Getting a Commercial Driver’s License takes more steps than a regular driver’s license, but the process is structured and predictable. Every state follows federal requirements set by FMCSA, so while specific fees and scheduling vary, the core path is the same wherever you apply. If you follow these steps in order, you won’t waste time or money going back to fix something you missed.

This guide covers how to get a CDL from start to finish — choosing the right class, meeting medical requirements, getting your Commercial Learner’s Permit, completing ELDT training, and passing the skills test.

Step 1: Decide Which CDL Class You Need

The first decision shapes everything that follows. CDL class is determined by the weight and configuration of the vehicle you want to operate — not the cargo you’ll carry.

Class A CDL

Class A covers combination vehicles with a Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of 26,001 lbs or more, where the towed unit has a GVWR greater than 10,000 lbs. This includes tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, tanker combinations, and most long-haul freight equipment.

With a Class A CDL and the right endorsements, you can operate any vehicle that requires a Class B or Class C license. It’s the broadest commercial license available and opens the most job categories in trucking.

Class B CDL

Class B covers single vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more, or any such vehicle towing a trailer with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs or less. This includes straight trucks, large buses, box trucks, dump trucks with small trailers, and similar equipment.

Class B is common for city bus drivers, school bus operators, local delivery drivers, and utility vehicle operators. If you want to pull a heavy trailer, you’ll need Class A instead.

Class C CDL

Class C applies to vehicles not meeting Class A or B thresholds that are designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver), or vehicles transporting hazardous materials in quantities requiring placards. Passenger vans, small buses, and some specialty vehicles fall here.

FMCSA publishes the official CDL classification definitions at fmcsa.dot.gov/. If you’re unsure which class covers the vehicle you want to drive, that page is the definitive reference.

Step 2: Know the Age Requirements

Federal law sets minimum age requirements that apply across all states:

• 18 years old — minimum age for a CDL for intrastate driving (within your state only)
• 21 years old — minimum age for interstate driving (crossing state lines or in federally regulated commerce)

These are federal minimums. Some states have additional restrictions for drivers under 21 even for intrastate routes. Check your state DMV’s requirements before assuming you can operate at 18.

Step 3: Pass a DOT Physical and Get Your Medical Certificate

Before you can get a Commercial Learner’s Permit, you need a valid DOT medical certificate (Form MCSA-5876) issued by a medical examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.

The DOT physical evaluates vision, hearing, blood pressure, cardiovascular health, and overall medical fitness to operate a commercial vehicle. The full requirements are covered in our DOT Physical Exam guide.

Your medical certificate must be valid before the state will issue your CLP. Some states require you to self-certify your commerce type (interstate or intrastate) when submitting your medical documentation. The self-certification form is usually available at your state DMV or on their website.

Step 4: Study for and Pass the CDL Knowledge Tests

Before receiving a Commercial Learner’s Permit, you must pass the CDL general knowledge test at your state DMV. Depending on the class and endorsements you’re applying for, you may also need to take additional knowledge tests.

Required Knowledge Tests by Class

Class A applicants must pass:

• General Knowledge test
• Combination Vehicles test

Class B applicants must pass:

• General Knowledge test

Class C applicants must pass:

• General Knowledge test

Endorsement Knowledge Tests

If you’re adding endorsements at the same time as your CDL, you must pass the corresponding knowledge tests:

Endorsement	Knowledge Test Required
H — Hazardous Materials	Yes (plus TSA background check)
N — Tank Vehicles	Yes
T — Double/Triple Trailers	Yes
P — Passenger Vehicles	Yes
S — School Bus	Yes
X — Tank + Hazmat Combination	Yes (H and N tests)

The Air Brakes test is not an endorsement test but a restriction removal test. If you take the skills test in a vehicle without air brakes, an air brakes restriction goes on your CDL. To remove it, you must pass the Air Brakes knowledge test. Our CDL Air Brakes guide explains this in detail.

Most states base their knowledge tests on their state CDL manual, which in turn follows FMCSA’s model curriculum. Download your state’s CDL manual from your state DMV website. It covers everything that appears on the tests.

Step 5: Get Your Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP)

After passing the required knowledge tests, your state DMV issues a Commercial Learner’s Permit. The CLP lets you practice driving a commercial vehicle on public roads when accompanied by a CDL holder who has the same class license and endorsements as the CLP.

Federal minimum holding period: You must hold the CLP for at least 14 days before taking the CDL skills test. This is a federal requirement under 49 CFR 383.25 — no exceptions.

A CLP is typically valid for 180 days. If it expires before you complete your skills test, you must reapply and pass the knowledge tests again.

Step 6: Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)

If you obtained your CLP on or after February 7, 2022, you must complete Entry-Level Driver Training from a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before taking your CDL skills test.

ELDT applies to drivers who are:

• Obtaining a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time
• Upgrading from a Class B to a Class A CDL
• Applying for an H (hazmat), P (passenger), or S (school bus) endorsement for the first time

ELDT has two required components:

Theory training covers knowledge requirements for your CDL class. It can be completed in-person or online depending on what the registered provider offers.

