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Texas CDL License Requirements
To begin a career as a truck driver in Texas, you must first obtain a Texas commercial driver’s license (CDL). There are typically three types of CDL licenses that can vary slightly from state to state. Texas classifies commercial vehicles using the following criteria:
- Class A: Combination vehicles weighing 26,001 pounds or more, with a trailer exceeding 10,000 pounds
- Class B: Single or combination vehicles exceeding 26,001 pounds, with a trailer less than 10,000 pounds
- Class C: Vehicles under 26,001 pounds carrying 16 or more passengers or transporting hazardous materials
According to Texas CDL requirements, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Texas 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 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. 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.
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). 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 you with the knowledge and skills training needed to pass the Texas CDL exams.
Resources for Texas CDL Requirements
Visit the Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License Division website for more information.
Directory of Texas Truck Driving Schools
Abilene: Action Career Training
Address: 598 Westwood Abilene, Texas 76541
Phone: 254-526-1624
Alice: International Schools
Address: 704 Coyote Trl Alice, Texas 78332
Phone: 361-664-2981
Amarillo: Amarillo College of Truck Driving
Address: 1310 F Ave Amarillo, Texas 79111
Phone: 806-335-4370
Arlington: Continental Truck Driver Training & Education School
Address: 3601 Smith Barry Rd, Ste 202 Arlington, Texas 76013
Phone: 817-275-9444
Athens: Trinity Valley Community College Truck Driving Training
Address: 500 S Prairieville St Athens, Texas 75751
Phone: 903-675-2922
Austin : International Schools
Address: 5930 Middle Fiskeville Rd Austin , Texas 78752
Phone: 888-569-8530
Baytown: TDS Semi Driver Training
Address: 6003 John Martin Rd, Ste 100 Baytown, Texas 77521
Phone: 281-452-5858
Beaumont: Lamar Institute of Technology
Address: 855 E Lavaca Beaumont, Texas 77705
Phone: 409-839-2942
Borger: Frank Philips College
Address: 1301 W Roosevelt Borger, Texas 79008
Phone: 806-457-4200 x740
Bryan: Blinn College
Address: 301 Post Office St Bryan, Texas 77805
Phone: 979-209-7205
Canutillo: Mesilla Valley Training Institute
Address: 7440 Doniphan Canutillo, Texas 79835
Phone: 915-877-6090
Carrollton: Top Gun Truck Driving School
Address: 1008 E Alan Ave Carrollton, Texas 75006
Phone: 972-418-5676
Cedar Hill: C.R. England
Address: 1230 S Hwy 67 Cedar Hill, Texas 75104
Phone: 800-848-7811
China Grove: SAGE
Address: 7586 Hwy 87 E China Grove, Texas 78223
Phone: 866-787-4454
Corpus Christi: Del Mar College
Address: 4101 Old Brownsville Rd Corpus Christi, Texas 78405
Phone: 361-994-8229
Dallas: Bill Priest Institute
Address: 1402 Corinth Dallas, Texas 75215
Phone: 214-860-5900 x5759
Dallas: Continental Truck Driver Training & Education School
Address: 6704 S RL Thornton Fwy Dallas, Texas 75232
Phone: 972-224-5551
Dallas: Fluid Academy
Address: 13608 Midway Rd Dallas, Texas 75244
Phone: 972-860-7842
Dallas: International Schools
Address: 6373 S Loop 12 Dallas, Texas 75217
Phone: 214-398-6878
Dallas: International Schools
Address: 4849 Illinois Ave Dallas, Texas 75237
Phone: 800-725-8844
Dallas: International Schools
Address: 5912 Samuel Blvd Dallas, Texas 75237
Phone: 214-275-6360
Dallas: Schneider Training Academy
Address: 34500 LBJ Fwy Dallas, Texas 37209
Phone: 469-941-3062
Dallas: Truck Driver Institute
Address: 8701 Peterbilt Ave Dallas, Texas 75241
Phone: 888-294-7364
Decatur: Weatherford College
Address: 1200-B S FM 51 Decatur, Texas 76234
Phone: 817-341-1940
Del Rio: Star Career Training
Address: 300 Cienegas Rd Del Rio, Texas 78840
Phone: 830-775-9476
Dennison: Grayson County College Truck Driving Training
Address: 3401 Maccallum Ave Dennison, Texas 75020
Phone: 903-786-4343
Eagle Pass: Southwest Texas Junior College
