Arkansas CDL License Requirements

To become a truck driver in Arkansas, you must first earn an Arkansas commercial driver’s license (CDL). Commercial vehicles requiring a CDL license to drive in Arkansas are categorized based on the following criteria:

• Class A: Combination vehicles weighing 26,001 pounds or more, with a trailer exceeding 10,000 pounds
• Class B: Single or combination vehicles exceeding 26,001 pounds, with a trailer less than 10,000 pounds
• Class C: Vehicles under 26,001 pounds carrying 16 or more passengers or transporting hazardous materials

According to Arkansas CDL requirements, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Arkansas driver’s license and obtain a medical certificate. Transportation of cargo across state lines is regulated by the federal government and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). USDOT requires all drivers who transport materials across state lines to be at least 21 years old. Applicants then need to take a general knowledge exam and a practical skills test, which includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection and an on-road driving test. For the driving test, applicants must use a vehicle in the same class for which they are trying to obtain a CDL license--for example, if you wish to obtain a Class B CDL, you must test in a Class B vehicle.

To drive a truck with double/triple trailers, a truck with air brakes, a tanker truck or a school bus, additional endorsements are required. If you wish to transport passengers or hazardous materials, additional endorsements are also required. A background check by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is needed to transport hazardous materials (Hazmat endorsement). Truck driving schools will provide the training and education needed to pass the Arkansas CDL requirements.

Resources for Arkansas CDL Requirements

Visit the Arkansas Department of Finance And Administration website for more information.