A commercial driver's license (CDL) is a driver's license required under 49 CFR Parts 300-399 in the United States to operate large and heavy vehicles (including trucks, buses, and trailers) or a vehicle of any size that transports hazardous materials or more than 16 passengers (driver included).
United States In the United States, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 established minimum requirements that must be met when a state issues a CDL. While recreational vehicles and farm vehicles are federally exempt from requiring a CDL, federal law allows states to require a CDL for these vehicles. The following types of CDL licenses are:
Class A – Any single vehicle, class 7 or 8, that has a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 26,001 pounds (11,794 kilograms) or a vehicle combined with a towed unit(s)/trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms) that exceeds 26,001 pounds (11,794 kilograms). Class B – Any single vehicle class which has a gross vehicle weight rating less than 26,001 pounds (11,794 kilograms) and is towing a towed unit(s)/trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating that exceeds 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms). Class C – Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver or is transporting material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR Part 172 or is transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73.
Age requirements State governments determine the minimum age for issuing a CDL. All states, as well as the District of Columbia, have made 18 the minimum age for a CDL to be issued with the exception of Hawaii where the minimum age is 21.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) which oversees the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 requires drivers to be 21 years or over to drive a commercial vehicle in interstate commerce (to move goods across state lines) or to transport hazardous materials when placards are required. The FMCSA allows states to issue a CDL to drivers under 21 providing they only drive a commercial vehicle within the state where the CDL was issued, i.e. intrastate commerce. Additional age restrictions vary by state law. For example, New Jersey requires drivers to be at least 21 years of age for a passenger endorsement.
On 15 November 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to lower the minimum age for a CDL Class A from 21 to 18. Previously, New York State only allowed 18 to 20-year-olds to apply for a CDL Class B or C, but not for a CDL Class A until they turn 21.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law on 15 November 2021 by President Joe Biden established the "safe driver apprenticeship pilot program" that would allow qualified 18 to 20-year-olds with a CDL to operate in interstate commerce after successful completion of two training phases(totaling 400 hours on-duty with at least with 240 hours supervised by an older and experienced driver). This program aims to help alleviate the national truck driver shortage by removing the barrier for 18, 19, and 20-year-olds to become professional bus and truck drivers by exempting them from the age requirement for interstate commerce provided they meet all other requirements as drivers age 21 and over.
Regulation changes Before 1992, driving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), which are primarily tractor-trailers (or Longer Combination Vehicles (LCVs)), required advanced skills and knowledge above and beyond those required to drive a car or other lightweight vehicle. Before the implementation of the commercial driver's license (CDL) in 1992, licensing requirements for driving larger vehicles and buses varied from state to state.
This lack of training resulted in a large number of preventable traffic deaths and accidents.
In 1992, when the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 became law, all drivers were required to have a CDL in order to drive a Commercial Motor Vehicle which meets one of the classes listed above. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has developed testing standards for licensing drivers. U.S. states are able to issue CDLs only after a written and practical test have been given by the State or approved testing facility.
A state may also require a driver to have a CDL to operate certain other vehicles not meeting the federal classes listed above. For example, a driver licensed in New Jersey must have a CDL to drive a bus, limousine, or van that is used for hire and designed to transport 8 to 15 passengers. A driver licensed in New York must have a CDL to legally transport passengers in school buses and other vehicles listed in Article 19-A of the state's Vehicle and Traffic Law. Drivers licensed in California must have a CDL if their primary employment is driving, whether or not they actually drive a commercial vehicle. California defines a commercial vehicle as one that transports for hire either people or products. In addition, possession of a CDL in California changes the threshold for a Driving Under the Influence citation from 0.08% to 0.04% blood alcohol content.
Prospective licensees should verify CDL requirements by referencing their state specific CDL Manual.
In most states, a driver's license (for cars) is required before a Commercial Driver's License can be issued.
Endorsements The following endorsements listed are federal-level endorsements. States are free to enact endorsements at the state level. For example, in New York State, a W endorsement is required to operate a tow truck.