Address: 4003 Hwy 277 SE Eagle Pass, Texas 78852
Phone: 830-591-7264
El Paso: Axis Business Academy
Address: 1528 Goodyear Dr, Ste B El Paso, Texas 79936
Phone: 915-595-8840
El Paso: El Paso Community College
Address: PO Box 20050 El Paso, Texas 79998
Phone: 915-831-2150
El Paso: International Schools
Address: 1030 N Zaragoza Rd El Paso, Texas 79907
Phone: 915-858-1515
El Paso: International Schools
Address: 3910 Doniphan Dr El Paso, Texas 79922
Phone: 915-845-1414
El Paso: Mesilla Valley Training Institute
Address: 9244 Gateway Blvd E, Ste C El Paso, Texas 79907
Phone: 915-872-1964
Elm Mott: ATDS
Address: 124 Truckers Ln Elm Mott, Texas 76640
Phone: 254-829-1694
Farmers Branch: Brookhaven College
Address: 3939 Valley View Ln Farmers Branch, Texas 75244
Phone: 972-860-4600
Fort Worth: C1 Truck Driver Training
Address: 4200 S Fwy Fort Worth, Texas 76115
Phone: 877-626-5873
Fort Worth: North Texas Institute for Career Development
Address: 4005 Campus Dr Fort Worth, Texas 76119
Phone: 817-332-7866 x2060
Gonzales: The Victoria College
Address: 424 E Sarah DeWitt Gonzales, Texas 78629
Phone: 830-672-6251
Grand Prairie: MT Training Center
Address: 1801 S Great Southwest Pkwy Grand Prairie, Texas 75051
Phone: 972-262-5395
Hondo: Southwest Texas Junior College
Address: Hondo Airport BOQ Bldg Hondo, Texas 78861
Phone: 830-591-4125
Houston: AAA CDL Service
Address: 14803 Camino Rancho Dr Houston, Texas 77083
Phone: 281-495-9192
Houston: Houston Community College
Address: 555 Community College Dr, Bldg B Houston, Texas 77013
Phone: 713-718-8200
Kilgore : Kilgore College
Address: 1100 Broadway Blvd Kilgore , Texas 75662
Phone: 903-753-2642
Laredo: Laredo Community College
Address: 5500 S Zapata Hwy Laredo, Texas 78046
Phone: 956-721-5374
Laredo: LHCT Truck Driving School
Address: 1219 Chihuahua St Laredo, Texas 78040
Phone: 956-791-9200
Lubbock: International Schools
Address: 3610 Ave Q, Ste 111 Lubbock, Texas 79412
Phone: 888-558-4824
Lufkin: Lufkin Truck Driving Academy
Address: 109 Lufkin Ave Lufkin, Texas 75902
Phone: 888-255-6351
Marshall: Texas State Technical College- Marshall
Address: 2400 E End Blvd S Marshall, Texas 75672
Phone: 903-923-3401
McAllen: International Schools
Address: 3700 W Military Hwy McAllen, Texas 78501
Phone: 956-872-8311
Mesquite: ATDS
Address: 3912 Flamingo Wy Mesquite, Texas 75150
Phone: 972-681-9203
Mesquite: International Schools
Address: 3737 Motley Dr Mesquite, Texas 75150
Phone: 972-860-7232
Midland: Midland College
Address: 3600 N Garfield Midland, Texas 79705
Phone: 432-681-6318
Mineral Wells: Weatherford College
Address: Rt 4 Bldg 704 Wolters Ind Pk Mineral Wells, Texas 76067
Phone: 940-325-2591
Odessa : International Schools
Address: 691 N Grant Ave Odessa , Texas 79761
Phone: 915-580-0860
Odessa : Odessa College Professional Truck Driver Training
Address: 201 W University Odessa , Texas 79761
Phone: 432-580-0860
Palmer: Tri-State Semi Driver Training
Address: 1400 N Interstate 45 Palmer, Texas 75152
Phone: 972-449-3339
Pasadena: San Jacinto College Truck Driving School
Address: 8060 Spencer Hwy Pasadena, Texas 77501
Phone: 281-476-1501
Pharr: Action Career Training
Address: 1403 W Ferguson Pharr, Texas 78577
Phone: 956-782-6800
San Antonio: Roadmaster
Address: 7196 SW White Rd San Antonio, Texas 78222
Phone: 210-648-8600
San Antonio: Swift Driving Academy
Address: 5348 E Houston St San Antonio, Texas 78220
Phone: 866-237-2683
Socorro: Center for Employment Training
Address: 1061 N Loop Dr, Ste R Socorro, Texas 79927
Phone: 915-859-1070
Sulphur Springs: Brookhaven College
Address: 2325 Hwy 19 S Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
Phone: 903-885-9800
Tyler: Career Trucking School
Address: 6986 County Rd 384 Tyler, Texas 75708
Phone: 903-596-7744
Victoria: The Victoria College
Address: 2200 E Red River St Victoria, Texas 77901
Phone: 362-582-2590
Wills Point : Associated Training Services
Address: 24143 Interstate 20 Wills Point , Texas 75169
Phone: 866-542-2781
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