How to Get a CDL: Step-by-Step (2026)

Getting a Commercial Driver's License is a process with a defined order: pick your class, pass the knowledge tests to earn a learner's permit, complete the required training, wait out a short federal holding period, and then pass the skills test. This guide walks through each step so you know exactly what comes next.

This article is a study aid, not official or legal advice. Requirements and fees vary by state and change over time — always confirm the current rules with the FMCSA and your state licensing agency or CDL manual before you start.

Step 1: Choose Your CDL Class

Your class decides what you are allowed to drive, so choose the one that matches your career goal.

• Class A — combination vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 lbs or more, where the towed unit is over 10,000 lbs. This is the tractor-trailer license and opens the widest range of jobs.
• Class B — a single vehicle rated 26,001 lbs or more (or towing a unit up to 10,000 lbs). Think box trucks, dump trucks, and large buses.
• Class C — vehicles that do not meet Class A or B but carry 16+ passengers (including the driver) or placarded hazardous materials.

If you are unsure, Class A gives you the most flexibility. You can review the classes and endorsements in more depth on our CDL practice hub.

Step 2: Meet the Basic Eligibility Requirements

Before you begin, you generally need a valid regular driver's license and to meet the minimum age rules. In most states you must be at least 18 to drive commercially within your state (intrastate) and at least 21 to drive across state lines (interstate) or to haul hazardous materials. You will also need proof of identity and residency, and to pass a DOT medical exam. Exact document lists differ by state.

Step 3: Study For and Pass the Knowledge Tests

To get a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), you must pass the written knowledge tests at your state licensing office. At minimum this means the General Knowledge test. Depending on your class and goals, you may also need:

• Air Brakes — if your vehicle has air brakes (most Class A and B trucks do). Skipping or failing it places an air brake restriction on your license.
• Combination Vehicles — required for Class A.
• Endorsement tests — for any endorsement you want to add, such as tank or hazmat.

The passing score is typically 80%. Your state's free CDL manual is the primary source for every question, so read it cover to cover and back it up with practice questions. You can drill by topic on our CDL exam practice page, or review the material with our audio and written CDL study guide.

Step 4: Get Your Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP)

Once you pass the required knowledge tests (and vision screening), you receive your CLP. The CLP lets you practice driving a commercial vehicle on public roads only when accompanied by a CDL holder who has the proper class and endorsements and is seated beside you. A CLP is generally valid for up to 180 days.

Step 5: Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)

Since February 7, 2022, federal rules require Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) for anyone getting a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or obtaining a hazmat (H), passenger (P), or school bus (S) endorsement for the first time.

Key points about ELDT:

• Training must come from a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR). Training from a school not on the registry will not count.
• It has two parts: theory (classroom or online instruction) and behind-the-wheel (range and public road) for the driving portions.
• The behind-the-wheel portion is proficiency-based, meaning there is no single federally mandated number of hours — your instructor certifies when you are proficient. Individual schools and some states may set their own hour expectations.
• Your training provider reports your completion to the TPR, which your state checks before letting you take the skills test.

Step 6: Observe the Federal 14-Day Minimum

Federal rules require you to hold your CLP for at least 14 days before you are allowed to take the CDL skills test. This waiting period is a minimum, not a target — most new drivers need more practice time than that to be ready. Use the days to log seat time with a qualified CDL holder.

Step 7: Pass the Skills Test

The CDL skills test has three parts, taken in order:

1. Pre-trip inspection — you walk around the vehicle and name each component, what you are checking, and what would cause you to reject it. Examiners cannot credit checks you do silently, so talk through everything.
2. Basic control skills — maneuvers such as straight-line backing, offset backing, and parallel parking, performed on a closed range. Go slow; pull-ups and cone hits cost points.
3. On-road driving — driving in real traffic while the examiner watches your shifting, mirror use, stops, lane changes, and hazard scanning.

You must take the skills test in a vehicle representing the class and type you want to drive. Rolling stops, missed mirror checks, and improper lane changes are among the most common reasons drivers fail the road portion.

Step 8: Add Endorsements (Optional)

Endorsements expand what you can haul or carry — hazmat (H), tank (N), doubles/triples (T), passenger (P), and school bus (S). Each requires a knowledge test, some require a skills test, and hazmat requires a TSA background check. You can add them when you first test or later.

Step 9: Pay Fees and Receive Your CDL

Once you pass, you pay the licensing fee and your state issues the CDL. Fees, scheduling wait times, testing site availability, and third-party tester options all vary widely by state, so budget for both the cost and the calendar. For many people the whole process takes several weeks to a few months — move at the pace that makes you a safe driver rather than rushing the minimums.

Keep Studying

The knowledge tests are the first real gate, and they are very passable with steady preparation. Work through practice questions on our CDL hub, test yourself on the exam page, and reinforce the tricky sections — air brakes especially — with the CDL guide. Study the manual, log honest practice miles, and take each step in order.