A truck driver moves goods, equipment or materials in a commercial vehicle. Most jobs need a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), and the best-paid ones usually ask for Class A. In many delivery jobs, the work also means loading the truck and meeting customers at each stop.

This guide explains the federal steps to a CDL, what employers ask for in open postings, and the mistakes that slow new drivers down.

What employers ask for right now

Most truck driver postings ask for a CDL, usually Class A, and a DOT medical card. Many jobs are local or regional delivery work, so employers also want a person who can load and unload the truck and talk to customers. Many delivery jobs involve heavy equipment. Long-haul driving is only one part of the market. Driving jobs are onsite by nature, so remote roles are very rare.

Step-by-step: how to get in

These are the federal rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Your state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues the licence and sets its own fees, so check your state's site for prices and appointment times.

1. Check that you qualify. To drive across state lines you must be at least 21 and able to read and speak English (49 CFR 391.11). The minimum age for driving only inside your state is set by the state.

1. Choose your type of operation and get a medical certificate. When you apply, you self-certify whether you will drive interstate or intrastate, and whether your work is "excepted" or "non-excepted" (49 CFR 383.71). If you will drive for a carrier across state lines, you are usually non-excepted interstate. That category needs a medical examiner's certificate, often called the DOT medical card. Most postings name it.

1. Pass the knowledge tests and get your commercial learner's permit (CLP). The CLP is valid for at most one year. You must drive with a CDL holder sitting beside you, and you cannot take the skills test in the first 14 days after the CLP is issued (49 CFR 383.25).

1. Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT). Since 7 February 2022, you need ELDT before a first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade from B to A, or a first H, P or S endorsement (49 CFR 380, subpart F). The training has a theory part and a behind-the-wheel part (range and public road). Your provider must be listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Motor carriers can be on the registry too, so company-sponsored training counts. The rule sets no minimum number of hours. You must finish both parts within one year.

1. Take the skills test. You must finish ELDT before your first Class A or B skills test (49 CFR 383.71). Take the test in the type of vehicle you want to drive. Class A means a combination vehicle such as a tractor and trailer.

1. Add endorsements if you need them. See the endorsement section below. Tanker (N) and hazmat (H) are the most useful for freight work.

1. Apply for jobs and pass the employer checks. Expect a road test with the company, a review of your driving record, and a pre-employment drug test (49 CFR 382.301). The employer must also query the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before you start (49 CFR 382.701). Many postings ask for a clean driving record.

Timeline. The fixed parts are the 14-day wait between CLP and skills test, and the one-year limits on the CLP and on ELDT. The rest depends on your training provider and on how fast your state DMV can book tests. We did not research school tuition or state fees, so we do not give a total cost here. Ask each school for a written price and compare it with company-paid training.

Endorsements: what they are and which tests they need

Endorsements are letters on your CDL that allow extra types of work (49 CFR 383.153):

Code	Allows	Test needed
T	Double or triple trailers	Knowledge
N	Tank vehicles	Knowledge
H	Hazardous materials	Knowledge + TSA check
X	Tank + hazmat combined	Knowledge
P	Passenger vehicles	Knowledge + skills
S	School bus	Knowledge + skills

N, H and T need only a knowledge test. P and S also need a skills test (49 CFR 383.93). On a CLP, only P, S and N are allowed, and N on a CLP means empty tanks only.

Hazmat (H). You need ELDT before the H knowledge test. You also need a TSA security threat assessment with fingerprints. It costs $85.25 (from 1 January 2025; checked October 2026), or $41 if you have a valid TWIC in a state that accepts it. It is usually valid for five years, and TSA advises you to apply at least 60 days before you need it (TSA). A small share of postings ask for hazmat.

Entry level

At entry level, the CDL itself is the main barrier. The postings we read show what else matters:

• A Class A CDL and a DOT medical card. These two appear in most postings.
• Physical work. Many postings ask for loading and unloading. Delivery jobs often mean securing loads, using straps and chains, and sometimes a forklift.
• Customer contact. Many postings ask for customer service. In local delivery you meet the customer at every stop.
• A clean record. A recent violation can block a first job more than a lack of experience.

Few postings are labelled entry level, so treat any "no experience" claim with care and read the full posting.

After your first year

Few postings state a level, so we do not describe separate skills for each level. The postings do show three directions you can take:

• Heavy equipment delivery. Many postings mention heavy equipment. You haul machines on lowboy or flatbed trailers and must know load securement.
• Tanker or hazmat freight. Add N, H or X. Fewer postings ask for these, but they open freight work that other drivers cannot do.
• Route delivery. Many postings mention route delivery. These jobs often let you get home each day.

You can also become a driver trainer. A behind-the-wheel ELDT instructor must hold a CDL of the same class and have at least two years of driving experience (49 CFR 380, subpart F).

Rules for the US: medical, age and work permits

• Regulator. FMCSA writes the federal rules. Your state DMV tests you and issues the licence.
• Medical. You must be re-examined at least every 24 months. Some drivers with medical conditions get a shorter certificate, for example 12 months (49 CFR 391.45).
• English. An interstate driver must read and speak English well enough to talk with the public, understand road signs and answer officials (49 CFR 391.11).
• Foreign nationals. You need the legal right to work in the US. A foreign driving licence does not replace a CDL. Check your state DMV for the documents it accepts.

Common mistakes

• Paying for training from a provider that is not on the Training Provider Registry. Without a registered provider, your training is not reported to FMCSA and you cannot take the skills test.
• Letting the CLP or ELDT time limit run out. The CLP lasts at most one year, and ELDT must be finished within one year. Plan your test dates early.
• Booking the skills test too soon. You cannot test in the first 14 days after the CLP is issued.
• Applying for hazmat late. The TSA check can take time. Apply at least 60 days before a job needs it.
• Choosing the wrong self-certification. If you plan to drive across state lines, certify as interstate and keep your medical card current.
• Ignoring the non-driving part of the job. Many postings ask for loading, unloading and customer service. Mention them in your application.
• Getting a Class B when you want Class A jobs. Most postings ask for Class A, and few ask for Class B. An upgrade later needs ELDT again.

FAQ

How long is a commercial learner's permit valid? At most one year. You cannot take the skills test in the first 14 days, and you must drive with a CDL holder beside you.

Do I need truck driving school? You need ELDT from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. That provider can be a school or a motor carrier, so company-paid training also counts.

What is the minimum age to drive across state lines?

1. You must also read and speak English. The intrastate minimum is set by each state.

How much do CDL drivers earn? Pay depends on the state, the freight and the CDL class. See the live job data above for current pay ranges in open postings.

How much does a hazmat endorsement cost? The TSA threat assessment costs $85.25 (checked October 2026), or $41 with a valid TWIC in a state that accepts it. State fees are extra.

How often is the DOT medical exam? At least every 24 months, and more often for some medical conditions.