Behind-the-wheel (BTW) training includes a proficiency phase and a public road phase. BTW instructors must have at least two years of CMV driving experience in the same class as the training they provide.

Your training provider submits a certification of completion directly to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Your state DMV electronically verifies this certification before allowing you to schedule your skills test. You cannot take the skills test until that certification is on file.

To find registered providers near you, search the FMCSA Training Provider Registry by location and CDL class. Not all providers offer all components — some do theory only, some do BTW only, and some offer both.

Step 7: Pass the CDL Skills Test

The CDL skills test has three parts, administered in sequence:

Part 1: Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection

You inspect the vehicle and verbally identify components and their condition. The examiner checks whether you know what to look for and can correctly identify defects. This covers the entire vehicle — engine compartment, cab, lights, tires, brakes, coupling system, trailer, and safety equipment.

Most first-time failures on the pre-trip test come from missing components rather than not knowing what’s good or bad. Our CDL Pre-Trip Inspection guide covers the full inspection checklist used during the test.

Part 2: Basic Vehicle Control

Conducted in a closed course or skills area. Exercises typically include:

• Straight-line backing
• Offset backing (left and right)
• Parallel parking (sight-side and blind-side)
• Alley dock (backing into a confined space at an angle)

The examiner scores based on encroachments (crossing boundary lines), pullups (stopping and correcting direction), and final positioning. Number of allowed encroachments and pullups varies by state.

Part 3: On-Road Driving Test

A 30–45 minute drive on public roads. The examiner observes how you handle intersections, lane changes, turning, merging, railroad crossings, speed management, and other real traffic situations. The examiner uses a standardized score sheet.

Skills test fees vary by state, typically ranging from $50 to $200 for the full test. Some states charge separately for each component.

Step 8: Receive Your CDL

After passing all three parts of the skills test, your state DMV issues your CDL. Processing times vary — some states issue the license the same day at the DMV; others mail a permanent card within 7–14 days and provide a temporary document in the meantime.

Your CDL will show:

• Your license class (A, B, or C)
• Any endorsements you qualified for
• Any restrictions (e.g., air brakes restriction if applicable)
• Expiration date (CDL renewal periods vary by state, typically 4–8 years)

ELDT Exceptions: Who Doesn’t Need to Complete Training

ELDT does not apply to everyone. You are exempt if:

• You obtained your CDL before February 7, 2022 and are not upgrading or adding a covered endorsement
• You are in the military with a qualifying military driving history (under 49 CFR 383.77)
• You qualify for another exception under 49 CFR Part 383

Per FMCSA FAQ at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov: if you held a CDL before the compliance date and are re-obtaining that same class of CDL (even if it lapsed), ELDT is not required. However, if your CLP issued after February 7, 2022 expires before you get your CDL, you lose any grandfathering and must complete ELDT.

CDL Endorsements: What You Can Add

Endorsements expand what you’re legally authorized to drive or haul. Each requires passing an additional knowledge test at your state DMV.

Code	Endorsement	What It Covers
H	Hazardous Materials	Placardable hazmat loads; requires TSA background check
N	Tank Vehicles	Liquid tanker trucks
T	Double/Triple Trailers	Pulling doubles or triples
P	Passenger	Buses carrying 16 or more passengers
S	School Bus	School bus operations
X	Combination Tank + Hazmat	Combines N and H

The H endorsement involves a separate Transportation Security Administration (TSA) background check in addition to the knowledge test. Budget extra time for this — the TSA process typically takes 30–60 days.

Realistic Timeline: First-Time CDL Applicant

Step	Estimated Time
DOT physical	1 day (finding an available examiner may take 1–2 weeks)
Study for knowledge tests	1–4 weeks depending on your background
CLP issuance after passing knowledge tests	Same day at most DMVs
Mandatory CLP holding period	14 days minimum
ELDT theory training	1–3 weeks (varies by program)
ELDT behind-the-wheel training	1–4 weeks (varies by program)
Skills test scheduling	1–3 weeks (DMV appointment availability)
CDL issuance after passing skills test	Same day or up to 2 weeks for mailed card
Total realistic timeline	6–12 weeks

The biggest variable is ELDT training availability and cost. Some programs run compressed schedules. Others have waitlists. Start your search for a registered training provider early — don’t wait until after you have your CLP.

Common Reasons for CDL Skills Test Failure

Understanding why applicants fail helps you prepare better:

Pre-trip inspection failures most often come from missing required checks in a specific area — not forgetting to check a component entirely, but missing one step within a section (for example, checking fluid levels but skipping the power steering fluid, or checking lights but missing the clearance lights).

Backing exercise failures typically involve too many pullups or encroachments on basic exercises. Practice these repeatedly before your test — backing a trailer is a skill that improves with repetition, not just understanding.

On-road failures often involve intersection technique (not scanning properly), improper lane position during turns, or speed management on approaches. Examiners watch for smooth, deliberate driving — not rushing.

Most states allow you to retest after a waiting period (often 24 hours to 2 weeks depending on the state). Check your state’s retest policy before your first attempt.

Frequently Asked Questions