CDL Information

Classes A and B are vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.

• Class A also requires a towed unit of 10,001 pounds or more (i.e., tractor-trailer)
• Class B may not have a towed unit (i.e., bus, dump truck, etc.)  If it has a towed unit it would be under 10,001 pounds.

Class C is a vehicle whose gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is below 26,001 pounds but is carrying 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is placarded for hazardous material.

Which class of license do you need?

Any driver who drives for commerce in a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds must have a medical examiner's certificate (formerly known as a DOT card) in their possession.  To obtain and maintain a CDL, you may be required to have a medical examiner's card.  A licensed medical examiner conducts the physical examination.  The term includes, but is not limited to, doctors of medicine (MD), doctors of osteopathy (DO), physician assistants (PA), advanced practice nurses (APN), and doctors of chiropractic (DC.)

To find a medical examiner to conduct the physical exam, you may contact your primary care provider to inquire if they can conduct a physical exam.  A physical can be administered only by a certified medical examiner listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s National Registry.

A physical exam is valid for up to 24 months.  The medical examiner may also issue a medical examiner’s certificate for less than 24 months when monitoring a condition, such as high blood pressure.

If the medical examiner finds that the person they examined is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), the medical examiner will furnish one copy of the results to the person who was examined and complete a medical examiner’s certificate.

Please see the Intrastate Waiver Program dropdown if you do not qualify for a Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC).

Certain vehicles, like a school bus or tanker vehicle, can only be driven when the proper endorsement is added to the CDL.  All CDL endorsements are an additional $9.00.  Here is a list of all endorsements:

• H – Hazmat (hazardous materials) allows drivers to carry hazardous materials in placard amounts.  Under the US Patriot Act, this endorsement requires the driver to pass a Federal TSA and DOT background check every five years or hold a valid TWIC card in order for it to be applied to a driver license.  The background check can take 30 - 90 days to complete and costs between $80 to $110.  A 30-question written knowledge test is required every five years, and you must complete the theory portion of the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) prior to taking the written knowledge test when adding the hazmat endorsement to the license for the first time.

Effective March 1, 2020, TSA issued an exemption that enables State Driver License Agencies (SDLA’s) to issue the Hazmat endorsement to a valid TWIC holder without a new security threat assessment from TSA under certain requirements.  To verify eligibility, please schedule an appointment with a Driver License office and present your TWIC card for verification.

• N – Tanker allows drivers to drive a tank vehicle to transport any liquid or gaseous materials that have a rated capacity of 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of over 1,000 gallons.  This endorsement requires a 20-question written knowledge test.  No driving skills test is required.

• X – Tanker/Hazmat Combination is required for transporting materials such as gasoline.  This endorsement requires a 30-question hazmat written knowledge test and a 20-question tanker test.  No driving skills test is required, and the fee for this endorsement is $18.  Refer to the hazmat endorsement above for details on the requirements.

• T – Doubles and Triples allows Class A drivers to pull two and three trailers at once.  This endorsement requires a 20-question written knowledge test.  No driving skills test is required.

• P – Passenger allows Class A, B, or C drivers to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.  This endorsement requires a 20-question written knowledge test and a driving skills test in a representative vehicle.  Must complete the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) prior to taking the driving skills test when adding this endorsement to the license for the first time.

• S – School Bus is an addition to the passenger endorsement.  This endorsement requires a 20-question written knowledge test for passengers and a 20-question written knowledge test for school buses.  When renewing the school bus, a written knowledge test must be taken.  A driving skills test is required in a school bus, and the fee for this endorsement is $18.  Must complete the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) prior to taking the driving skills test when adding this endorsement to the license for the first time.

Entry-level drivers must complete the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations.  This includes:

• First-time applicants for a Class A or Class B CDL.
• Class B CDL holders seeking to upgrade to a Class A CDL.
• First-time applicants for a school bus (S), passenger (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement.

The ELDT regulations set the minimum federal requirements for training that entry-level drivers must complete before being permitted to take the CDL driving skills test or, in the case of the H endorsement, the written knowledge test.  Drivers will search for a training provider using the upcoming Training Provider Registry.

The ELDT consists of two different types of training: Theory and Behind-the-Wheel (range/public road).  Theory training can be completed prior to applying for the class or endorsement.  However, a permit has to be obtained before any behind-the-wheel training can be administered.

The ELDT regulations are not retroactive; individuals who were issued a CDL or an S, P, or H endorsement prior to February 7, 2022, are not required to complete training for the respective CDL or endorsement.  However, a commercial learner permit (CLP) renewal will require ELDT compliance before a skills test can be administered.

If an applicant obtains a CLP before February 7, 2022, obtains a CDL before the CLP, or a renewed CLP expires, the applicant is not subject to the ELDT requirements.

The ELDT regulations do not apply to individuals excepted from the CDL requirements under 49 CFR Part 383.  This includes:

• Obtains a permit prior to the ELDT compliance date or obtains a CDL before the permit or renewed permit expires;
• Military personnel who meet all requirements and conditions of 49 CFR 383.77 & UCA 53-3-410; or
• Individuals applying for the removal of a restriction from their current CDL (Manual(E), Airbrake(L), Tractor-Trailer(O), etc.)

For more information regarding the ELDT, visit https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/.

For information on how to become an approved Training Provider, visit https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/Provider.

