Abbreviation: CDL
Commercial Driver's License
A license issued by a U.S. state that authorizes the holder to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) requiring a CDL under federal and state law.
CDLs are classified as Class A, B, or C depending on the type and weight of vehicle to be driven. Federal standards are set in 49 CFR Part 383.
CDL classes
Class A covers combination vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001 lbs or more when the towed unit exceeds 10,000 lbs GVWR — the most common class for over-the-road trucking. Class B covers single vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more, including large straight trucks and most buses. Class C covers vehicles below Class A and B thresholds that transport 16 or more passengers or carry hazardous materials requiring placards.
When a CDL is required
A CDL is required for interstate CMV operation meeting any of the federal thresholds: GVWR or GCWR of 26,001 lbs or more; vehicles designed for 16 or more passengers (including driver); or any vehicle transporting hazardous materials requiring placards. States set their own thresholds for intrastate operations, which may differ.
Getting a CDL
The process requires: (1) a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), held for at least 14 days before the skills test; (2) ELDT completion if applying for the first time or adding certain endorsements; (3) passing the CDL knowledge test for the applicable class; (4) passing the CDL skills test (pre-trip inspection, basic controls, and on-road driving). State agencies administer testing, but federal standards set the minimum requirements.
Last updated: June 4, 2026
When this definition matters
This term usually matters when a driver, owner-operator, or small carrier is deciding whether a federal rule applies, preparing a compliance file, or checking a state CDL step. Use this definition as a starting point, then confirm the controlling requirement in the official source listed below before making a licensing, hiring, dispatch, or recordkeeping decision.
The related terms above are included because they often appear in the same compliance workflow. Reviewing them together can prevent common mix-ups, such as treating a state licensing step as a federal carrier obligation or confusing a driver record with a separate employer record.