2024 Utah CDL Requirements Guide

You must be at least 18 years of age with a valid Class D Utah license that you’ve had for at least one year to apply for a Utah CDL.
Written by Pat Roache
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Applicants for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in
Utah
must be 18 years of age or older with
a valid Class D driver’s license
that they’ve had for at least one year. You'll also need to carry a Department of Transportation Medical Certificate (DOT card).
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What is required for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Utah? 

A Utah Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) allows qualified drivers to operate certain commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) used for the transportation of passengers or commercial goods. Before you can apply for a Utah CDL, you need to make sure you meet a pretty long list of requirements. Here are the basic Utah CDL requirements you’ll need to meet first:
Before you go any further, it will be helpful to figure out the specific class of CDL you need and whether or not you’ll need any accompanying endorsements to operate your specific CMV. 

Utah CDL classes

Utah offers three classes of CDL: Class A, Class B, and Class C. Class A and B are the most comprehensive, while Class C is a bit more limited. Here are the types of vehicles that you can operate with each class:
  • Class A: Vehicles with a Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more and that implement a towed unit with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more
  • Class B: Vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds and do not utilize a towed unit
  • Class C: Vehicles that do not meet the 26,001-pound weight limit but are used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) or hazardous material
You would need a Class A Utah CDL to operate a tractor-trailer, for example, but you would need a Class B CDL to operate a large school bus. If the school bus is particularly tiny, you would only need a Class C CDL. At that point, an endorsement would likely be required to specify just exactly who or what you’ll be transporting.

Endorsements

An endorsement specifies what you are permitted to use your CMV for. Here are the six types of endorsements for Utah CDLs and the type of cargos/vehicle operations they permit:
  • H: hazardous materials 
  • N: tanker cargo (like gasoline)
  • X: hazardous materials in a tanker vehicle 
  • T: towing two to three trailers 
  • P: transporting passengers for commercial services
  • S: school bus
Different requirements can apply to certain CDL endorsements. For example, the H endorsement requires you to pass a background check as well as a specific knowledge test.

Minimum age requirement

You must be at least 18 years of age to apply for a Utah CDL. However, you must be at least 21 years of age to apply for interstate privileges on your DOT card self-application form. If you are under 21 years of age, you are only allowed to apply for intrastate privileges—meaning you are not permitted to use your CDL to cross state lines.

Medical requirements

As part of applying for your mandated DOT card, you’ll need to have a DOT physical exam conducted by a certified medical examiner from the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s National Registry
.
If you are deemed to be physically capable of operating a CMV by a certified medical professional, you will be able to continue with your DOT card application. You’ll also need to pass an
eye test
when you apply for your Utah CDL. 

New ELDT requirements

The FMCSA recently issued new regulations for
Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT)
effective as of February 2022 and applicable to all first-time CDL applicants across the country. Utah CDL applicants will need to complete a training course with a registered provider from
FMCSA’s registry
before taking the CDL skills test, S and P skills tests, or the H written knowledge test.

How to apply for a CDL in Utah

Once you’ve met the Utah Class D driver’s license requirements, checked your class and endorsement needs, and gotten your DOT card, you can fill out an
online application
and schedule an appointment at your local
Utah driver’s license office
.
Once there, you’ll have your photo taken, and you’ll be issued an eye test. You’ll also need to pay a $52 fee plus an additional $9 per endorsement and an $18 fee if you want to add a
Utah motorcycle endorsement
You’ll also need to bring proof of identity, your social security card, and two documents to
prove your Utah residency
. Here are some examples of eligible documents—just make sure they include both your name and legal address:
  • Bank statements
  • Court documents
  • Mortgage documents 
  • Rental contracts
  • Credit card or utility bills 
  • Property tax notices
  • School transcript
  • Vehicle title
Utah law does not explicitly require you to have a
clean driving record
when you apply for a Utah CDL. However, the DMV will check your
Utah driving record
before any permit is issued, and the office may have the right to deny your application based on this information. 
Last but not least, you’ll take your written knowledge tests—use the
CDL driver’s manual
to study! If everything goes to plan, you’ll be issued a Commercial License Instruction Permit (CLIP),which you can use to complete your ELDT requirements.
Once you’ve completed your ELDT course, you take any remaining endorsement tests and your CDL skills test with a registered third-party testing company or a state driver's license examiner. Once you’ve passed all your testing, you can head back to the office where you processed your initial application to complete the process!
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How long is a CDL valid in Utah? 

Your Utah CDL is valid for five years and will be mailed to you within four to six weeks of being approved. Don’t worry—you’ll still be issued a temporary CDL upon completion of all your requirements. You’ll have to pay another $52 fee to renew your license as well as the $9-per-endorsement fees and $18 fee for a motorcycle endorsement (if applicable). 
The CDL renewal process is very similar to the initial application process. You’ll head to a driver’s license office with your current Utah CDL, your DOT card, a new self-verification form, and your required documents for identity and address verification. 
You can start your Utah CDL renewal within six months before its expiration. You may be required to retake a 25-question knowledge test upon renewal if you’ve received four or more citations, your license has been suspended/revoked since its last renewal, or your CDL is more than six months expired. 

How to save on car insurance in Utah

Hopefully, your employer will take care of commercial truck insurance. After all, you’ve probably got your own
car insurance
costs to worry about! Finding a more affordable rate for your coverage could even help you budget for those pesky Utah CDL application fees.
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