A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is one of the quickest routes to a solid paycheck without a degree. The BLS reports that heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earned a median of $58,640 in May 2025, and the field is expected to have about 214,500 openings a year. If you’re working out how to get your CDL, the first decision is which class you need, because that determines your training, your tests and the jobs you can take.
Class A, B or C: what each one lets you drive
The classes are defined by federal rules in 49 CFR 383.91, based mainly on vehicle weight:
| Class | What it covers | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | Combination vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 lbs or more, where the towed unit is over 10,000 lbs | Tractor-trailer (semi) driver, long-haul and regional trucking, tanker and flatbed work |
| Class B | Single vehicles of 26,001 lbs or more, or such a vehicle towing no more than 10,000 lbs | Straight trucks, dump trucks, box trucks, city and school buses (with endorsements) |
| Class C | Smaller vehicles that carry 16 or more passengers (including the driver) or hazardous materials | Passenger vans, small hazmat vehicles |
Class A vs. Class B: which should you get?
A Class A license generally also lets you drive Class B and C vehicles (with the right endorsements), so it opens the most doors. It’s the license you need for tractor-trailers, the largest and best-paid group of truck drivers.
Class B makes sense if you already know you want local work that keeps you home every night, like driving a city bus, a dump truck or a delivery straight truck. Bus driving is a good example: the BLS reports a median of $59,050 for transit and intercity bus drivers and $47,920 for school bus drivers. If you’re unsure, Class A keeps your options open.
Before you start: the basic requirements
- Age: 18 to drive within your state, and 21 to drive across state lines, according to the BLS.
- Medical exam: you must pass a Department of Transportation physical, and interstate drivers repeat it every two years.
- Vision and hearing: at least 20/40 vision with a 70-degree field of vision in each eye, the ability to tell traffic-light colors apart, and the ability to hear a forced whisper at five feet in one ear (hearing aids are allowed).
- Driving record: a clean record matters. A CDL can be suspended for offenses such as driving under the influence, and drivers are subject to random drug and alcohol testing.
How to get your CDL, step by step
Get your commercial learner’s permit (CLP). You start by passing your state’s general knowledge test, plus any endorsement tests you need. Federal rules in 49 CFR 383.25 say a CLP is valid for no more than one year without retaking the knowledge tests. While driving on a CLP, you must always have a CDL holder sitting in the front seat next to you.
Wait at least 14 days. You can’t take the CDL skills test in the first 14 days after your CLP is issued. Most people use this time for training anyway.
Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT). Since February 7, 2022, anyone getting a Class A or B CDL for the first time, upgrading from B to A, or adding a passenger, school bus or hazmat endorsement for the first time must finish ELDT with a provider listed on the FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry. Your provider reports your completion to the registry, and you won’t be allowed to take the skills test until it does. Truck driving programs typically last three to six months, according to the BLS. If a carrier offers to pay for your training, read our guide to company-sponsored CDL training before you sign.
Pass the skills test. The skills test is taken in the class of vehicle you want to drive. It generally includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control maneuvers and an on-road driving test. Once you pass, your state issues your CDL.
Endorsements: the letters that unlock more jobs
Endorsements are added to your CDL for specific types of vehicles or loads. Most require an extra knowledge test, and some require a skills test or background check too.
| Letter | Endorsement | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| T | Double/triple trailers | Drivers pulling more than one trailer |
| P | Passenger | All bus drivers |
| S | School bus | School bus drivers (in addition to P) |
| N | Tank vehicle | Drivers hauling liquids or gases in tanks |
| H | Hazardous materials | Drivers hauling hazmat; requires a background check |
| X | Tank + hazmat combined | Drivers hauling hazardous liquids in tanks |
Tanker and hazmat endorsements can lead to better-paying loads, but they also come with stricter rules. Many new drivers start with a basic Class A and add endorsements once they’ve found an employer.
What the job looks like after you’re licensed
Most new truck drivers get several weeks of on-the-job training with an experienced mentor after they’re hired, the BLS notes. Pay is often by the mile, plus bonuses. Among the main employers, truck transportation companies paid a median of $60,320 in May 2025, followed by wholesale trade ($58,550), manufacturing ($56,570) and construction ($56,080).
Be honest with yourself about the lifestyle. Long-haul drivers can be away from home for days or weeks, and federal hours-of-service rules cap driving at 11 hours within a 14-hour workday, followed by at least 10 hours off duty. Truck driving also has one of the highest rates of injuries and fatalities of any occupation. Local Class A and Class B jobs pay less on average but usually let you sleep in your own bed.
Compare the CDL with other short-term credentials in our list of quick certifications that pay well, or see how trucking ranks against skilled trades in our guide to the highest-paying trade jobs without a degree.
Last reviewed October 2, 2026. Sources: FMCSA; 49 CFR Parts 383 (classes and learner’s permits); BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, bus drivers). State procedures and fees vary; check your state’s driver licensing agency.