How to get a Commercial Driver’s License – Federal Requirements

The minimum federal standards for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) include the passing of both knowledge and skills tests. CDL applicants must be 21 years of age to drive interstate, but anyone between 18 and 21 can obtain a restricted CDL to drive intrastate only. A commercial driver’s license is required to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), which is defined as:

Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), actual weight, or registered weight over 26,000 lbs. or such vehicle towing a vehicle with a GVWR, actual weight, or registered weight of 10,000 lbs. or less.
Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), actual weight, or registered weight over 26,000 lbs. provided the GVWR, actual weight, or registered weight of the towed vehicle(s) is more than 10,000 lbs.
A vehicle transporting hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding.
A vehicle that is designed OR used to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver.

Knowledge Tests

The knowledge tests that you will have to take depend on the class of CDL (A or B) and the endorsements required for the type of driving you are looking to perform. The commercial driver’s license knowledge tests include:

General Knowledge - required for all applicants.
Passenger Transport - for bus driver applicants.
School Bus - if you want to drive a school bus.
Air Brakes - required if your vehicle has air brakes.
Combination Vehicles - required if you want to drive combination vehicles.
Hazardous Materials - required if you plan to transport hazardous material or waste.
Tanker Test - required to transport liquids in bulk.
Doubles/Triples - required if you want to pull double or triple trailers.

Skills Test

Once you pass the required knowledge test(s), you can then take the commercial driver’s license skills tests. The three general skills that you will be tested on are:

Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection: You must perform a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle to explain to the examiner what you would inspect and why.
Basic Vehicle Control: Also known as a yard skills test, the examiner will test your ability to control the vehicle by having you move the vehicle forward, backward, and turning it within a constricted area.
On-Road Driving: This is basic on the road driving which should include left and right turns, intersections, railroad crossings, curves, up and down grades, single or multi-lane streets and highways.

Medical Requirements

At the time of application for a CDL, applicants must present a valid federal medical card which can be obtained by meeting the federal medical standards.

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