What does CDL stand for? It stands for Commercial Driver's License, the special license a driver needs to operate large trucks, tractor trailers, buses and vehicles that carry hazardous materials. A regular license covers a car or a pickup. A CDL covers the heavy vehicles that keep freight, school buses and city transit moving.
Each state issues its own CDLs, but they all follow federal standards set under a national law passed in the 1980s. That means a CDL earned in Ohio is recognized in Texas, and a driver may hold only one CDL at a time.
Quick facts
Stands for
Commercial Driver's LicenseType
InitialismHow to say it
C D L, three lettersIssued by
State licensing offices under federal rulesClasses
A, B and CExtra permissions
Endorsements such as H, N, P, S and TMinimum age
21 for interstate driving; many states allow 18 within the state
What does CDL stand for, and who needs one?
The three letters break down simply: Commercial, Driver's, License. You generally need a CDL to drive a vehicle for work if it falls into one of these groups:
- A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
- A combination, like a tractor trailer, of 26,001 pounds or more where the towed unit is over 10,000 pounds.
- A vehicle designed to carry 16 or more people, counting the driver.
- Any size vehicle carrying hazardous materials that require placards.
Common CDL jobs include long haul trucking, local delivery, school bus driving, city bus driving, dump trucks, tankers and construction equipment hauling. Owners of a large RV for personal use usually do not need a CDL, though a few states have their own rules for heavy motorhomes.
CDL classes A, B and C
| Class | Covers | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | Combinations of 26,001 lb or more with a trailer over 10,000 lb | Tractor trailers, flatbeds, livestock haulers |
| Class B | Single vehicles of 26,001 lb or more, towing 10,000 lb or less | Box trucks, dump trucks, city buses |
| Class C | Smaller vehicles carrying 16 or more people or placarded hazmat | Passenger vans, small hazmat trucks |
A Class A license usually lets you drive Class B and C vehicles too, as long as you hold the right endorsements.
CDL endorsements and restrictions
Endorsements are letters added to the license for special kinds of driving. Each one needs an extra knowledge test, and some need a skills test.
- H: hazardous materials, which also requires a federal background check.
- N: tank vehicles that carry liquids or gases.
- P: passenger vehicles.
- S: school buses, which also requires the P endorsement.
- T: double and triple trailers.
- X: a combined tank and hazmat endorsement.
Restrictions work the other way. For example, a driver who tests in an automatic truck may get a restriction that bars them from driving a manual transmission.
How people get a CDL
- Get a commercial learner's permit by passing the written knowledge tests.
- Pass a Department of Transportation medical exam and carry the medical card.
- Complete entry level driver training with a registered provider, which federal rules now require for new Class A and B drivers.
- Practice with a CDL holder in the passenger seat while holding the permit.
- Pass the skills test: a pre trip inspection, basic vehicle control and a road test.
Job listing: "Class A CDL required, tanker and hazmat endorsements preferred." The company wants a driver who can pull a trailer and haul liquid hazardous loads.
CDL rules that differ from a car license
CDL holders face stricter rules. The blood alcohol limit while driving a commercial vehicle is 0.04 percent, half the usual limit for car drivers. A DUI, even in a personal car, can lead to losing a CDL for a year or more. Drivers in safety sensitive jobs also face drug and alcohol testing, and long haul drivers must follow hours of service limits on how long they can drive without rest.
Saying and writing CDL
Say the letters: "see dee el." Job ads and forms print it in caps with no dots, and the article before it is a: a CDL, a CDL driver. The plural is CDLs. You will also see CDL-A or Class A CDL in job ads, which mean the same thing. The famous acronyms list gathers more letter sets that turn up in daily life.
Questions people ask
What does CDL stand for on a job application?
It stands for Commercial Driver's License. If an application asks for your CDL, it wants to know whether you hold one and which class and endorsements you have.
What is the difference between a Class A and Class B CDL?
Class A covers combination vehicles like tractor trailers. Class B covers heavy single vehicles such as dump trucks and buses.
What is the minimum age for a CDL?
You must be 21 to drive commercially across state lines. Many states let drivers 18 and older hold a CDL for driving within the state only.
Do you need a CDL to drive a pickup with a trailer?
Usually not for personal use, unless the combined weight and the trailer cross the Class A limits. Rules for work use can differ, so check with your state.
Can you have a CDL from two states?
No. Federal rules allow one CDL at a time, issued by the state where you live.