West Virginia CDL License Requirements

To start your truck driving career in West Virginia, you must first earn a West Virginia commercial driver’s license (CDL). In West Virginia, a CDL is required to drive the following types of commercial vehicles:

• Class A: Combination vehicle weighing over 26,001 pounds with the trailer weighing over 10,000 pounds
• Class B: Single or combination vehicle weighing over 26,001 pounds and a trailer weighing less than 10,000 pounds
• Class C: Vehicles weighing 26,000 pounds or less, carrying hazardous materials or transporting 16 or more passengers

To obtain a West Virginia CDL, you must be at least 18 years old, 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. 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. The driving test must be taken in a vehicle that matches the class of CDL license you are trying to obtain.

Additional qualifications, or endorsements, are needed to drive a truck with air brakes, a tanker truck or a school bus. Endorsements are also needed to transport hazardous materials (Hazmat) or to transport passengers. A background check by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required for the Hazmat endorsement. West Virginia truck driving schools will provide you with the training and on-road driving experience needed to pass the CDL exams.

Resources for West Virginia CDL Requirements

Visit the West Virginia Department of Transportation - Division of Motor Vehicles website for more information.