Washington CDL License Requirements

To become a truck driver in Washington, you must first earn a Washington commercial driver’s license (CDL). The State of Washington uses the following criteria to determine whether or not a CDL is required to drive a commercial vehicle.

  • 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

According to Washington CDL requirements, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Washington driver’s license, pass a vision exam and obtain a medical certificate. Transportation of cargo across state lines is regulated by the federal government and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). USDOT requires all drivers who transport materials across state lines to be at least 21 years old. Applicants must then pass both a written knowledge exam and an on-road driving test. The driving test must be taken in a vehicle that matches the class of CDL license you are trying to obtain.

Depending on the type of truck you wish to drive or the cargo you intend to transport, additional endorsement may be required. For example, endorsements are needed to drive a truck with air brakes, a tanker truck, a school bus or a truck with double/triple trailers. Endorsements are also needed to transport passengers or to haul hazardous materials. 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 Washington CDL exams.

Resources for Washington CDL Requirements

Visit the Washington State Department of Licensing website for more information.



Directory of Washington Truck Driving Schools



Aberdeen: Grays Harbor College
Address: 1620 Edward P Smith Dr Aberdeen, Washington 98520
Phone: 360-532-9020

Bellinghan: Pegasus Commercial Driving Corp
Address: 4923 Guide Meridian Bellinghan, Washington 98226
Phone: 360-223-7318

Centralia: Western Pacific Truck School of Oregon
Address: 1709 Van Wormer St, #4 Centralia, Washington 98531
Phone: 888-565-0203

Colbert: L & T Training
Address: N 17912 Michael Rd Colbert, Washington 99005
Phone: 509-464-2199

Grandview: GMC Training Institute
Address: 109 W Second St Grandview, Washington 98930
Phone: 509-882-2523

Kelso: Northwest Truck Training Inc
Address: 2500 Talley Wy Kelso, Washington 98626
Phone: 360-575-1744

Kent: Seattle Truck Driving School
Address: 24700 Military Rd S Kent, Washington 98032
Phone: 253-528-0900

Kent: Western Pacific Truck School
Address: 26330 79th Ave S Kent, Washington 98204
Phone: 800-333-1233

Lakeview: VATA Truck Driving School
Address: 3141 Mercedes Dr NE Lakeview, Washington 98516
Phone: 360-455-0057

Lakewood: Commercial Driver Services
Address: 11000 34th Ave S Lakewood, Washington 98449
Phone: 253-983-0200

Longview: Western Pacific Truck School of Oregon
Address: 1839 First Ave, Ste 2D Longview, Washington 98632
Phone: 888-565-0203

Moses Lake: Big Bend Community College
Address: 7662 Chanute St Moses Lake, Washington 98837
Phone: 509-793-2222

Mount Vernon: Biddix Company Inc
Address: 2814 Old Hwy 99 S Mount Vernon, Washington 98273
Phone: 360-982-2891

Mt. Vernon: North Cross Commercial Driving School LLC
Address: 3122 Cedardale Rd Mt. Vernon, Washington 98273
Phone: 360-424-0373

Olympia: Western Pacific Truck School of Oregon
Address: 2747 Pacific Ave SE, #A9 Olympia, Washington 98501
Phone: 888-565-0203

Pasco: Columbia Basin College
Address: 2600 N 20th Ave Pasco, Washington 99301
Phone: 509-544-4914

Pasco: Driver Training Solutions
Address: 2021 E James Pasco, Washington 99301
Phone: 509-543-7901

Pasco: T Enterprises Truck Driving School
Address: 2010 E Lewis Pl Pasco, Washington 99301
Phone: 509-547-2441

Port Orchard: All Training Services Truck School
Address: 3649 W Frontage Rd Port Orchard, Washington 98367
Phone: 360-373-1114

Richland: Stateline Trucking School
Address: 1845 Terminal Dr, #150 Richland, Washington 99354
Phone: 509-554-3102

Seattle: South Seattle Community College
Address: 6000 16th Ave SW Seattle, Washington 98106
Phone: 206-764-5846.

Seattle: T & M Taras Truck Driving School
Address: 18635 8th Ave S Seattle, Washington 98148
Phone: 206-571-1648

Spokane: Driver Training Solutions
Address: 16702 E Euclid Ave Spokane, Washington 99216
Phone: 509 777-0073

Spokane: Spokane Community College
Address: 1810 N Greene St Spokane, Washington 99217
Phone: 509-533-7160

Tacoma: Bates Technical College
Address: 2201 S 78th St Tacoma, Washington 98409
Phone: 253-680-7400

Tacoma: DRM CDL Training
Address: 424 E 19th St Tacoma, Washington 98421
Phone: 253-426-2100

Tacoma: Trans Union Truck Driving Schools
Address: 2624 River Rd E Tacoma, Washington 98443
Phone: 253-922-0870

Tonasket: OK CDL Training LLC
Address: 1259 N Pine Cr Rd Tonasket, Washington 98855
Phone: 509-322-8884

Toppenish: 7 Star Truck Driving School LLC
Address: 9 Asotin Ave Toppenish, Washington 98948
Phone: 509-949-8569

Vancouver: Test You
Address: 2428 E 1st St Vancouver, Washington 98661
Phone: 360-750-9338

Walla Walla: Walla Walla Community College
Address: 500 Tausick Wy Walla Walla, Washington 99362
Phone: 509-522-2500

White Swan: Fort Simcoe Job Corps Center
Address: 40 Abella Ln White Swan, Washington 98952
Phone: 509-871-2244

Woodinville: Check Ride Driver Training
Address: 13632 NE 177th Pl Woodinville, Washington 98072
Phone: 425-402-8200

Woodland: West Coast Training
Address: 3805 Dike Rd Woodland, Washington 98674
Phone: 360-225-6767

Yakima: Yakima Valley Community College
Address: S 16th Ave & Nob Hill Blvd Yakima, Washington 98902
Phone: 509-574-4600

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