How to Get a CDL: The Complete Roadmap From Permit to Paycheck

If you looked up how to get a CDL before 2022 and are checking again now, the order of operations has changed. Since February 7, 2022, federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rules require most first-time Class A and Class B applicants to complete training from a registered provider before they're allowed to take the skills test. Old advice that says "get your permit, practice with a friend who has a CDL, then test" no longer works for most new drivers.

This roadmap walks through the current sequence, from deciding which class you need to the day you're cleared to drive for pay.

Who needs a CDL and which class

You need a commercial driver's license to operate the heavy or specialized vehicles defined in federal rules. The three classes break down roughly like this:

Choose before you train, because the class determines your knowledge tests, your training program and your skills test vehicle. If you're torn, our comparison of Class A vs Class B CDL lays out the trade-offs.

How to get a CDL: the 7 steps in order

Here's the full timeline. Each step depends on the one before it, so skipping ahead usually means repeating something.

1. Pick your class and endorsements (A, B or C; plus H, N, P, S, T or X if your job needs them).
2. Pass a DOT physical with a medical examiner on FMCSA's National Registry.
3. Study for and pass the knowledge tests at your state licensing agency.
4. Receive your commercial learner's permit (CLP).
5. Complete ELDT theory and behind-the-wheel training with a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry.
6. Hold the CLP at least 14 days, then take the three-part skills test.
7. Get your CDL issued, then start a carrier's onboarding: drug test, Clearinghouse query and orientation.

Some training schools run steps 3 through 6 together, testing you for the CLP during week one and booking the skills test at the end.

DOT medical card and age rules (18 intrastate, 21 interstate)

Federal rules set two age thresholds. At 18 you can drive commercially within your own state (intrastate). At 21 you can cross state lines (interstate) or haul hazardous materials. Some states set their own intrastate rules, so check locally if you're under 21.

The DOT physical checks vision, hearing, blood pressure and other conditions. A clean exam earns a medical examiner's certificate valid for up to 24 months; examiners can issue a shorter card if they want to monitor something like high blood pressure. Keep that certificate current with your state, because a lapsed medical status can cost you your commercial driving privileges.

Commercial learner's permit and knowledge tests

Every applicant takes the general knowledge test. Most Class A applicants also take air brakes and combination vehicles, and you add a test for each endorsement you want on the permit. You'll also bring identity, residency and Social Security documents, and pay your state's fees.

Once issued, the CLP lets you drive a commercial vehicle only with a qualified CDL holder beside you. Our step-by-step guide to how to get a CDL permit covers the documents, permit restrictions and validity rules in detail. For the knowledge tests, our free practice tests include CDL general knowledge and each endorsement track.

ELDT: training from a registered provider

ELDT is the step that trips up people using old advice. It applies if you are:

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

Training has two parts: theory (classroom or online, with a minimum score on the provider's assessment) and behind-the-wheel training on a range and on public roads. The provider must be listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, and it reports your completion electronically. Your state checks the registry before letting you take the skills test (or, for hazmat, the knowledge test).

Before you sign up anywhere, search the registry for the school's name. If it isn't listed, its training won't count. The federal requirements are explained in our guide to ELDT requirements.

Skills test: pre-trip, basic control, road

The CDL skills test has three parts, usually taken the same day in the same vehicle class you'll drive:

Many students say the pre-trip inspection is the hardest part, because it's a long memorized sequence. Practicing it out loud every day of training helps far more than reading it.

If you test in a vehicle with an automatic transmission or without full air brakes, your license will carry restrictions. Ask your school what restrictions their trucks would put on your CDL.

How long it takes and what it costs

For a full-time student, the path from DOT physical to CDL can take a matter of weeks; part-time programs and waits for skills test appointments stretch it out. The 14-day CLP hold is the one fixed minimum.

Costs come from tuition, state fees, the physical and drug testing. Tuition varies widely between community colleges, private schools and carrier-sponsored programs. We break down each line item in how much does a CDL cost, including the repayment clauses in "free" company training.

The official federal overview of CDL classes and requirements is on FMCSA's commercial driver's license page.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get a CDL?

Full-time students often finish in several weeks, but it depends on your school's schedule, the 14-day minimum permit hold and how quickly your state can book a skills test.

Can I get a CDL without going to school?

Most first-time Class A and B applicants can't skip training, because ELDT must come from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry. That provider can be a school, a carrier's program or another registered trainer.

How old do you have to be to get a CDL?

Federal rules allow intrastate driving at 18 and interstate driving or hazmat hauling at 21. Your state may add its own rules for drivers under 21.

What is the hardest part of getting a CDL?

Many new drivers find the pre-trip inspection and backing maneuvers the toughest. Both are learnable with daily repetition during training.