Idaho CDL License Requirements

To start a career in truck driving in Idaho, you must first earn an Idaho commercial driver’s license (CDL). In Idaho, a CDL is required to drive the following types of commercial vehicles:

• Class A: Combination vehicles weighing over 26,001 lbs. with trailers weighing over 10,000 lbs.
• Class B: Vehicles weighing over 26,001 lbs. with trailers less than 10,000 lbs.
• Class C: Vehicles under 26,001 lbs. carrying sixteen or more occupants (including the driver) or trucks transporting hazardous materials

To qualify for a CDL in Idaho, you must be at least 18 years old, pass a vision exam and obtain a medical certificate. Interstate transportation of cargo is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), which requires drivers to be at least 21 years old to transport materials across state lines. All CDL applicants then need to pass a general knowledge exam and a skills test, which includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection, a basic control test and an on-road driving exam. For the driving test, applicants must test in the class of vehicle for which they would like to obtain a CDL license.

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 CDL requirements in Idaho.

Resources for Idaho CDL Requirements

Visit the Idaho Transportation Department Division of Motor Vehicles website for more information.