Do I need a commercial driver license?
Commercial driver licenses are required for drivers – paid or volunteer – who operate vehicles in North Carolina that are designed or used to transport passengers or property.
They are not required to drive recreational vehicles, military equipment, fire and/or emergency equipment or certain farm vehicles, but a driver must have a regular license of the appropriate class.
In addition to a commercial driver license, a special endorsement is required to haul hazardous materials, transport passengers, drive school buses and school activity buses, pull double trailers or drive tank vehicles.
What are the requirements to get a CDL?
- Must be at least 18 years old (21 for operations in interstate commerce or hazardous material endorsement)
- Possess a valid Class A, B or C driver license (not suspended, disqualified or revoked)
- Obtain a commercial learner's permit
How do I apply for a commercial learner's permit?
Federal law requires commercial drivers to pass the knowledge tests for the appropriate driver license, including assessments, to obtain a commercial learner permit.
Permit holders must:
- Be at least 18 years old (21 for operations in interstate commerce or hazardous material endorsement)
- Possess a valid Class A, B or C driver license
- Be accompanied in the front seat by a licensed commercial driver license operator of the same class, or higher, including endorsements
Before you can get a CDL, you must follow these steps to get a commercial learner's permit:
- Study the N.C. Commercial Driver License Manual, which describes the minimum state and federal requirements and testing information for obtaining a commercial learner permit or commercial driving license. Although the manual will help an individual pass the required tests, it is not a substitute for a truck-driver training program. Formal training is the most reliable way to learn the many special skills required for safely driving a large commercial vehicle and becoming a professional driver.
- Take the required vision, traffic sign recognition, and CDL knowledge tests at a driver license office.
Please note: Your permit will arrive within 20 business days. You'll receive a Temporary Driving Certificate to use until your permit arrives. A commercial learner permit is valid for 180 days and is eligible for one renewal, which is also valid for 180 days.
After obtaining my commercial learner’s permit, what steps must I take to get a CDL?
After obtaining a commercial learner's permit and holding it for at least 14 days, you must follow these steps to get a CDL:
- Complete the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) course from a school listed on the federal Training Provider Registry. This classroom and behind-the-wheel training usually takes about 4 weeks.
- Take a CDL road skills test. Call 919 -715-7000 to schedule an appointment to take the skills test. You must provide your own commercial motor vehicle for it. The vehicle must be representative of the type of license for which you are applying. Bring your valid driver license and your unexpired commercial learner's permit.
Please note: Upon passing your skills test, your CDL will arrive within 20 business days. You'll receive a Temporary Driving Certificate to use until your CDL arrives.
What are the different types of commercial driver licenses?
Commercial Class A | Required for any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more (provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is more than 10,000 pounds) |
Commercial Class B | Required for any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, and any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating not in excess of 10,000 pounds |
Commercial Class C | Required for any vehicle not described in Commercial Class A or Commercial Class B but is: - Designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver
- Used to transport hazardous materials that require the vehicle to be placarded under 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart F
|
What endorsements do I need?
There are several different types of endorsements drivers can add to their CDL. A special endorsement is required to haul hazardous materials, transport passengers, drive school buses and school activity buses, pull double trailers, and drive tank vehicles.
T
| Combination vehicles with double or triple trailers
| Doubles/Triples
| Skills test NOT required to add endorsement
|
N
| A CMV that is designed to transport any liquid or gaseous materials within a tank or tanks having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more that is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or the chassis.
| Tank Vehicle
| Skills test NOT required to add endorsement
|
H
| Any vehicle used to transport any material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR part 172; or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin 42 CFR Part 73
| Hazardous Materials
| Skills test NOT required to add endorsement
|
X
| Any vehicle used to transport hazardous materials or waste in placarded amounts as identified above , which requires both the N & H endorsements
| Tank Vehicle and Hazardous Materials
| Skills test NOT required to add endorsement
|
P
| Any vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver. | Passenger Transport
| Skills test required
|
S
| Any school bus designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver.
| School Bus
| Skills test required
|
If the vehicle used for testing is not equipped with air brakes, license must show an “L” - no air brake equipped CMV restriction.
If the vehicle used for testing is equipped with air over hydraulic brakes, license must show a “Z” - no full air brake equipped CMV restriction.
Vehicle used for testing is equipped with an automatic transmission, license must show an “E” – no manual transmission equipped CMV restriction.
Vehicle combination used for testing is not a truck-tractor semi-trailer combination, license must show an “O” – no tractor trailer CMV restriction.
“K” – Intrastate only. (Under the age of 21, medical waiver)
“M” – Passenger Class B & C (Applies when the driver has a class A CDL but takes skills test for the passenger endorsement in a class B vehicle
“N” Passenger Class B & C (Applies when the driver has a class A or B CDL but takes skills test for the passenger endorsement in a class C vehicle
“P” No Passengers in a CMV bus (CLP only)
“X” No cargo in tanker (CLP only)
Is medical certification required?
When applying for a commercial driver license you will be asked to verify the type of vehicle you operate or expect to operate as well as to provide medical certification to NCDMV.
