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South Carolina CDL License Requirements

To drive a commercial vehicle in South Carolina, you must first obtain a South Carolina commercial driver’s license (CDL). While classes of CDL licenses can vary from state to state, South Carolina 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 South Carolina CDL requirements, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid South Carolina driver’s license 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. CDL applicants must then pass both a written knowledge exam and a driving test. The three part driving test includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection, a basic control skills 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). To transport hazardous materials (also referred to as a Hazmat endorsement), a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) background check is required. A truck driving school in South Carolina will provide the education and on-road training needed to pass the CDL requirements.

Resources for South Carolina CDL Requirements

Visit the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles website for more information.

Directory of South carolina Truck Driving Schools

Batesburg-Leesville: SAGE
Address: 230 E Church St Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina 29070
Phone: 803-604-0018

Beaufort: Technical College of the Low Country
Address: 921 Ribaud Rd Beaufort, South Carolina 29901
Phone: 843-470-8385

Bishopville: XTRA Mile Driving Training Inc
Address: 813 Wisacky Hwy Bishopville, South Carolina 29010
Phone: 803-484-6313

Cheraw: Northeastern Technical College
Address: 1201 Chesterfield Hwy Cheraw, South Carolina 29520
Phone: 843-921-6932

Conway: Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Address: 2050 Hwy 501 E Conway, South Carolina 29528
Phone: 843-349-5280

Denmark: Dennark Technical College
Address: 1126 Solomon Blatt Blvd Denmark, South Carolina 29042
Phone: 803-793-5120

Florence: DC Training
Address: 2325 Prosperity Wy, Ste 2 Florence, South Carolina 29501
Phone: 843-667-6990

Florence: Florence-Darlington Technical College
Address: 2715 W Lucas St Florence, South Carolina 29501
Phone: 843-661-8097

Graniteville: Aiken Technical College
Address: 2276 Jefferson Davis Hwy Graniteville, South Carolina 29829
Phone: 803-593-9231

Greenville: Greenville Technical College
Address: 506 S Pleasantburg Dr Greenville, South Carolina 29607
Phone: 864-250-8111

Greenwood: Piedmont Technical College
Address: 620 N Emerald Rd Greenwood, South Carolina 29648
Phone: 864-941-8420

Irmo: Midlands Technical College
Address: 7300 College St Irmo, South Carolina 29063
Phone: 803-822-3567

Kingstree: Williamsburg Technical College
Address: 601 MLK Jr Ave Kingstree, South Carolina 29556
Phone: 843-365-4182

Lancaster: KDS Commercial Driver Training Academy LLC
Address: 4587 Old Hickory Rd Lancaster, South Carolina 29720
Phone: 803-283-3250

N Charleston: Palmetto Training Inc
Address: 4316 Piggly Wiggly Dr N Charleston, South Carolina 29405
Phone: 843-746-9387

N Charleston: Trident Technical College
Address: 7000 Rivers Ave N Charleston, South Carolina 29423
Phone: 843-574-6604

Newberry: Transport Training Inc
Address: 14620 Centre R Koon Hwy Newberry, South Carolina 29108
Phone: 800-533-3616

Orangeburg: Calhoun Tech
Address: 3250 Saint Matthews Rd NE Orangeburg, South Carolina 29118
Phone: 803-536-0311

Pendleton: Tri-County Technical College
Address: 7900 Hwy 76 Pendleton, South Carolina 29670
Phone: 864-646-8361

Richburg: Truck Driver Institute
Address: 3425 Lancaster Hwy Richburg, South Carolina 29729
Phone: 888-263-7364

Rock Hill: Carolina Driving Institute
Address: 2311 Crowder Road Rock Hill, South Carolina 29730
Phone: 803-789-5111

Rock Hill: York Technical College
Address: 452 S Anderson Rd Rock Hill, South Carolina 29730
Phone: 803-327-8000

Spartanburg: Spartanburg Community College
Address: Business I-85 @New Cut Rd Spartanburg, South Carolina 29305
Phone: 864-592-4808

Timmonsville : Palmetto Training Inc
Address: 1828 Sammys Ln Timmonsville , South Carolina 29161
Phone: 843-346-0166

Union: Union County Adult Education
Address: 517 E Main St Union, South Carolina 29379
Phone: 864-429-1770

Winnsboro: Palmetto Training Inc
Address: 1130 Kincaid Bridge Rd Winnsboro, South Carolina 29180
Phone: 803-815-0816

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