Who can get a CDL
Federal rules in 49 CFR Parts 383 and 391 set the floor. States add their own fees and forms but cannot go below it.
- Age. You can hold a commercial learner's permit at 18 (49 CFR 383.25). To drive a commercial motor vehicle across state lines you must be 21 (49 CFR 391.11). Many states let 18 to 20 year olds drive inside the state only.
- License. A valid regular driver's license from the same state that issues your permit. Carriers often ask for at least 12 months of license history; Schneider lists exactly that on its training page (October 2026).
- Medical certificate. A DOT physical from a certified medical examiner, with a certificate valid for up to 24 months (49 CFR 391.41 and 391.45).
- English. Federal rules require a driver to read and speak English well enough to talk with the public, understand traffic signs, answer officers, and fill out reports (49 CFR 391.11(b)(2)). Since June 25, 2025, inspectors can place a driver out of service for failing this standard, and FMCSA proposed on August 10, 2026 to write that penalty into the regulations (91 FR 51422).
- Record. No disqualifying offenses under 49 CFR 391.15. Carriers set stricter limits. Walmart, for example, allows no more than two moving violations and no preventable accidents in the past three years (careers.walmart.com, October 2026).
- Immigration status. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents get a regular CDL. Since March 16, 2026, a non-domiciled CDL is available only to holders of H-2A, H-2B or E-2 status. Details: the non-domiciled CDL rule, explained.
CDL classes
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| Class | What it covers (49 CFR 383.91) | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|
| A | Any combination with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, where the towed unit is rated over 10,000 pounds | Tractor-trailer, flatbed, tanker, car hauler |
| B | A single vehicle rated 26,001 pounds or more, or that vehicle towing a unit rated 10,000 pounds or less | Dump truck, refuse truck, straight truck, city bus, school bus |
| C | A smaller vehicle built for 16 or more passengers including the driver, or carrying placarded hazardous materials | Shuttle, small bus, hazmat van |
A Class A holder may drive Class B and C vehicles with the right endorsements. Common endorsements: H (hazardous materials), N (tank), X (tank and hazmat), P (passenger), S (school bus), T (double or triple trailers). A tank, passenger or school bus endorsement needs its own knowledge test, and P and S also need a skills test (49 CFR 383.93).
The seven steps
- Get the DOT physical. A certified medical examiner issues a Medical Examiner's Certificate. Most carriers want it before training starts. Expect to pay for it yourself unless a sponsor covers it.
- Pass the knowledge tests and get a commercial learner's permit (CLP). The general knowledge test is required; air brakes and combination vehicles are required for Class A. The CLP is valid for up to one year, and you cannot take the skills test during the first 14 days after it is issued (49 CFR 383.25). While you hold a CLP you may only drive with a CDL holder in the front seat beside you.
- Complete entry-level driver training (ELDT). Required for a first Class A or Class B, for upgrading B to A, and for a first P, S or H endorsement. The provider must be listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, and it reports your completion to the registry, which the state checks before your skills test (FMCSA, ELDT page updated February 4, 2026). Training has a theory part and a behind-the-wheel part. Federal rules set no minimum hour count; the provider must certify that you reached proficiency.
- Practice. Carrier schools run two to eight weeks (see the table below). Private schools and community colleges set their own length.
- Take the skills test. Three parts, defined in 49 CFR 383.113: the pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control (starting, stopping, straight-line and curved backing, turns, shifting), and on-road driving. You test in a vehicle of the class you want.
- Get the CDL. The state issues the license after the test and the registry check. Fees vary by state.
- Clear the employer's checks. Carriers must query the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before you drive (49 CFR 382.701), run a pre-employment drug test, and review your driving record. Most programs also require a road test with the carrier.
How long it takes
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| Program | School length | Then | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knight (own schools in Phoenix and Indianapolis) | 2 to 3 weeks | 3 to 6 weeks of paid over-the-road training | knighttrans.com, October 2026 |
| Roehl | 3 weeks | On-the-job phase with a certified trainer | roehl.jobs, October 2026 |
| TMC | 3 weeks (19 consecutive days) | 4 weeks over the road with a trainer | tmctrans.com, October 2026 |
| Prime | 2 to 4 weeks with your permit | 30,000 to 50,000 training miles | driveforprime.com, October 2026 |
| Schneider CDL Apprenticeship Training | 5 to 7.5 weeks | Hired on completion where offered | schneiderjobs.com, October 2026 |
| Stevens Transport | 160-hour course | 240-hour paid finishing program | stevenstransport.com, October 2026 |
Add the time to study for and pass the knowledge tests before any of these programs start. Several of them require you to arrive with a CLP already in hand.
What it costs
- Self-pay. Private schools and community colleges charge tuition plus permit, license and testing fees. One widely used 2026 guide puts the all-in self-pay range at roughly $3,200 to $10,600, with tuition the largest item (driving-tests.org, 2026). Prices vary by state and school, so get the written total before you enroll.
- Company-sponsored. TMC, Roehl, Prime and C.R. England list $0 up front on their own pages, and several pay you during training. In return you commit to a period of work, and you repay a prorated amount if you leave early. The full comparison: paid CDL training programs.
- Tuition reimbursement. Schneider refunds up to $200 a month, up to $7,000 total, to qualified drivers who paid for school elsewhere (schneiderjobs.com, October 2026).
- Veterans. CRST and Schneider accept GI Bill benefits for training; Knight offers a military scholarship at its Phoenix school (carrier pages, October 2026).
Mistakes that cost time
- Taking the skills test too early. The 14-day rule after the CLP is federal and the state will not waive it.
- Training with a provider that is not on the Training Provider Registry. The state will not accept the certificate.
- Skipping the physical. A medical issue found late can stop the whole process.
- Starting a sponsored program without reading the repayment terms. Ask for the agreement in writing before you travel.
What the job pays once you have it
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earned a national median of $28.19 an hour in May 2025, with the 10th percentile at $19.30 and the 90th at $38.17. There were 2,062,040 of these jobs (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). In the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro the median was $28.62; in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands it was $27.33 (same source). How pay works by job type: local vs regional vs OTR trucking. More benchmarks: pay benchmarks for hourly jobs. Which carriers pay weekly: jobs with weekly pay.
Current openings
See driver jobs nationwide, or by city: Dallas, Houston. Jobs that need no CDL: delivery jobs and driver jobs that do not need a CDL.
Source-linked openings
Current source-linked listings could not be confirmed in this sample. Check the category search and each original posting for availability.
How to verify a listing
Every opening on JobPin links to its source posting. Open it, check the date, and confirm pay and training terms on the carrier's own site before you give personal information. No legitimate carrier charges a fee to apply, and none hires through text messages or WhatsApp before you apply. For sponsored training, ask for the written agreement that states the commitment and the repayment formula.
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