CDL

This section explains what a commercial driver's license is and how to get one: the three license classes, endorsements and restrictions, eligibility and self-certification, the knowledge and skills tests, medical certification, Entry-Level Driver Training, domicile rules, and the duties that keep your CDL valid. These topics appear on the general knowledge test and set the foundation for every other section.

The Commercial Driver's License is a credential required by federal law to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United States. The CDL program was established by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, which created uniform standards for commercial drivers in every state. Because of this law, a driver operating a large vehicle must meet the same minimum competency standards no matter which state issued the license.

The federal government, through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), sets the minimum standards; the states administer the testing and issue the licenses. A vehicle generally requires a CDL when it meets any one of these criteria:

CDL Classifications

There are three classes of CDL, and each permits a different group of vehicles. Choose the class that matches the vehicle you will drive for work; a higher class also covers the lower classes, provided you hold the endorsements those vehicles require.

Class	Defni ition	TypicalVehicles
ClassA	AnycombinationofvehicleswithaGCWRof26001poundsormore , ,	Tractor-trailers truck and trailer ,
	providedtheGVWRofthevehicleorvehiclesbeingtowedismorethan	combinations tankercombinations , ,
	10000pounds Themostcomprehensivelicense;alsopermitsClassB , .	livestockcarriers flatbeds ,
	andClassCvehicles .
ClassB	AnysinglevehiclewithaGVWRof26001poundsormore oranysuch , ,	Straighttrucks largebuses segmented , ,
	vehicletowingavehiclewithaGVWRof10000poundsorless Also , .	buses boxtrucks dumptruckswithsmall , ,
	permitsClassCvehicles .	trailers
ClassC	AnyvehiclethatdoesnotmeetClassAorBbutisdesignedtocarry16	Passengervans smallbuses smallhazmat , ,
	ormorepassengers includingthedriver orisusedtotransport , ,	vehicles
	hazardousmaterialsthatrequireplacards .

Endorsements expand the types of vehicles or cargo a CDL holder may operate. Each endorsement requires passing an additional knowledge test, and the passenger and school bus endorsements also require a skills test.

Code	Endorsement	WhatItAllowsandWhatItRequires
H	HazardousMaterials	Transportinghazardousmaterialsthatrequireplacards;requiresaknowledgetest
		andaTransportationSecurityAdministration(TSA)securitythreatassessment
N	TankVehicle	Operatingtankvehiclesdesignedtotransportliquidorgaseousmaterialsinbulk
P	Passenger	Operatingvehiclesdesignedtocarry16ormorepassengers includingthedriver; ,
		knowledgeandskillstests
S	SchoolBus	Operatingaschoolbus;knowledgeandskillstests takenwiththePendorsement ,
T	Double/TripleTrailers	Pullingdoubleortripletrailers;knowledgetest
X	TankVehicleandHazardous	CombinestheHandNendorsementsforhaulinghazardousmaterialsintankvehicles
	Materials

Restrictions limit what a CDL holder may drive. They are usually added because of the vehicle used for the skills test.

Code	Restriction	UsuallyAddedWhen
L	No air-brake-equipped CMV	Youfailtheairbrakestestortestinavehiclewithoutair
		brakes
Z	No full air-brake-equipped CMV	You test in a vehicle with air-over-hydraulic brakes
E	No manual -transmission-equipped CMV	Youtestinavehiclewithanautomatictransmission
O	No tractor-trailer CMV	YoutestinaClassAcombinationwithapintlehookor
		other non-fifth -wheel connection
M N	NoClassApassengervehicle NoClassAorBpassengervehicle	YouholdaClassACDLbutearnedthePorS 1 endorsementinaClassBvehicle YouearnedthePorSendorsementinaClassCvehicle

Code	Restriction	UsuallyAddedWhen
K	Intrastateonly	Youareunder21ormedicallyqualifiedonlyforintrastate
		driving
V	Medicalvariance	YoudriveunderanFMCSAmedicalvariance suchasa ,
		visionorlimbexemption

Eligibility Requirements

Federal regulations set minimum eligibility standards for CDL applicants. You must be at least 18 years old to drive a CMV within one state (intrastate commerce) and at least 21 years old to drive across state lines (interstate commerce). Some states set higher ages for certain endorsements.