North Dakota CDL License Requirements

To become a truck driver in North Dakota, you must first obtain a North Dakota commercial driver’s license (CDL). Commercial vehicles requiring a CDL license to drive in North Dakota are categorized based on 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 obtain a North Dakota CDL, you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid North Dakota driver's license 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.

Additional knowledge and skills tests may be required depending on the endorsements you need. For example, endorsements are needed to drive a truck with air brakes, a tanker or a school bus. They are also needed to transport passengers or to haul hazardous materials (Hazmat). A background check by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required for the Hazmat endorsement. Truck driving schools will provide you with the knowledge and skills training needed to pass the North Dakota CDL exams.

Resources for North Dakota CDL Requirements

Visit the North Dakota Department of Transportation website for more information.