How to Get a CDL: Class A vs B, Required Training and Truck Driver Pay

To drive a tractor-trailer you need a Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL), and since February 7, 2022, first-time applicants must complete registered entry-level driver training before the skills test. The usual order is a commercial learner’s permit, then training, then the skills test at your state’s driver licensing agency. Class A is the broader license: under federal rules, a Class A holder may also drive Class B and Class C vehicles with the right endorsements. Class B fits jobs driving a single heavy vehicle.

This guide is desk research from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (eCFR text current through October 7, 2026), FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, checked between October 5 and October 9, 2026. Training costs vary by provider, so ask each one directly. CDLs are issued by states, and BLS notes that qualifications vary by state, so confirm the details with your state’s driver licensing agency.

Class A vs Class B vs Class C

CDL group	What it covers under 49 CFR 383.91	Can also drive
Class A (combination)	Combination rating or actual weight of at least 26,001 lb (whichever is greater), with a towed unit above 10,000 lb rated or actual weight (whichever is greater)	Class B and C, with needed endorsements
Class B (heavy straight)	Single vehicle rated or actual weight of at least 26,001 lb (whichever is greater); any towed unit is no more than 10,000 lb by rated or actual weight (whichever is greater)	Class C, with needed endorsements
Class C (small vehicle)	Vehicles below the A and B thresholds designed for 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or carrying hazardous materials requiring placards (or covered select agents or toxins)	—

The rule that matters for a career changer is the upgrade path. A driver who wants to move to a different group must retake and pass the related tests, and moving from Class B up to Class A also requires entry-level driver training for Class A. If you already know you want long-haul or regional tractor-trailer work, training once for Class A avoids doing it twice.

Endorsements add more. Passenger (P), school bus (S) and hazardous materials (H) endorsements each require their own entry-level training the first time. BLS adds that the hazardous materials endorsement requires an additional knowledge test and a background check.

Study books for the knowledge tests

Start with your state’s official CDL manual from the licensing agency, since the knowledge tests follow it. A prep book adds practice questions on top:

Book: CDL - Commercial Driver’s License Exam, 2026-2027 (REA), with practice tests for the truck and bus knowledge exams

The steps, in order

Check that you qualify. Federal rules for interstate drivers set a minimum age of 21 and require enough English to talk with the public, read road signs, answer official questions and fill out records. You also need a valid driver’s license from the state that issues your permit.
Check the medical certification requirements for your driving category. Non-excepted interstate drivers need certification from an authorized medical examiner. Discuss vision, hearing and other qualification requirements with the examiner; an alternative vision standard exists for qualifying drivers. Confirm with your state how the medical record must be received and when it expires. Do not assume that every driver qualifies for the longest certification period.
Get a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). You must pass the general knowledge test and be at least 18. The CLP is valid for no more than one year, and you must hold it at least 14 days before taking the skills test. While training on public roads, a qualified CDL holder must sit beside you.
Complete entry-level driver training (ELDT). First-time Class A or B applicants must train with a provider listed on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry. Training has a theory part and a behind-the-wheel part (range and public road), and you must finish all of it within one year of completing the first part.
Take the skills test. Your training provider reports completion to FMCSA, and your state may not give a Class A or B skills test until it verifies that record electronically.

FMCSA notes that you can train and take the skills test in a state other than the one that licenses you. It also warns that some states set training requirements above the federal minimum, so check your state’s rules before you enroll.

Choosing and paying for training

Use FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry search to find providers by training type, location and name. FMCSA says you must complete training with a provider listed on the registry. Under the federal definition, registered providers can include training schools, educational institutions, motor carriers, state and local governments, and joint labor-management programs.

FMCSA suggests interviewing several providers and asking whether they meet FMCSA and state requirements, what they charge, how enrollment works and when classes are available. It also flags a practical snag: some providers require you to enroll in both theory and behind-the-wheel training, so check before you buy theory from one provider and plan behind-the-wheel with another.

For funding, FMCSA lists three places to look:

your state workforce development office
employers’ tuition assistance and tuition reimbursement programs
employer-based training programs

Before you sign up for an employer-paid program, ask for the written terms. Find out how long you must stay with the company and what you would owe if you leave early.

Training length and the first months on the job

BLS says students attend either a private truck-driving school or a community college program that lasts between 3 and 6 months, and receive a certificate of completion. Most companies require a high school diploma or equivalent. After hiring, new drivers normally get several weeks of on-the-job training with an experienced mentor driver in the passenger seat.

The work itself shapes the first year. BLS calls long-haul trucking “a lifestyle choice,” because drivers can be away from home for days or weeks at a time and spend much of it alone. Drivers are usually paid by the mile plus bonuses, with rates that vary by employer, cargo and experience. BLS also notes that truck drivers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.

The standard federal hours-of-service limits for property-carrying drivers include the following. Exceptions and specific operating rules can apply; use the FMCSA summary and your carrier’s compliance instructions for your operation:

No driving until you have had 10 consecutive hours off duty.
No driving after the 14th hour since coming on duty.
No more than 11 hours of driving within that window.
A 30-minute interruption after 8 cumulative driving hours without such an interruption; qualifying non-driving time can be on duty, off duty or in the sleeper berth.
No driving after 60 hours on duty in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days. A 34-hour break can restart the count.

The outlook in numbers

BLS measure	Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Median annual wage, May 2025	$58,640
Lowest and highest 10 percent	Less than $40,140; more than $79,380
Jobs in 2025	About 2.2 million
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035	4 percent (about as fast as average)
Openings per year, on average	About 214,500

Truck transportation companies employ 40 percent of these drivers, followed by wholesale trade (12 percent). Seven percent are self-employed.

Pay by state

BLS state data for May 2025 shows the five states with the most heavy and tractor-trailer drivers, then the highest and lowest medians among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

State	Jobs	Median annual wage	Lowest 10% earned less than
Texas	209,680	$56,290	$38,150
California	205,090	$60,230	$41,830
Florida	112,920	$50,640	$37,700
Pennsylvania	87,550	$58,580	$43,560
Illinois	84,200	$60,320	$39,710
Alaska (highest median)	3,420	$70,100	$48,080
Louisiana (lowest median)	28,540	$49,320	$36,710

These medians include drivers at every experience level, so a new driver’s first-year pay may fall below them. For a broader look at regulated jobs, our guide to accreditation vs licensing for certificate jobs explains why a training certificate is not the license itself, and the logistics certificate guide covers dispatch and warehouse roles that don’t need a CDL.

FAQ

Should I get a Class A or Class B CDL?

Class A if you want tractor-trailer work or permission to operate a broader range of vehicle groups, subject to endorsements and restrictions, since a Class A holder may also drive Class B and C vehicles with the needed endorsements. Class B fits jobs driving a single heavy vehicle, and it can be upgraded later with more training and testing.

Do I have to go to a truck driving school?

Since February 7, 2022, first-time Class A and Class B applicants must complete entry-level driver training from a provider on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry before taking the skills test. That provider can be a training school, an educational institution or a motor carrier.

How old do you have to be to get a CDL?

A learner’s permit holder must be at least 18. Federal rules for drivers in interstate commerce set a minimum age of 21.

How long does CDL training take?

BLS says private truck-driving school or community college programs last between 3 and 6 months. After hiring, BLS says new drivers normally get several weeks of on-the-job training with a mentor driver.

Can a company pay for my CDL training?

FMCSA suggests asking employers about tuition assistance and reimbursement, researching employer-based training programs, and contacting your state workforce development office.