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Louisiana CDL License Requirements
To become a truck driver in Louisiana, you must first earn a Louisiana commercial driver’s license (CDL). While classes of CDL licenses can vary from state to state, Louisiana classifies commercial vehicles that require a CDL to drive as follows:
- Class A: Combination vehicles with a total weight of 26,001 pounds or above, where the towed vehicle(s) is over 10,000 pounds.
- Class B: Vehicles weighing 26,001 pounds or more, where the towed vehicle(s) is less than 10,000 pounds.
- Class C: Vehicles weighing under 26,001 pounds, used for transporting sixteen or more passengers or hauling hazardous materials.
To qualify for a CDL in Louisiana, you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Louisiana driver’s license 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 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 State of Louisiana requires that applicants test in the class of vehicle for which they are trying to obtain a CDL--for example, you must test in a Class A vehicle if you wish to obtain a Class A CDL.
Additional endorsements are then needed to drive certain types of vehicles including trucks with air brakes, double/triple trailers, tanker trucks or school buses. Endorsements are also needed to transport passengers or to haul hazardous materials. A background check by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is needed in order to transport hazardous materials (also referred to as a Hazmat endorsement). Louisiana truck driving schools will provide you with the training and on-road driving experience needed to pass the CDL exams.
Resources for Louisiana CDL Requirements
Visit the Louisiana Department of Public Safety Office of Motor Vehicles website for more information.
Directory of Louisiana Truck Driving Schools
Baton Rouge: Coastal Truck Driving School
Address: 2064 N Flannery Rd Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70815
Phone: 225-272-2213
Baton Rouge: Diesel Driving Academy
Address: 8067 Airline Hwy Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70815
Phone: 800-551-8900
Calhoun: Coastal Truck Driving School
Address: 450 Hwy 151 N Calhoun, Louisiana 71225
Phone: 318-644-0206
Franklin: Thomas Truck Driving School
Address: 259 Dixie Rd S Franklin, Louisiana 70538
Phone: 337-413-0234
Greensburg: National Driving Academy Inc
Address: 31 Wicker Greensburg, Louisiana 70441
Phone: 225-222-6711
Hammond: Coastal Truck Driving School
Address: 42226 S Airport Rd Hammond, Louisiana 70403
Phone: 985-386-5600
Opelousas: Coastal Truck Driving School
Address: 2419 I-49 S Opelousas, Louisiana 70570
Phone: 337-662-7156
Shreveport: Diesel Driving Academy
Address: 3523 Greenwood Rd Shreveport, Louisiana 71109
Phone: 800-551-8900
Thibodaux: LTC Lafourche Campus
Address: 1425 Tiger Dr Thibodaux, Louisiana 70301
Phone: 985-447-0926
West Monroe: Northeast Louisiana Technical College West Monroe Campus
Address: 609 Vocational Pkwy West Monroe, Louisiana 71292
Phone: 318-397-6136
Find Local Truck Driving Schools
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