Have you ever wanted to get your commercial driver’s license? If so, then this post will be an excellent resource for you. Learning how to get a commercial driver’s license is not easy and can take some time. This article provides all the information that you’ll need to obtain your license in one place.
The following are six steps required for obtaining a commercial driver’s license:
Get your Learner’s Permit
A learner’s permit is often the first step towards getting your commercial driver’s license. You will need to be at least 16 years old and have a valid photo ID to get one. You’ll also need proof of residency with your name on it (driver’s license, utility bill) in addition to passing the written test for your permit.
Take a Driver’s Education Course
After getting your learner’s permit, you need to take a driver’s education course. The course will give you the skills and knowledge to drive safely. It also costs less than $500, so it’s worth taking this step before starting your driving lessons.
Driver’s education courses can be taken online or at a high school near where you live. You’ll need to have your learner’s permit with you when attending these classes for them to count as driver’s ed hours.
For some people, studying using a handbook can be overwhelming. With too much information being presented, it can be hard to understand and remember everything. To help prepare for your CDL exams efficiently, it will be best to use an online platform to break the information into small and digestible practical tests. The nice thing about online courses is that they’re self-paced, and you can learn at your speed.
This way, you’ll have the opportunity to study for hours on end if necessary to remember everything better. It’s also a great way to review what was learned earlier, so it isn’t forgotten over time.
Take the Written Test
Once ready, you can take the written commercial driver’s license test at your local DMV. The general knowledge exam covers rules of the road, vehicle maintenance, and safety regulations. You have two hours to complete this section of the test with a passing score being 75%.
If you fail the written test, you will be given a chance to retake it in 60 days.
Obtain your License
After passing your written test, you are eligible to get your commercial driver’s license.
To apply for a license, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Provide proof of identity and legal U.S. residency
- Pass the physical examination that is given in conjunction with the eye exam
These exams will be administered by an authorized DOT Medical Examiner or State Health Department representative.
You can find out if there is one local to you by contacting your nearest NMC office.
Obtain your Medical Card
A medical card is a certificate from your doctor that verifies you are medically fit to operate a commercial vehicle. This card must be renewed annually, and the renewal process can take as little as 15 minutes or so, depending on where you live geographically.
Your medical card will need to specify which type of driver’s license (or learner’s permit) you want, whether it’s an “S endorsement” for school bus drivers or “P endorsement” for passenger vehicles. You should also have copies of any mandated vaccinations.
Once you’ve received approval from your physician, submit these documents with your application at DOT headquarters in Albany, NY.
Attend a DOT
With the medical report and driver’s license in hand, the next step is to head down to your local DOT office. Bring a few forms of identification and be prepared for an eye test as well as a drug screening.
Some states also require you to get your fingerprints done. States like California, Nevada, and Florida all do this for the truck driver’s license application process; it is highly recommended that applicants follow suit so they can be fingerprinted by a qualified technician at least once in their lifetime.
After you’ve had your eye test and drug screening completed successfully, go ahead and fill out the forms, which include info about yourself such as name, date of birth, social security number, etcetera. You’ll need these details on file before continuing with any other steps of the commercial driver licensing process, so make sure you have them ready!
After completing these steps listed above, it’s time to finalize details like fees, testing times, and locations and take care of any administrative tasks related to identity verification. Be sure not to forget to register those fingerprints so once an applicant has completed their commercial driver’s license training (typically 30-40 hours), they can start practicing for licensing purposes! With all this information at hand, one can move on to the next step for commercial driver’s license training.
Getting a commercial driver’s license can be a complicated process to go through. However, following the proper procedure, as explained in this blog post, you can get your license in a few weeks! This blog post will go through the steps you’ll need to take and what needs to be done.