Quick answer
To get a CDL you must be at least 21 for interstate driving (your state sets the in-state age), hold a valid license from one state, prove lawful presence and domicile, read and speak English for the job, pass a DOT medical exam, pass knowledge tests for a permit, finish registered entry-level training, hold the permit 14 days, pass a three-part skills test, and have no disqualifying offenses.
Those are the federal truck driver requirements every state enforces. States add their own, from fees to documents to rules for drivers under 21, so keep your state's CDL manual next to this page. The order you'll meet them in is laid out in how to become a truck driver.
CDL requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Federal minimum | Who checks |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 21 interstate; state sets in-state | DMV, then every employer |
| License | Valid, from one state only | DMV |
| Lawful presence and domicile | Documents at the permit stage | DMV |
| English | Enough for the public, signs, officials, records | Employers and roadside inspectors |
| Medical | DOT physical; card valid up to 24 months | Certified medical examiner |
| Knowledge tests | General plus class and endorsement tests | DMV |
| Training | ELDT from a registered provider | Provider reports to FMCSA; DMV verifies |
| Skills test | After a 14-day permit hold | DMV or approved third-party tester |
| Record | No disqualifying offense; not prohibited in the Clearinghouse | DMV and every employer |
Source: 49 CFR 383.113 · checked Oct 2026
Truck driver qualifications: check yourself
Answer each line honestly. Anything marked No or Not sure moves into the gate check with what to do next, so you find the blocker before you pay for school, not after.
01Old enough for the driving you want
21 or older for interstate. For in-state driving only, your state sets the minimum, usually 18.
Source: 49 CFR 391.11(b)(1) · checked Oct 2026
02A valid driver's license from one state
You need a regular license in your state of domicile, and you can hold a license from only one state.
Source: 49 CFR 391.11(b)(5) · checked Oct 2026
03Proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency, and domicile
Bring the documents your DMV lists. Drivers domiciled outside the U.S. follow separate non-domiciled rules.
Source: 49 CFR 383.71(a), 383.73 · checked Oct 2026
04Read and speak English for the job
Enough to talk with the public, read road signs, answer officials and fill in records.
Source: 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) · checked Oct 2026
05Medically qualified
Pass a DOT physical with a certified medical examiner. The certificate lasts up to 24 months.
Source: 49 CFR 391.45 · checked Oct 2026
06No disqualifying offenses
Major offenses, such as DUI or leaving the scene of a crash, disqualify CDL holders for set periods.
Source: 49 CFR 383.51 · checked Oct 2026
07Not prohibited in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
Your state checks the Clearinghouse before issuing or upgrading a permit or CDL.
Source: 49 CFR 383.73(a)(8) · checked Oct 2026
08Training from a registered ELDT provider
Required for a first Class A or B CDL, a B-to-A upgrade and a first H, P or S endorsement.
Source: 49 CFR 380.603, 380.609 · checked Oct 2026
Physical requirements for truck drivers
The DOT physical checks you against a federal standard. The parts most people ask about:
- Vision: 20/40 in each eye and both together, with or without glasses, a 70 degree field in each eye, and telling red, green and amber apart. An alternative standard exists for some drivers who can't meet it in one eye.
- Hearing: a forced whisper at 5 feet in the better ear, or an audiometer test, hearing aid allowed.
- Conditions: heart, breathing, blood pressure, seizure and other conditions likely to affect safe driving are evaluated case by case.
- Diabetes: insulin-treated diabetes has its own standard and doesn't automatically disqualify you.
Source: 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10); 391.44 · checked Oct 2026
Source: 49 CFR 391.41(b)(11) · checked Oct 2026
Source: 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3); 391.46 · checked Oct 2026
The examiner decides, and can certify you for less than the full 24 months to monitor a condition. If you have a condition, talk to a certified medical examiner before you enroll in training.
Truck driver education requirements
Federal rules don't require a high school diploma or a degree. They require training: entry-level driver training from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, covering theory and behind-the-wheel skills, before your first Class A or B skills test. Some employers set their own education rules, and it's worth asking before you apply. To study for the knowledge tests, see the CDL study guide; for an honest look at the difficulty, read is it hard to get a CDL.
What license do you need to drive a semi truck?
A Class A CDL. A tractor-trailer is a combination vehicle, and Class A covers any combination with a combined weight rating of 26,001 lb or more towing a unit over 10,000 lb. Straight trucks over 26,000 lb need a Class B. Box trucks rated 26,000 lb or less usually need no CDL at all, unless they haul placarded hazmat.
Source: 49 CFR 383.91(a)(1) · checked Oct 2026
Source: 49 CFR 383.91 · checked Oct 2026
Not sure where a truck falls? Read what size truck requires a CDL, or use the Do I need a CDL checker.
Exceptions
Not everyone who drives a big vehicle needs a CDL. States must exempt military drivers operating for military purposes, and may exempt farmers driving their own farm vehicles within 150 miles of the farm, firefighters and emergency vehicle drivers, and some snow and ice removal drivers. These are state choices, usually limited to the home state.
Source: 49 CFR 383.3(c), (d) · checked Oct 2026
Drivers domiciled outside the U.S. follow separate non-domiciled CDL rules. Those rules have changed recently; see the non-domiciled CDL guide for the current status.
What happens if you don't meet a requirement
- Too young for interstate: start in-state where allowed and move to interstate work at 21.
- Medical issue: the examiner may certify you for a shorter period, or you may qualify under a specific standard, such as the vision or insulin-treated diabetes standards.
- Disqualifying offense: wait out the disqualification period; lifetime disqualifications have a limited reinstatement path in some states.
- Prohibited in the Clearinghouse: no state will issue or upgrade a CDL until the return-to-duty process is complete.
Source: 49 CFR 383.73(a)(8) · checked Oct 2026
CDL requirements FAQ
What do you need to be a truck driver?
For a CDL truck: be old enough (21 for interstate), hold a valid license from one state, prove lawful presence and domicile, read and speak English for the job, pass a DOT physical, pass knowledge tests for a permit, complete registered entry-level training, hold the permit at least 14 days and pass the skills test. Employers add their own hiring rules.
What education is required to be a truck driver?
No high school diploma or degree is required by federal CDL rules. What's required is training: entry-level driver training from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry for a first Class A or B CDL. Some employers ask for a diploma or GED in their own hiring rules, so check each job listing.
What license do you need to drive a semi truck?
A Class A CDL. A semi is a combination vehicle, and Class A covers combinations with a combined weight rating of 26,001 lb or more where the towed unit is over 10,000 lb. Add endorsements for special cargo, such as H for hazmat, N for tanks or T for doubles and triples.
What are the physical requirements for truck drivers?
The federal standard covers vision (20/40 in each eye with or without glasses, a 70 degree field), hearing (a forced whisper at 5 feet), and conditions likely to affect safe driving, such as some heart, breathing and seizure conditions. Insulin-treated diabetes has its own standard. Talk to a certified medical examiner about your case.
Do you need a CDL to drive a box truck?
Not usually. A box truck rated 26,000 lb or less, carrying no placarded hazmat, can be driven on a regular license in most states. A heavier box truck needs a Class B CDL. Check the GVWR on the door-jamb label, and your state's rules, before you take a job.
Can you get a CDL with a DUI?
It depends on when and in what vehicle. Federal rules disqualify CDL holders for set periods after a DUI, longer for a second offense or when hauling hazmat, and states can be stricter. An old DUI from before you held a CDL is handled under your state's rules. Check your record with your state DMV.