What Are the Truck Driver Requirements for a Commercial Driver?
Published:Oct 27, 2025
4 min. read
Are you interested in being a truck driver or maybe an owner-operator? Are you interested in starting a trucking company? You may have questions about what it takes to start a trucking company or become a commercial driver and we may be able to help at TenTrucks by answering a few key questions. Future truck drivers may want to know — what are the truck driver requirements for a commercial truck driver — and we are here to help.
Key Requirements, Licenses, and Permits for Commercial Truck Drivers
When you make the decision to become a commercial truck driver, there are a number of requirements, licenses, and permits you will need to reach your goal. The requirements needed to be a commercial driver can be separated into three basic categories — General Requirements, CDL Requirements, and Additional Requirements. Individuals who meet these requirements and receive the right licenses and permits will be able to pursue a career in the trucking and freight industry as a fleet driver or owner-operator.
Here is a closer look at the key requirements, licenses, and permits that prospective commercial truck drivers will need:
General Commercial Truck Driver Requirements
Before you ever apply for your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) there is a list of boxes that you will need to check. These general requirements can include everything from a valid driver’s license to a clean driving record.
Here is a list of general requirements that future commercial truck drivers will need to meet:
- Potential commercial truck drivers must first have a valid non-commercial driver’s license.
- Individuals that hope to be a truck driver must be 18 years old to drive within a specific state and must be 21 years old to drive across state lines.
- Applicants for a commercial driver’s license must have and maintain a clean driving record and be able to provide a 10-year driving history.
- A commercial truck driver in the United States must be able to provide the proper documentation that proves their identity, their U.S. citizenship, or their legal status in the country.
- Applicants must be able to pass a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) medical exam and physical, to be able to meet specific health and vision standards.
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Requirements and Testing
The next step for individuals who want to become commercial truck drivers is to apply and test for their Commercial Driver’s License. This involves skills testing and an in-depth application process that will help ensure that potential applicants have the skills and capabilities to be a commercial truck driver.
Here is a better look at the CDL requirements and testing for potential truck drivers:
- Commercial truck driver applicants must first apply for and receive a Commercial Driver’s Learner Permit (CLP). This is accomplished by completing an initial application that requires applicants to submit medical and identity documents and pay an initial fee.
- Potential drivers must complete an Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) course conducted by a provider that has been approved by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
- Applicants must pass a general knowledge test on trucking regulations and laws that will protect drivers and freight companies
- In addition to a general knowledge test, individuals that hope to be commercial drivers must pass a road and skills test that includes many different aspects of driving a commercial truck, like pre-trip inspections, backing up a truck, and on-road driving.
Additional Commercial Truck Driver Requirements
There are additional requirements that applicants may be expected to meet that can vary based on the company they hope to work for and where they plan to drive and work. This may include background checks and endorsements to be able to drive specialty trucks like fuel tankers.
Here are a few additional requirements that employers may require for truck drivers:
- It is critical that commercial truck drivers have an impeccable driving and legal record — and as a result, many trucking companies will require background checks and drug testing for driver applicants.
- Driver applicants may be required to have special endorsements that permit them to drive specialty vehicles like fuel tankers, hazardous materials trucks, or commercial passenger vehicles.
- Freight companies may have additional requirements for their drivers that can include years of experience or additional educational requirements, like a high school diploma or GED.
READ MORE: How Many Hours Can a Trucker Drive?
Do you have questions about what it takes to become a commercial truck driver? You may have questions like — what are the truck driver requirements for a commercial driver? We hope that this overview has helped answer your questions.
Contact TenTrucks today to learn more about how TenTrucks TMS and our dispatching services can help take your freight company to the next level!