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New York CDL License Requirements

To begin a career as a truck driver in New York, you must first obtain a New York commercial driver’s license (CDL). There are typically three types of CDL licenses that can vary slightly from state to state. New York classifies commercial vehicles using the following criteria:

Class A: Vehicle with combined weight over 26,001 pounds, towing a vehicle weighing more than 10,000 pounds
Class B: Vehicle weighing more than 26,001 pounds, towing a vehicle weighing less than 10,000 pounds
Class C: Vehicle used for transporting 16 or more people (including driver) or to transport hazardous materials

To qualify for a CDL in New York, you must be at least 18 years old, pass a vision exam 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.

Additional qualifications, or endorsements, are also needed to drive a truck with air brakes, a tanker truck or a school bus. Endorsements are also needed to transport hazardous materials (Hazmat) or to transport passengers. A background check by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required for the Hazmat endorsement. A truck driving school will provide the education and on-road training needed to pass the CDL requirements in New York.

Resources for New York CDL Requirements

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

Directory of New york Truck Driving Schools

Ashville: Chautauqua Tractor Trailer Institute
Address: 2615 N Maple Ave Ashville, New York 14710
Phone: 716-763-9457

Astoria: Ferrari Driving School
Address: 35-28 19th Ave Astoria, New York 11103
Phone: 718-278-6679

Astoria: Ferrari Driving School
Address: 3232 Steinway St Astoria, New York 11103
Phone: 718-278-6679

Astoria: Queens Auto School
Address: 3110 Broadway Astoria, New York 11106
Phone: 718-626-6260

Astoria: Training for Safety Driving School
Address: 25-28 Broadway Astoria, New York 11106
Phone: 718-274-8950

Batavia: Batavia's Driving Academy
Address: 4736 E Saile Dr Batavia, New York 14020
Phone: 585-343-8958

Batavia: Genesee Valley BOCES
Address: 8250 State St Rd Batavia, New York 14020
Phone: 585-344-7721

Bemus Point: Mr. DO Truck Driving School
Address: 5535 Weaver Rd Bemus Point, New York 14712
Phone: 716-386-2268

Blasdell: Buffalo Tractor Trailer Institute Inc
Address: 3999 Lakeshore Rd Blasdell, New York 14219
Phone: 716-627-0044

Bronx: Al Sorano's Professional Driving School
Address: 1059 E Gun Hill Rd Bronx, New York 10469
Phone: 718-547-0881

Bronx: Elegant Driving School Inc
Address: 948 E Prospect Ave Bronx, New York 10459
Phone: 718-466-7117

Bronx: Let's Go Driving School Inc
Address: 1932 Washington Ave Bronx, New York 10457
Phone: 718-299-0500

Bronx: Roadway Driving School Inc
Address: 1213 Castle Hill Ave Bronx, New York 10462
Phone: 718-409-0171

Bronx : The CDL School
Address: 1903 White Plains Rd Bronx , New York 10462
Phone: 718-904-8222

Bronx : Truckar Driving School
Address: 648 Prospect Ave Bronx , New York 10455
Phone: 718-742-0220

Brooklyn: Academy Driving School
Address: 278 Wyckoff Ave Brooklyn, New York 11237
Phone: 347-881-0839

Brooklyn: BWI -LEAP Inc
Address: 151 5th Ave Brooklyn, New York 11217
Phone: 718-237-4846.

Brooklyn: Ferrari Driving School
Address: 2444 Linden Blvd Brooklyn, New York 11208
Phone: 718-927-2121

Brooklyn: National Vocational School Inc
Address: 5922 20th Ave Brooklyn, New York 11204
Phone: 718-256-3233

Brooklyn: Red Hook Commercial Driving School Inc
Address: 201 Ditmas Ave Brooklyn, New York 11218
Phone: 718-853-8372

Brooklyn: Safe Starter Driving School Inc
Address: 134 Norman Ave Brooklyn, New York 11222
Phone: 718-349-6555

Brooklyn: Secure Driving School
Address: 1504 Sheepsheed Bay Rd Brooklyn, New York 11219
Phone: 718-769-1117

Buffalo: Buffalo CDL Training Institute
Address: 410 Kenmore Ave Buffalo, New York 14223
Phone: 716-834-2000

Buffalo: National Tractor Trailer School Inc
Address: 175 Katherine St Buffalo, New York 14210
Phone: 716-849-6887