Do I need my MEC physical card before I take the CDL written knowledge tests?
Yes, to apply for a CDL, you must be at least 18 years old, present your current driver license, a current medical examiner's certificate, and present original or copies certified by the issuing agency showing proof of identity, full social security number and two documents of Utah residence, if it is different than the address on your current Utah record, and evidence of name change, if applicable.  You must have one year of driving experience.  If you are under 21 years old, you will be restricted to intrastate operation and will not be able to apply for hazardous materials, passenger, or school bus endorsements.  Click to see what documents work as proof for a U.S. Citizen and non-domiciled.

I am a commercial (CDL) driver.  Can I renew by internet?
No, Federal guidelines require that a CDL driver complete an application with updated information and required certification for each renewal.  If a CDL driver moves or changes their name at a time other than during renewal, they must apply for a replacement license within 30 days of the change.

How do I know if I need a CDL?
For more information, visit the UDOT Motor Carrier site to determine if you need a CDL.

I have a school bus endorsement.  Do I have to take a test to renew it?
Yes, all applicants for a school bus endorsement must take the school bus written knowledge test.

How do I drop my CDL for a regular Class D driver license?
You will need to appear at one of our field offices for your scheduled appointment, pay the appropriate fee, and sign a form stating that you are forgoing your CDL.

I have a Hazmat endorsement.  Do I have to take a test to renew?
Yes, all applicants for a hazmat endorsement are required to take the hazmat written knowledge test.

FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) is the Federal agency that makes the majority of the rules.  Utah also has some rules that come into play.

• Federal Regulation Commercial Driver License Standards – 49 CFR 383
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations – 49 CFR 390
• Utah Code Uniform Commercial Driver License Act – 53-3-400 – 53-3-420
• Traffic Code 41-6a

All CDL drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV) on public roads, their employers, and service agents must register with the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.

If the Utah Driver License Division receives notification from the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse that an individual is prohibited from operating a commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV), the Driver License Division will not be able to issue, renew, upgrade, or transfer a commercial driver license (CDL), or commercial learner permit (CLP), until the individual has completed the return-to-duty process and the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse has cleared the driver for operating a CMV.

For information regarding the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse or the return-to-duty process, visit https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/.

Operators of commercial intrastate vehicles are subject to different licensing requirements.  As far as possible, these have been incorporated into appropriate profiles.  In 1997 the division began the Utah intrastate program for commercial drivers.

Setting limitations on driving for individuals with impairments of functional ability works to increase public safety, while simultaneously permitting individuals a maximum degree of freedom of movement in two ways.  First, in cases of decreased vision or motor control, avoiding high speeds will reduce the number and the seriousness of accidents.  Second, in situations where there is an increased chance of an accident, reducing the extent of exposure on the highway by limiting driving areas or times of day can decrease the total number of accidents, while still allowing a person sufficient mobility to maintain a job with a single round-trip each workday.  These factors are difficult to define and measure; however, an effort has been made to accumulate and develop accurate data to refine these limitations in the interest of safety.

In some cases, functional ability profiles indicating driving impairment in more than one category may be the basis for a more limited license than if there is only one impairment.  Still, generally, any limitation will relate to the single profile showing the most impairment.  As these functional ability profiles are used in determining driver licenses, data will be gathered on the driving safety records of various groups as a basis for revising the levels.  Data secured from other sources will also be used.  Denial of driving privileges based on medical reasons does not constitute a “disability” defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

All commercial intrastate drivers with physical impairments must obtain a “variance” from their state in the appropriate category(s) to be considered for an intrastate license.  Only the following categories may be considered for the Utah intrastate program:

• Pulmonary
• Neurologic
• Seizures
• Learning/Memory
• Psychiatric or Emotional Conditions
• Musculoskeletal

Drivers who fall under the intrastate category must have a "K" restriction added to their driver license.  Click for the intrastate K waiver application packet. If you need further information about the intrastate waiver program, please call our customer service at 801.965.4437 or toll-free at 888.353.4224.

A CDL may have restrictions placed on the license due to wearing corrective lenses, not taking written knowledge tests, or using equipment during the driving skills test.  Here is a list of restrictions:

• A – No restrictions
• B – Driver must wear corrective lenses
• E – No manual transmission equipped CMV
• J – Restricts the driver for any other CDL restriction deemed necessary by the division
• K – Intrastate only while driving commercially
• L – No air brake-equipped CMV
• M – No Class A passenger vehicle
• N – No Class A and B passenger vehicle
• O – No tractor-trailer CMV
• V – Federal variance documents required
• Z – No full air brake CMV

You must self-certify your type of vehicle operation.  This means you must self-certify one of the following driving categories:

• Non-Excepted Interstate (Nationwide)
• Excepted Interstate (Nationwide)
• Non-Excepted Intrastate (Utah only requires K restriction)
• Excepted Intrastate (Utah only requires K restriction)

You can only certify to one of the categories.  Failure to mark the correct box could lead to further complications while you’re out driving.  To help you choose which to certify, please view this Google doc.

If you need to update your type of vehicle operation, you will need to submit this Self-Certification form.

For the medical certification process to be complete, this form must be submitted to the Driver License Division:

• Upon the issuance of any CDL;
• If the status of your driving condition changes; or
• Renewal of the CDL.