Depending on the type of commerce you operate in, you might be required to have medical cards, which must be present at the time of both the original application and renewal.
If questions arise about your physical condition, NCDMV may require you to submit a completed medical report, before or after certification, provided by NCDMV's Driver License Section.
Commercial drivers operating in certain types of commerce are required to obtain a "certified" medical status and maintain the status to avoid losing their commercial driver license.
There are four commerce types, two of which require a certified medical status.
Interstate Non-Excepted
| Required
|
Interstate Excepted
| Not required
|
Intrastate Non-Excepted
| Required
|
Intrastate Excepted
| Not required
|
To determine what commerce type you need, detailed information for determining whether a driver is required to have a certified medical status can be found in Section 1.3 of the Commercial Driver Manual.
To self-certify or change your self-certification, submit a CDL-Med-1 Medical Certification form by emailing it to CDLmedical@ncdot.gov or mailing it to:
N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles
CDL Medical Certification Unit
3126 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27697-3126
For U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) medical examiner's certificates that are only valid with a skills performance evaluation variance, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) will provide a copy of that variance to NCDMV.
Effective June 28, 2025, North Carolina will no longer accept Medical Examiner Certificates directly from commercial drivers. In compliance with federal regulations, all Medical Examiner Certificates, or MECs, must be submitted by your medical examiner provider electronically through the FMCSA National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRII) portal. For more information on how to locate a medical examiner who is on the registry, refer to the FMCSA National Registry.
The paper format of Form MCSA-5876 will no longer be accepted as proof of medical certification. For drivers who completed their medical exam before June 28, 2025, you may want to confirm with your examiner that your MEC was successfully transmitted to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NR II) portal.
After June 28, 2025, to ensure your medical certification is successfully transmitted and to avoid interruption of your commercial driving privileges, follow these steps:
- Schedule your USDOT medical exam with a certified medical examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry.
- Verify that your medical examiner will submit your MEC electronically through the NRCME portal before leaving your appointment.
- Confirm with your examiner that your MEC was successfully transmitted to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NR II) portal after your exam.
- Ask for a copy of your MEC for your personal records. While you can no longer submit it to NCDMV, it may be needed if questions arise. (Note: Motor Carriers and Medical Examiners are no longer required to issue the original/paper MEC to CLP applicants and CDL holders.)
What are the fees?
You can pay
fees associated with commercial driver licenses through a variety of common payment methods. The type of license you receive and the fee associated with it depends on the type of motor vehicle they will operate.
Are there waivers for military personnel?
NCDMV may waive the commercial driver license skills test for military personnel who meet the certain requirements.
Learn more about military CDL waivers
What is the CDL Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is an online database that tracks violations of the U.S. Department of Transportation drug and alcohol testing program for commercial driver license or commercial learner permit holders.
Learn more about CDL Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse
What else do I need to know about getting a CDL?
You must self-certify to a single type of commercial operation on your driver license application form when you:
Renew a commercial driver license
Apply for a higher class of commercial driver license
Apply for a new endorsement on a commercial driver license
Transfer a commercial driver license from another State
Based on the self-certification a DOT medical examination may be required to obtain or keep your commercial driver license.
A variance/waiver may be granted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for certain commercial driver license operators with vision or diabetes issues.
A skills performance evaluation, or SPE, may be required for commercial driver license operators who have a loss of limb before a variance/waiver may be granted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
A waiver may be granted by the
N.C. Division of Motor Vehicle's Medical Review Program for certain operators who cannot meet the federal medical certification requirements.
CDL and commercial learner's permit (CLP) holder/applicants who certify to either a non-excepted interstate or not excepted intrastate category of commercial motor vehicle operation must obtain a medical examiner listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's National Registry of Medical Examiners.
Note: Although an employer may require you to get an Medical Examiner Certificate as a condition of employment, DMV cannot update an MEC to your driving record unless both of the following conditions apply:
- You apply for or hold a CDL or CLP
- You self-certify to either a non-excepted interstate or non-excepted intrastate category or commercial motor vehicle operation.
Effective June 28, 2025, DMV will no longer accept Medical Examiner Certificates (MECs) directly from commercial drivers. In compliance with federal regulations, all MECs must be submitted by their medical examiner provider electronically through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRII) Portal.
No, the original/paper Medical Examiner's Certificate, may no longer be used as proof of medical certification.
You must have a new medical examination and obtain a new DOT medical examiner's certificate. You are also responsible for applying for a renewal of your variance/waiver if required.
NCDMV will notify you that you are no longer medically certified to operate a commercial motor vehicle in non-excepted interstate/non-excepted intrastate commerce. You will have 30 days to respond, or your entire North Carolina driving privileges will be canceled.
If the federal Department of Transportation medical examiner's certificate has expired, you must obtain a new one and provide it to NCDMV. If the variance has expired, you must renew it with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. NCDMV may require retesting and additional fees to restore your commercial driver license privileges.
For more information on the National Registry, visit
FMCSA National Registry