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Alaska CDL License Requirements

To drive a commercial vehicle in Alaska, you must first obtain an Alaska commercial driver’s license (CDL). There are typically three types of CDL licenses that can vary slightly from state to state. The State of Alaska classifies commercial vehicles using the following criteria:

Class A: Combination vehicle weighing over 26,001 pounds with the trailer weighing over 10,000 pounds
Class B: Single or combination vehicle weighing over 26,001 pounds and a trailer weighing less than 10,000 pounds
Class C: Vehicles weighing 26,000 pounds or less, carrying hazardous materials or transporting 16 or more passengers

To qualify for a CDL in Alaska, you must be at least 19 years old, have a valid Alaska driver’s license, pass a vision exam and obtain a medical certificate. To transport cargo across state lines, federal regulations require truck drivers to be at least 21 years old. The interstate transportation of cargo is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and not by state governments. CDL applicants must then pass a written knowledge exam and a three part skills test, which includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection, a basic control skills test and an on-road driving exam. For the driving test, applicants must drive in the class of vehicle for which they would like to obtain a CDL license.

Depending on the type of truck you wish to drive or the cargo you wish transport, additional endorsements may be required. Endorsements are needed to drive a truck with air brakes, a tanker truck, a school bus or a truck with double/triple trailers. Endorsements are also needed to transport passengers or to haul hazardous materials (Hazmat). A background check by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is also needed for the Hazmat endorsement. A truck driving school in Alaska will provide the education and on-road training needed to pass the CDL requirements.

Resources for Alaska CDL Requirements

Visit the Alaska Department of Administration Division of Motor Vehicles website for more information.

Directory of Alaska Truck Driving Schools

Anchorage: Center for Employment Education
Address: 1749 Ship Ave Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Phone: 907-279-8451

Barrow: Ilisagvik College
Address: PO Box 749 Barrow, Alaska 99723
Phone: 907-852-3333

Fairbanks: Center for Employment Education
Address: 3207 Internationals, Ste 2 Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Phone: 907-479-8451

Juneau: Vocational Training & Resource Center
Address: 3239 Hospital Dr Juneau, Alaska 99801
Phone: 907-463-7375

Palmer: Northern Industrial Training
Address: 1740 N Terrilou Ct Palmer, Alaska 99654
Phone: 907-357-6400

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