To apply for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Texas, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid Texas driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Truckers, bus operators, and other commercial motor vehicle drivers in Texas must hold a commercial driver’s license to operate large vehicles with unique driving challenges. Although the process of applying for a Texas CDL can get pretty complicated, the requirements are fairly straightforward and include a clean driving record, proof of identity and residency, and valid registration and insurance for any vehicles you own.

Here to walk you through all the requirements for a CDL from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is

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What is required for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Texas?

Getting a CDL in Texas is a complicated process. The basic requirements for any Texas CDL include identification documents, a

clean driving record,

and a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) that you can use to take your CDL skills test.

But the exact requirements depend on the class of CDL you’re getting, as well as any endorsements you may need to operate a specific vehicle.

Texas CDL classes

There are three types of CDL in Texas. From most to least comprehensive, they are: Class A, Class B, and Class C. Here are the types of vehicle each class allows you to operate:

Class A: Any combination of vehicles whose Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) exceeds 26,000 pounds where the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of the towed vehicle is over 10,000 pounds

Class B: Any single vehicle with a GVWR over 26,000 pounds or any combination of vehicles where the GVWR of the towed vehicle is under 10,000 pounds

Class C: Commercial vehicles designed to transport 16 to 23 passengers or hazardous materials that don’t meet the criteria for Class A or B

For example, tractor-trailers, triple trailers, and livestock carriers require a Class A CDL to operate. For a regular truck or a school bus, you’d probably need a Class BCDL. And for certain smaller buses or passenger vans or HAZMAT vehicles, you’ll need a Class CCDL, likely with an endorsement for transporting passengers or hazardous materials.

Endorsements

There are six types of endorsements for Texas CDLs to allow the driver to operate specific types of vehicles:

H: for transportation of hazardous materials

N: for tank vehicles

P: for passenger vehicles

S: for school buses

T: for towing two or three trailers over a specific weight

X: for transportation of hazardous materials in a tank vehicle

Certain CDL endorsements, such as an H endorsement, require you to take extra tests and may have additional criteria.

Minimum age requirement

If you’re only going to operate the commercial vehicle within state lines (i.e. intrastate commercial driving), the minimum age requirement for a Texas CDL is 18 years. That said, only drivers 21 years of age or older can get a CDL with an H or X endorsement or cross state lines.

Medical requirements

Finally, Texas sets

certain medical requirements

for a basic interstate CDL license, including:

Blood pressure of 160/100 or better

Blood sugar under 200 controlled without insulin injections

At least 20/40 vision

Ability to distinguish colors

Ability to hear a forced whisper from at least five feet away

No use of Schedule 1 drugs, amphetamines, narcotics, or any habit-forming drugs

For interstate commercial driving, you will need a medical examiner’s certificate to prove that you meet these requirements.

New ELDT requirements

If you’re trying to get a Texas CDL for the first time and haven’t started the application process yet, you’ll need to follow new regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for

Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT)

Under these requirements—valid as of February 2022—new applicants must find a registered training provider in

FMCSA’s registry

and complete training with them before taking their skills tests or the H knowledge test.

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How to apply for a CDL in Texas

The first (and most important) requirements for a Texas CDL are a

valid Texas driver’s license

and a

clean driving record

Any traffic violations could delay your eligibility for a CDL—and certain offenses will make it impossible altogether. If you’ve got a suspended license in Texas or any other state, you won’t be able to get a CDL. You’ll also be banned for life from obtaining a Texas CDL if you have

multiple DUI offenses

or have ever used a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony. Likewise, transporting aliens across the U.S. border could disqualify you from commercial motor vehicle driving privileges.

If your license and record are in order, you’ll need to meet a few more requirements. First, you’ll need to apply for a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) before you can apply for a full CDL. To do that, you’ll need:

Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency

Proof of Texas residency

Proof of identity

A Social Security Number (SSN)

Valid Texas vehicle registration for any vehicles you own

Proof of insurance for any vehicles you own

Self-certification of medical status or medical examiner’s certificate, if necessary

A completed

CDL application

Bring these documents to your

local driver’s license office

along with a $25 application fee.

You must hold your CLP for at least 14 days before taking skills exams for your CDL. During that time, you’re authorized to practice on public roads with a CDL holder 21 years old or older. The CLP is valid for 180 days and can be renewed once up to 30 days before expiration.

Before you can upgrade from the CLP to the CDL, you’ll need to pass certain tests and fulfill a few more requirements. First, make an appointment at your driver’s license office and bring your completed CDL application along with all the identifying documents you used to get your CLP. There’s another application fee for the CDL itself—$61 for a CDL with a Hazardous Materials Endorsement and $97 for others. You’ll get your fingerprints and picture taken, and you must pass a vision exam.

Then come the knowledge tests:

Texas Commercial Rules

General Knowledge

Combination (only for Class A CDL)

Air Brake (if applicable)

Endorsements (if applicable)

These written tests are made up of multiple choice and matching questions, and you must answer 80% correctly to pass.

Finally, it’s time for your driving test. You can schedule your skills test on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s

online scheduler

. Be prepared to bring your CMV to the test and remember that it must pass a vehicle inspection for safety before you can use it for your skills test. In addition to the pre-trip inspection, your road test will include:

Starting the vehicle

Parallel parking

Off-set backing

Straight-line backing

Lane change

Merge

Use of lanes

Right-of-way

Traffic signs and signals

Left and right turns

Intersections

Railroad crossings

Curves

Roadside stop/start

Upshifting and downshifting (if applicable)

Once you’ve passed your skills test, congratulations! You’ve got your Texas CDL.

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How long is a CDL valid in Texas?

Once you’ve got your CDL, it is valid for eight years—just like any other Texas driver’s license. The exception is a CDL with an H endorsement, which expires after just five years (that’s why the fees are lower!). Renewal fees for any CDL are the same as the original application fee: $61 with an H endorsement and $97 for other CDLs.

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How to save on car insurance in Texas

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