A CDL license is required for those who drive certain trucks and other vehicles.
Regulations for drivers of motor vehicle carriers are typically the same in all states.
A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is required for semi trucks, tanker trucks, large towing trucks, delivery vehicles and buses that can transport at least 16 people. Besides a general CDL license, certain types of trucks, loads or situations require further training and endorsements to the general CDL. Endorsement certificates are not usually covered in general truck driver training, and the trainee must have a valid CDL driver's license to train and test for the endorsements.
Instructions
Get Training
1. Choose a CDL training school for your needs. A good school will offer basic driving courses, plus training for endorsements you may need for various types of driving jobs.
2. Take a physical. A physical is required before taking the test for a CDL driver's license.
3. Take a general knowledge test, which shows that the person understands the class of vehicles they will be driving. All CDL learners must first pass this test. Your school can provide you with study materials. After passing this test, you may go to a licensing station and take a written test to obtain a driver's learning permit.
4. Study in a classroom to learn driving rules and procedures, record-keeping and licensing requirements.
5. Drive with a certified trainer. Learn inspect a vehicle, keep log-book records and drive the vehicle. Drive in different types of weather as well as during the day and night.
6. Take the school's written and driving tests in order to receive your certificate of completion for the course.
7. Take the test for a CDL license after receiving your certification from the school. A CDL driver's license from the Department of Transportation is required.
Endorsements
8. Train for and take a passenger transport test to obtain a bus driver license. Drivers of school buses, city buses, private bus lines and special buses like elderly transportation must pass a passenger bus driver test and have that endorsement on their CDL driver's license.
9. Take a written air brake test and demonstrate the proper skills in handling vehicles with air brakes to obtain the air brake endorsement. Semi trucks have air brakes, as do other trucks in which the gross vehicle weight is over 10,000 pounds.
10. Pass a hazard materials test to demonstrate knowledge and procedures for handling emergencies involving hazardous solids, liquids or gases. Hazmat training is also required for this endorsement.
11. Get a bulk liquids endorsement to drive tanker trucks that contain milk, syrups and other liquids. Drivers must pass a written test and demonstrate to licensing personnel that they know the rules as well as emergency procedures for hauling liquids.
12. Obtain an endorsement if your job will require you to pull double or triple trailers, also known as piggy-back semi-trailers.
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