How to Get a CDL in the US: Classes, ELDT Training and English Rules
A realistic guide for anyone considering trucking: who qualifies today, the steps, and what changed with the English requirement.
In short: A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is issued by your state under federal standards. Class A covers tractor-trailers, Class B heavy single vehicles, and Class C passenger and placarded hazmat vehicles. The path is a commercial learner's permit (CLP), mandatory Entry-Level Driver Training with a registered provider, then the skills test. You must be 21 to drive across state lines. English is a real requirement: since June 2025, drivers who can't communicate in English are placed out of service at roadside. And since March 16, 2026, a work permit (EAD) no longer qualifies anyone for a non-domiciled CDL.
Why do so many newcomers look at trucking?
It's one of the few solid careers that needs no college degree and no credential evaluation, and you can get there in weeks or months rather than years. Many Arab immigrants whose degrees are stuck in the licensing process, or who can't find work in their field, see it as a fast route to steady income.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $58,640 for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in May 2025, about 2,221,200 jobs, and projected growth of 4% from 2025 to 2035. That's a national median; your pay depends on the state, the freight and how many nights you spend away from home.
Before you start, know that the rules changed a lot in 2025 and 2026, especially around English and immigration status.
Class A, B or C: what's the difference?
| Class | What it covers | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | Combination vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 lbs or more, towing a unit over 10,000 lbs | Tractor-trailers, fuel tankers |
| Class B | A single vehicle of 26,001 lbs or more, towing no more than 10,000 lbs | Straight trucks, buses, garbage trucks |
| Class C | Vehicles outside A or B designed to carry 16 or more people including the driver, or carrying placarded hazardous materials | Small buses, light hazmat vehicles |
Endorsements add privileges with extra tests: H (hazmat), N (tank), P (passenger), S (school bus) and T (double/triple trailers). Most long-haul jobs want Class A.
Who can get a CDL now?
US citizens and green card holders domiciled in a state can get a standard CDL if they meet the other requirements. FMCSA confirms that conditional (two-year) permanent residents with a valid card are eligible too.
Non-domiciled CDLs were narrowed by an FMCSA final rule effective March 16, 2026. They're now limited to people in H-2A, H-2B or E-2 status. EADs are no longer accepted, pending asylum applicants are denied, and an I-797C receipt doesn't count as proof. The license can't be valid longer than one year or the end of the person's authorized stay, whichever comes first.
Age and medical rules
- 21 is the minimum age to drive a commercial vehicle in interstate commerce, per FMCSA.
- Intrastate-only driving isn't subject to the federal age-21 rule; each state sets its own minimum, and many allow it from 18. Check your state.
- DOT physical: performed by a medical examiner on FMCSA's National Registry. The certificate is valid for up to 24 months, or less if the examiner wants to monitor a condition such as high blood pressure.
From learner's permit to CDL, step by step
- Pass the DOT physical with an examiner listed on the National Registry.
- Pass the knowledge test and get your CLP at your state licensing agency. A CLP is valid for no more than one year without retesting.
- Complete ELDT. Since February 7, 2022, anyone getting a Class A or B CDL for the first time, upgrading B to A, or adding H, P or S for the first time must train with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Theory requires a score of at least 80%. There's no federal minimum number of hours, but the full curriculum must be covered.
- Wait at least 14 days. You can't take the skills test in the first 14 days after your CLP is first issued.
- Take the skills test (pre-trip inspection, basic control, road test) in the same type of vehicle you plan to drive.
English: what actually changed?
The English requirement isn't new in federal law, but enforcement is. Since June 25, 2025, failing English language proficiency has been an out-of-service violation at roadside. If an inspector stops you and you can't answer questions in English about your trip, hours and license, or explain highway signs, you're not allowed to keep driving. The only carve-out is for trips that stay within the US-Mexico border commercial zones.
FMCSA also advises carriers to interview drivers in English at hiring without interpreters or translation apps, and it has proposed a rule to codify the out-of-service violation in the regulations.
On testing, federal rules allow the knowledge test in a foreign language as long as no interpreter is used, but interpreters are banned from the skills test and you must understand the examiner's English instructions. Some states have moved to English-only CDL knowledge tests, so check with yours. Our honest advice: if your English is weak, work on it before driving school. Passing a test won't protect you at a roadside inspection.
What does a CDL cost?
We don't publish price ranges for driving schools because they vary widely by state and school and there's no official source for them. Your costs usually include:
- State fees for the CLP, tests and license (listed on your state licensing agency's site).
- The DOT physical.
- Training with a registered ELDT provider.
- Endorsement fees, plus a security background check if you want hazmat.
Some carriers offer company-paid training in exchange for a work commitment. Read the contract: what do you owe if you leave early? And confirm the school is on the FMCSA registry before paying anything.
Practical notes for Arab drivers
- Food and prayer: long-haul means weeks on the road. Stock halal food in a cab fridge; prayer-time and qibla apps work offline.
- Family: if your family just arrived, consider local or regional routes that get you home daily or weekly.
- Names: make sure your name matches exactly across your passport, green card and regular driver's license; mismatches cause delays.
Common mistakes
- Paying a school that isn't on the FMCSA registry, so your training doesn't count.
- Relying on an interpreter or app during a test or a roadside stop.
- Applying for a non-domiciled CDL on an EAD after March 16, 2026.
- Testing in an automatic without realizing it adds a restriction.
- Signing a carrier training contract without understanding the commitment and penalty.
What next?
If you don't have a regular license yet, start with our US driver's license guide and taking the DMV test in Arabic. If you hold a degree and see trucking as a bridge, read our professional licensing guide, and compare pay with minimum wage by state.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a CDL with an EAD work permit?
Not a non-domiciled CDL. Since March 16, 2026, non-domiciled CDLs are limited to H-2A, H-2B and E-2 holders, and EADs are no longer accepted. Green card holders and citizens domiciled in a state get a standard CDL.
Can I take the CDL test in Arabic?
Federal rules allow the knowledge test in a foreign language without an interpreter, but some states now test in English only. The skills test bans interpreters and requires understanding the examiner's English instructions.
What is the minimum age to drive a truck?
21 for interstate driving, per FMCSA. For intrastate-only driving each state sets its own minimum, and many allow it from 18.
What is ELDT?
Entry-Level Driver Training, required since February 7, 2022 for first-time Class A or B applicants, B-to-A upgrades, and first-time H, P or S endorsements, completed with a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry.
What happens if I can't speak English at an inspection?
Since June 25, 2025, failing English language proficiency is an out-of-service violation, so you can't keep driving, except on trips that stay inside the US-Mexico border commercial zones.
How much do truck drivers make?
The BLS reports a median annual wage of $58,640 for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in May 2025. Actual pay varies by state and type of job.
Official sources we reviewed
- FMCSA — Commercial Driver's License: Drivers ↗
- FMCSA — Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) ↗
- FMCSA — Non-Domiciled CDL 2026 Final Rule FAQs ↗
- FMCSA — English Language Proficiency Roadside Enforcement Policy FAQs ↗
- FMCSA — Age Requirement for Interstate CMV Drivers ↗
- FMCSA — DOT Medical Exam and CMV Certification ↗
- eCFR — 49 CFR 383.133 Test Methods ↗
- BLS — Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers ↗