Connecticut CDL License Requirements

To begin a career as a truck driver in Connecticut, you must first obtain a Connecticut commercial driver’s license (CDL). In Connecticut, a CDL is required to drive the following types of commercial vehicles:

• Class A: Combination vehicles that have a gross combined weight rating of more than 26,001 pounds, if the vehicle(s) towed are over 10,000 pounds
• Class B: A single vehicle weighing over 26,001 pounds
• Class C: Vehicles able to transport 16 or more people, including the driver, or vehicles carrying hazardous materials that require special placards

To obtain a Connecticut CDL, you must be at least 18 years old, pass a vision exam and obtain a medical certificate. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) governs the transportation of materials across state lines. Federal regulations require truck drivers hauling materials from one state to another to be at least 21 years old. CDL applicants must then pass both a written knowledge exam and a driving test. The three part driving test includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection, a basic control skills test and an on-road driving exam. The driving test must be taken in a vehicle that matches the class of CDL license you are trying to obtain.

Depending on the type of truck you wish to drive or the cargo you wish transport, additional endorsement may be required. For exmaple, 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 and a background check by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required to transport hazardous materials (also referred to as a Hazmat endorsement). Truck driving schools will provide you with the knowledge and skills training needed to pass the Connecticut CDL exams.

Resources for Connecticut CDL Requirements

Visit the State of Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles website for more information.