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Ohio CDL License Requirements

To start your truck driving career in Ohio, you must first earn an Ohio commercial driver’s license (CDL). While classes of CDL licenses can vary slightly from state to state, Ohio categorizes commercial vehicles as follows:

Class A: Combination vehicles that have a gross combined weight rating of more than 26,001 pounds, if the vehicle(s) towed are over 10,000 pounds
Class B: A single vehicle weighing over 26,001 pounds
Class C: Vehicles able to transport 16 or more people, including the driver, or vehicles carrying hazardous materials that require special placards

To qualify for a CDL in Ohio, you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Ohio driver’s license, pass a vision exam 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. Applicants then need to take a general knowledge exam and a skills test. The three part skills test includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection, a basic vehicle control test, and an on-road driving test. The State of Ohio 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.

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). To transport hazardous materials (also referred to as a Hazmat endorsement), a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) background check is required. A truck driving school will provide you with the knowledge and on-road driving skills needed to pass the Ohio CDL exams.

Resources for Ohio CDL Requirements

Visit the Ohio Department of Public Safety Bureau of Motor Vehicles website for more information.

Directory of Ohio Truck Driving Schools

Aberdeen: Allied Training Systems
Address: 2471 US Rte 52 Aberdeen, Ohio 45101
Phone: 877-245-5320

Akron: Career Driving & Learning Center
Address: 1350 Kelly Ave Akron, Ohio 44306
Phone: 330-785-9909

Brooklyn: Big Rig Truck Driving School
Address: 8800 Clinton Rd Brooklyn, Ohio 44144
Phone: 330-456-4571

Canton: Big Rig Truck Driving School
Address: 2230 Shepler Church Ave SW Canton, Ohio 44706
Phone: 330-456-4571

Cincinnati: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 3254 E Kemper Rd Cincinnati, Ohio 45241
Phone: 937-725-9300

Cleveland: Ohio Technical College
Address: 1374 E 51st St Cleveland, Ohio 44103
Phone: 216-881-1700

Columbia Station: Great Lakes Truck Driving School
Address: 27740 Royalton Rd Columbia Station, Ohio 44028
Phone: 866-932-3436

Columbus: Associated Training Services
Address: 2323 Performance Pkwy Columbus, Ohio 43207
Phone: 888-498-6162

Columbus: Roadmaster
Address: 4060 Perimeter Dr Columbus, Ohio 43228
Phone: 614-351-1748

Dayton: Tri-State Semi Driver Training
Address: 1133 S Edwin C Moses Blvd, #170 Dayton, Ohio 45408
Phone: 877-910-7364

Euclid: Tri-C Cuyahoga Community College Truck Driver Training
Address: 23555 Euclid Ave Euclid, Ohio 44117
Phone: 216-987-6000

Fremont: Terra Community College Truck Driver Training
Address: 2830 Napoleon Rd Fremont, Ohio 43420
Phone: 419-334-8400

Galion: Crist CDL training center
Address: 8816 Harding Hwy E Galion, Ohio 44833
Phone: 419-845-3558

Gnadenhutten: American Professional Truck Driving School
Address: 8334 State Route 36 SE Gnadenhutten, Ohio 44629
Phone: 740-254-9313

Groveport: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 6425 Alum Creek Dr Groveport, Ohio 43125
Phone: 937-725-9300

Hamilton: Napier Truck Driver Training Inc
Address: 3113 Dixie Hwy Hamilton, Ohio 45015
Phone: 513-755-3413

Lake Milton: TDDS Technical Institute
Address: 1688 N Pricetown Rd, SR 534 Lake Milton, Ohio 44429
Phone: 330-538-2216

Lebanon: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 3825 Ohio 48 Lebanon, Ohio 45036
Phone: 513-932-5677

Lima: Apollo Truck Driving Academy
Address: 3325 Shawnee Rd Lima, Ohio 45806
Phone: 419-998-2969

Medina: Hamrick School
Address: 1156 Medina Rd Medina, Ohio 44256
Phone: 330-239-2229

Middletown: Tri-State Semi Driver Training
Address: 6690 Germantown Rd Middletown, Ohio 45042
Phone: 800-860-7364

Mount Gilead: Road Professional Truck Driving School
Address: 6666 SR 95 Mount Gilead, Ohio 43338
Phone: 419-288-0098

New Lexington: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 5454 State Rte 37 New Lexington, Ohio 43764
Phone: 937-725-9300

Northwood: Trainco Inc Truck Driving Schools
Address: 2249 Tracy Rd Northwood, Ohio 43619
Phone: 419-661-7000

Perrysburg: Trainco Inc Truck Driving Schools
Address: 26718 Oregon Rd Perrysburg, Ohio 43551
Phone: 419-837-5730

Piketon: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 4235 US 23 S Piketon, Ohio 45661
Phone: 937-725-9300

Pomeroy: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 42377 Pomeroy Pike Pomeroy, Ohio 45769
Phone: 742-992-1880

Springfield: Clark State Community College
Address: PO Box 570 Springfield, Ohio 45501
Phone: 937-325-0691

Trenton: Millis Training Institute
Address: 1982 Jackson Rd Trenton, Ohio 45011
Phone: 800-937-0880

West Unity: HR Career Development
Address: 315 S Main St West Unity, Ohio 43570
Phone: 888-750-6200

Wilmington: Southern State Community College
Address: 1850 Davids Dr Wilmington, Ohio 45177
Phone: 937-393-3431

Wilmington: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 3321 Airborne Rd Wilmington, Ohio 45177
Phone: 937-725-9300

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