Oregon CDL License Requirements

To become a truck driver in Oregon, you must first earn an Oregon commercial driver’s license (CDL). While classes of CDL licenses can vary from state to state, Oregon 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.

According to Oregon CDL requirements, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Oregon driver’s license, pass a vision exam and obtain a medical certificate. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) governs the transportation of materials across state lines. Federal regulations require truck drivers hauling materials from one state to another to be at least 21 years old. Applicants must then pass both a written knowledge exam and an on-road driving test. The State of Oregon requires that you test in a vehicle that matches the class of CDL you are trying to obtain--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 required to transport hazardous materials (also referred to as a Hazmat endorsement). Truck driving schools will provide the training and education needed to pass the Oregon CDL requirements.

Resources for Oregon CDL Requirements

Visit the Oregon Department of Transportation Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division website for more information.