Corona: Queens Auto School
Address: 4010 National St Corona, New York 11368
Phone: 718-446-5457

Flushing: Sunny Truck Driving School
Address: 41-26 College Point Blvd, 2nd Flr Flushing, New York 11355
Phone: 718-353-6745

GST Region: Greater Southern Tier BOCES
Address: 459 Philo Rd GST Region, New York 14903
Phone: 607-739-7905

Hopewell Junction: Dutchess School of Driving Inc
Address: 653 Rte 82 Hopewell Junction, New York 12533
Phone: 845-226-6700

Jackson Heights: Ferrari Driving School
Address: 7402 Broadway Jackson Heights, New York 11373
Phone: 718-458-6360

Jamaica : Totally Cool Driving Inc
Address: 139-39 Jamaica Ave Jamaica , New York 11435
Phone: 718-297-6947

Kingston: Commercial Driver Training
Address: 935 Ulster Ave Kingston, New York 12401
Phone: 845-336-2300

Liverpool: National Tractor Trailer School Inc
Address: 4650 Buckley Rd Liverpool, New York 13088
Phone: 315-451-2430

Loudonville: All Star Driving School
Address: 17 Cortland Dr Loudonville, New York 12211
Phone: 518-783-0846

Menands: The CDL School
Address: 381 Broadway Menands, New York 12204
Phone: 518-427-8000

Mount Morris: Genesee Valley BOCES
Address: 27 Lackawanna Mount Morris, New York 14510
Phone: 585-344-7720

New Rochelle: Heritage Auto and CDL School
Address: 21 Anderson St New Rochelle, New York 10801
Phone: 914-636-6933

New Windsor: Atlantic Coast Driver Training Inc
Address: 1008 Little Britian Rd New Windsor, New York 12553
Phone: 845-567-9288

New York: Americana Commercial Driving School
Address: 4223 Broadway New York, New York 10033
Phone: 212-927-0008

New York: L & Barnes Driving School Auto Bus Truck Trailer Corp
Address: 327 W 36th St New York, New York 10001
Phone: 212-244-2332

New York: Let's Go Driving School Inc
Address: 1804 3rd Ave New York, New York 10029
Phone: 212-369-0001

New York: OLIA
Address: 2 East Broadway, Ste 808 New York, New York 10038
Phone: 212-925-2180

Niagara Falls: MAC CDL Training & Recruiting Inc MAC Truck Training
Address: 2221 Niagara Falls Blvd Niagara Falls, New York 14304
Phone: 716-614-6475

Norwich: Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego Board of Cooperative Educational Services
Address: 6678 County Rd 32 Norwich, New York 13815
Phone: 607-335-1245

Plattsburgh: Champlain Valley Educational Services
Address: 518 Rugar St Plattsburgh, New York 12901
Phone: 518-536-7344

Potsdam: Aim High School of Defensive Driving
Address: 1139 County Rte 35 Potsdam, New York 13676
Phone: 315-265-2514

Ridgewood: Northside Driving School
Address: 68-35A Fresh Pond Road Ridgewood, New York 11385
Phone: 718-418-0342

Rochester: Professional Driver Institute
Address: 1200-C Scottsville Rd, Ste 190 Rochester, New York 14624
Phone: 585-436-2040

Rome: SAGE
Address: 1101 Floyd Ave, Academic Bldg Rm 201 Rome, New York 13440
Phone: 315-334-7793

Sanborn: Niagara Tractor Trailer Institute
Address: 3111 Saunders Settlement Rd Sanborn, New York 14132
Phone: 716-614-6475

Staten Island: AAAA Driving School of Staten Island
Address: 3827 Richmond Ave Staten Island, New York 10312
Phone: 718-605-1711

Vestal: SAGE
Address: 3129 Old Vestal Rd Vestal, New York 13850
Phone: 877-709-7243

Wappingers Falls: Browns Auto Driving School
Address: 1574 Rte 9 Wappingers Falls, New York 12590
Phone: 845-297-6222

Washingtonville: L & M Commercial Driving School Inc
Address: 85 E Main St Washingtonville, New York 10992
Phone: 845-497-2221

West Babylon: Commercial Driver Training
Address: 600 Patton Ave West Babylon, New York 11704
Phone: 631-249-1330

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