Nevada CDL License Requirements

In order to drive a commercial vehicle in Nevada, you must first obtain a Nevada commercial driver’s license (CDL). In Nevada, a CDL is required to drive the following types of commercial vehicles:

• 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

To obtain a Nevada 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) regulates interstate transportation of cargo. If you wish to transport materials across state lines, you must be at least 21 years old. 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, you must use a vehicle in the same class for which you are trying to obtain a CDL license--for example, if you wish to obtain a Class A CDL, you must test in a Class A vehicle.

To drive a truck with air brakes, a tanker truck, a school bus or a truck with double/triple trailers, additional endorsements are needed. Endorsements are also needed to transport hazardous materials or to carry 16 or more passengers (including the driver). A background check by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required to transport hazardous materials (Hazmat endorsement). Truck driving schools in Nevada will provide the training and education necessary to pass the CDL exams.

Resources for Nevada CDL Requirements

Visit the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles website for more information.