Looking to start your trucking career? You’ll soon find the first thing you need is a valid commercial driver license (CDL) issued by your home state. This document qualifies you to operate a range of transportation vehicles, depending on the level of certificate you acquire.
You may choose to pursue a Class A, B, or C license. Each qualified you based on the combined vehicle and trailer weight.
Class A is probably the most common for tractor-trailer drivers and includes a range of vehicles greater than 26,000 lb with a load size greater than 10,000 lb.
Class B is for any commercial vehicles up to 26,000 lb and a load not exceeding 10,000 lb. Normally, this level qualifies you to drive small vans and buses.
Finally, Class C is for any vehicle that doesn’t neatly fit in either Class A or B OR is a 16 passenger bus or the driver requires a hazmat suit for any biochemical loads.
Most trucking companies will require a valid Class A CDL before considering you for employment, though some fleets offer CDL training schools with qualified instructors.
Requirements will vary slightly by states for CDL driver requirements, but you can expect to pass a written exam, commercial driving test, then pay a small service and processing fee.
Driving a commercial vehicle requires a separate license than an ordinary car because it’s a massive piece of equipment designed to tow other vehicles. This setup often means you’ll need to make difficult maneuvers, such as wide turns, backing up safely, and securing the trailer latch. You’ll also need to be aware of some DOT regulations as they apply to drivers.
Keep in mind: you first need to be eligible for a CDL to qualify for an instructional permit (known as a CDIP). Just because you own or have access to a rig doesn’t legally allow you to practice on it. Typically, you only need to be 18 years old and possess a regular, non-commercial license.
If you’re confident, you can schedule a CDL exam with your state’s DMV anytime. However, to ensure you pass the first time, we recommend you take the time to consistently study the material and practice before your test.
Very few people love to study, especially for state certification exams. But if you want to start your career right, you’ll discipline yourself.
Here’s how to study for your CDL Exam:
Know the CDL Test Questions
You have to know the material! Lucky for you, every state issues their own CDL driver manuals that are freely available online through the federal DMV website.Your local DMV should also have a hard copy you can pick up anytime. This should be your primary study source for the written portion.
You should order practice tests through your state or a 3rd party service. However, you could save time and money by asking around the trucking community. Maybe a friend can let you borrow their material. Just be sure it’s for the most recent version.
Remember to study the right coursework for the CDL class. Every state has a general knowledge CDL test and then separate exams for other endorsements, such as driving double or triple trailers, tankers, or passenger vehicles. Most modern commercial vehicles are equipped with air brakes, which will usually require you to pass an air brakes test for authorization. Otherwise, your CDL will be marked with air brakes as a restriction.
You certainly don’t need to add any endorsements to your CDL certification, but it never hurts to make yourself more marketable in the trucking industry.
While it will vary by state, most CDL tests will consist of 40-50 random multiple choice questions and require an 80% or higher to pass. The endorsements might only be 20-30 questions, but it will require the same 80%.
There are no trick questions meant to fool you. The general knowledge test will ask simple questions about vehicle operations, maneuvers, equipment, and inspections.
For example:
- If the road is slippery, how should you react?
- When should you use high beams?
- What is best practice for making emergency stops?
- What is part of a pre-trip inspection?
Many of the questions probably overlap with what you remember from taking your non-commercial drivers license exam. Braking, lights, lane changes, and some legal information should all sound familiar.
Other items are common sense. You’ll see a few questions about drugs and alcohol use. Obviously, there is absolutely no substance use permitted while behind the wheel.
You’ll likely see a few questions about driver logs and HOS. Effective December of 2017, the feds have mandated ELDs for all commercial carriers. So, since the changes were so recent, it’s hard to tell what type of HOS questions you can expect.
Generally, you should know that drivers have an 11-hour driving limit after and may be on duty for 14 consecutive hours (in other words, 11 hours on the road and about 4 hours refueling and at client locations). At the end of their 14 hours, they must take a 10-hour break. Every 8 hours of driving, truckers must take 30-minute breaks.
For the Written Exam: Build CDL Study Habits
For the written portion, your best resource will always be your state’s driver’s manual. Take the time to go to a local DMV and pick up a physical copy you can annotate, bookmark, and tab with sticky notes.
If you’re savvy enough with computer programs, there’s plenty of tools out there on the internet to help organize yourself. Try creating a Quizlet set of online flashcards and drill yourself daily.
Set reminders on your phone to create a study schedule. You’ll want to build muscle memory by constantly running through the information on a consistent basis. Set aside about 30 minutes to an hour each day and work your way through every chapter of the driver’s manual. Be logical and realistic with your pacing too! If your state’s manual has 10 chapters, maybe study through a chapter every two weeks before your exam (meaning about 5 months study prep).
You cannot just “wing it” or cram all the information in one night for any CDL exam. To get an 80%, you usually cannot get more than 10 wrong. Try to optimize the content in how you chunk your studying. If you know one chapter is very easy, adjust your schedule and move on to the next chapter. Since these exams cost between $50-100 per certification, you don’t have time to waste.
You should consider finding a study partner to keep you accountable. This friend could be someone to quiz you, organize your notes, find your materials, and help you stay motivated.
Finally, keep a cool head and a healthy diet. If you’re burning yourself out studying, you won’t get proper rest and will have thus have a hard time focusing. Take a break every now and again! Go outside for a walk or find some other way to relax. You cannot let the test consume you. And, part of studying is maintaining mentally alert with good brain food, like high fiber and fruits. Sugary foods and caffeine might keep you up, but they don’t help you retain information.
For the CDL Driving Exam: Practice, Practice, Practice
The driving portion of the CDL exam will require access to a functional commercial vehicle. You might have a trucking friend who could supervise you, but you’ll likely have to enroll in some truck driving school to get a consistent schedule with a qualified instructor. In fact, most states require evidence of an authorized CDL training program. These schools offer a lot of benefits with flexible one-on-one lessons. Though you’ll need to travel to attend the school, and there’s no such thing as any free truck driving schools.
The best advice is just to keep being consistent in your schedule and stay motivated! Success is as much a mental battle as anything. This means staying patient with your teacher and taking constructive feedback well. If you make a mistake on the practice lot, it’s not the end of the world. Just take it as an opportunity to improve.
Of course, there are unique trucking techniques you need to learn. Backing up, making wide turns, and hard braking are just some examples of maneuvers you’ll need to master. Try to soak in as much knowledge from your teacher as possible to learn. Driving is very much a craft that is learned by rote memory and observation. It’s certainly not something you can learn on your own.
Contact your state’s DMV and ask if you can test on the same truck you’ll be practicing with during your CDL training. If your trucking school has good credentials, then they probably have vehicles that meet the state requirements and would let you use it. But make sure anyway! You don’t want to be caught off guard and forced to use an unfamiliar vehicle for the test.
CDL examiners are looking for drivers who know the rules and operations of the vehicle and are defensive drivers. Heavy traffic or inclement weather tends to frustrate many drivers on the road. Angry and burned out drivers are more likely to take risks and cause an accident.
A good driver is a one who is confident and assured of their position on the road. Now, you also don’t want to be overconfident and jump the gun on a split road decision. Take your time on the road and put safety first.