Endorsement Letter Required Test(s) Class A? Class B? Class C? Notes Doubles and triples T Knowledge Test Yes No No Required to pull two or three trailers. Only 14 states allow triple trailers (three cargos) to be driven, including Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Ohio and Utah. In all other states, only two trailers can be hauled thus triples are not permitted.https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-03-26-8903300259-.html#:~:text=The%2013%20states%20that%20allow,Oregon%2C%20South%20Dakota%20and%20Utah Furthermore, STAA doubles are permitted in all 50 states; Alaska allows triple 53' trailers, Kansas and Oklahoma allow turnpike doubles (double 48' trailers) other combinations are restricted in various states. Passenger vehicle P Knowledge and Skills Test Yes Yes Yes Required to drive a bus or any vehicle that will transport 16 or more passengers. In most states, a CDL is not required if the driver will only transport family members for non-commercial purposes unless the vehicle weighs more than 26,000 pounds GVWR. School bus S Knowledge and Skills Test Yes Yes Yes Required to drive a school bus and/or to transport school students to or from school. A Passenger endorsement is required for this endorsement. Tank vehicle N Knowledge Test Yes Yes Yes Required to drive a container that carries or more of liquid. Hazardous materials H Knowledge Test Yes Yes Yes Required to transport hazardous materials in commerce. This endorsement, by federal law, requires the driver to be at least 21 years of age, pass a medical background test, pass a TSA background test, and be fingerprinted for any prior criminal conviction. Combination of tank vehicle and hazardous material. X Knowledge Tests Yes Yes Yes A combination of H and N endorsements that replaces them.
Endorsements without codes These are optional endorsements that do not carry an endorsement code, but may be required for certain CDL holders:
Endorsement Required forRestriction (if not passed) Air brakes Any commercial motor vehicle with air brakes. The CDL Holder will be issued an L on their restrictions, indicating they are forbidden from operating any commercial motor vehicle equipped with air brakes. Combination vehicles Any combination vehicles. This endorsement is mandatory for all Class A applicants. Ineligible for the Class A CDL. Though, applicants may still apply for a Class B or Class C CDL without this endorsement.
Restrictions +Restriction CodeDescriptionENo manual transmission CMVKIntrastate commerce onlyLNo operation of air brake CMVMNo class A passenger busNNo class A or B passenger busONo tractor trailer with fifth wheel CMVVMedical varianceXNo cargo in CM tank vehicleYHeating aid requiredZNo full air brake E, K, L, M, N, O, V and Z are federal restrictions. Any other restrictions have been promulgated at the state level.
Training Educational prerequisites vary by state. Some states, such as Ohio, for example require 160 hours of classroom and on the road training. Training may be obtained by completing a qualified CDL training program through a DMV-approved truck driving school. These training programs specialize in teaching potential truck drivers the necessary skills and knowledge to properly and safely operate a truck, including map reading, trip planning, and compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation laws, as well as backing, turning, hooking a trailer, and road driving. The overall purpose of these training schools is to help truckers-to-be pass the CDL knowledge and skills tests as well as advanced driving techniques such as skid avoidance and recovery and other emergency actions for situations such as a breakaway trailer and hydroplaning. These classes usually go well beyond the training the typical non-commercial driver receives, such as the driver's education provided in high school. There are a number of licensed CDL training schools around the United States and many trucking companies operate their own schools as well.
Testing Although each state may add additional restrictions, there are national requirements which are as follows. A prospective driver must pass a series of written exams for a learner permit, or to add endorsements. The General Knowledge Test, required for a commercial learner permit, consists of 50 questions, where 80 percent of questions must be answered correctly to pass.
The CDL Skills Test must be passed for the applicant to obtain their CDL license. It includes three different sections: The first is the Pre-Trip Inspection where the applicant must inspect their vehicle and describe what they would inspect and why. The second is a written test on highway safety and a test about different parts of a truck with a minimum of 30 questions on the test. To pass this knowledge test, student drivers must answer at least 80 percent of the questions correctly. The third is a driving skills test. To pass the driving skills test, the student driver must successfully perform a set of required driving maneuvers. The driving skill test must be taken in a vehicle that the driver operates or expects to operate. For certain endorsements, such as air (pneumatic) brakes, the driving skills test must be taken in a vehicle equipped with such equipment. If the test is done in a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, a restriction of E will be placed on the license prohibiting the driver from operating a vehicle with a manual transmission. The student driver also needs to show they do in fact show the characteristics of an aware and fully operative driver. This does not exclude certain disabilities; however, standard requirements required by the safety operators must be met.
Employers, training facilities, states, governmental departments, and private institutions may be permitted to administer knowledge and driving test for the state. The test must be the same as those given by the state issuing the CDL, and the instructors must meet the same professional certification as state instructors.