresh and skip the truck stop meals.
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• ▶ Phone Mount — Secure, hands-free navigation without risking a ticket.

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