CDL – Commercial Driving License
To drive certain specialized types of vehicles such as Trucks & Trailers, Passenger buses, School Buses, tank trucks, or carry hazardous materials, you must have a CDL as well as the proper endorsements on your CDL.
What is required to get a CDL?
- Be at least 18 years of age (18 to 20 years of age to drive only intrastate) but to drive out of state the driver must be 21 years of Age
- Hold any driver’s license
- Have proof of Residency – Work permit, Social Security Number etc..
- Submit your state’s CDL Application and pay the appropriate fee Submit a completed Medical Examination Report Form and Medical Examiner’s Certificate Form
- Pass a vision test
- Pass a knowledge test
- After passing, be issued a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) – you must wait a minimum of 14 days before you can schedule your CDL road skills examination
- Pass a pre-trip inspection
- Pass the road skills and driving examination (you must bring your own vehicle). At A Class Training we provide you with the vehicle and an instructor will accompany you.
- After passing, pay the necessary fees for your new CDL (Optionally, submit a 10 Year Record Check, if you’ve had a driver’s license in any state or jurisdiction other than the one where you are applying for your CDL)
Endorsements Available
- Passenger (P), allowing you to carry passengers
- Tank (T), allowing you to drive trucks containing liquid cargo
- Hazardous Materials (H) allowing you to drive trucks containing such hazardous materials as flammable liquids, explosives, or radioactive substances.
Obtaining an Endorsement
To obtain an endorsement, you will need to pass a specialized knowledge exam and possibly a specialized driving skills test.
To obtain a School Bus (S) endorsement, you must also undergo a thorough background check.
