Abbreviation: ELDT
Entry-Level Driver Training
Federally required training for certain CDL applicants, consisting of theory and behind-the-wheel components, completed with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
ELDT became effective February 7, 2022. It is required for first-time Class A or B CDL applicants and for applicants adding hazmat, passenger, or school bus endorsements for the first time.
Who needs ELDT
ELDT applies to applicants who are: (1) obtaining a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time; (2) upgrading from a Class B to a Class A CDL; (3) adding a passenger (P), school bus (S), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time. Drivers renewing existing CDLs or adding endorsements they already hold are not required to complete ELDT again.
Theory and behind-the-wheel requirements
ELDT has two components: theory (classroom or online instruction covering regulations, vehicle systems, and operational procedures) and behind-the-wheel (range and public road training). Specific hours are not mandated — the provider certifies completion of required topics. Training must be completed before the CDL skills test.
Finding an ELDT provider
ELDT must be completed at a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR) at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov. Providers not on the TPR cannot submit training records to FMCSA, so the training will not satisfy the federal requirement. The state CDL agency will not schedule a skills test until ELDT completion is confirmed.
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.