Want to Get Your CDL, but Don't Know Where to Start?

It would be easy to think that a commercial driver’s license is for anyone who gets paid to drive, but postal service workers and rideshare or food delivery drivers get paid to drive but don’t need a CDL to do so. The need for a CDL is actually based on the weight of the vehicle, the number of people in the vehicle, or the type of material you’re transporting.

Basically, if any of the following apply to you, you’re going to need a CDL:

• Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more: This includes many heavy trucks and some buses.
• Vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers: This covers larger passenger vans, buses, and school buses.
• Vehicles used to transport hazardous materials: Any vehicle carrying materials requiring placarding, regardless of size, needs a CDL.
• Combination vehicles: When the combined weight of a vehicle and trailer (or towed unit) exceeds 26,001 pounds, and the trailer's GVWR is over 10,000 pounds, a CDL is generally required.

Class A CDL

• Is needed to drive combination vehicles with a combined weight over 26,001 lbs, provided the trailer is over 10,000 lbs.
• Is the class needed to drive a traditional big rig or semi-truck.
• Requires Theory and Behind-the-Wheel ELDT training before you can take a CDL skills test (road test) for your license.
• Requires a knowledge test to gain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). You must hold the CLP for a minimum of 14 days before taking the CDL skills test.

Class B CDL

• Is needed to drive single vehicles weighing over 26,001 lbs, or combination vehicles where the trailer does not exceed 10,000 lbs.
• Is the class needed to drive school buses, transit buses (like Greyhound or tour buses), cement trucks, bucket trucks, etc.
• Requires Theory and Behind-the-Wheel ELDT training before you can take the CDL skills test (road test) for your license.
• Requires a knowledge test to gain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). You must hold the CLP for a minimum of 14 days before taking the CDL skills test.
  
  

• Is needed for driving vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver), but not exceeding 26,000 pounds GVWR. Or;
• Vehicles that are used to transport hazardous materials in quantities that require placards, but do not qualify as Class A or B vehicles.
• Requires a knowledge and skills test, but no ELDT training requirements.

Training

Class A and B CDLs fall under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements. This means that people trying to get their CDL for the first time must take Theory and Behind-the-Wheel ELDT courses before they can get their license.

• This must be taken by a separate provider in your area.
• Behind-the-Wheel trainings are typically completed at a truck driving school.
• Some employers may train you on site, so that you do not have to go to a trucking school.
• ELDT training must be provided by a trainer that meets FMCSA requirements. The FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry (TPR) allows you to search for approved providers online and in your area and can be accessed here.