Featured article · Medical requirements
CDL DOT Physical Requirements: What the Medical Exam Checks
The CDL DOT physical is a federal medical exam. Know who can give it, what the examiner measures, and why it is smart to schedule it before you pay for CDL school.
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Skills test
CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Test: What Examiners Expect on Test Day
The pre-trip inspection is the first part of the CDL skills test. Know what the federal rule requires you to name and check so you walk the truck with confidence.
School Outcomes
CDL School Job Placement Rates: What the Numbers Actually Measure
CDL school job placement rates usually describe a defined group of graduates, not everyone who enrolled. Three public 2024 California program records show how the denominator changes the result, why completion and licensing rates are separate, and what to request before trusting a placement claim.
Choosing a school
How to Check a CDL School in the FMCSA Training Provider Registry
A provider name is only the first check. The useful record is the exact training location, the CDL class you need, and the theory or behind-the-wheel instruction that location is registered to deliver.
Licensing rules
CDL Automatic Transmission Restriction: What the E Code Means
The transmission in the skills-test vehicle controls this restriction. If you test in an automatic, the license cannot authorize you to operate a manual commercial vehicle.
Permit planning
CDL Permit 14-Day Wait: What You Can Do Before the Skills Test
The federal waiting period blocks the skills test, not training. Use the time to complete the right ELDT pieces, practice under CLP rules, and confirm the state can see your record.
Enrollment
12 Questions to Ask a CDL School Before You Enroll
Ask every school the same questions and request the answers in writing. You will learn more from the gaps between the quote, schedule, and test plan than from a general campus tour.
Endorsements
Hazmat Endorsement Training and the TSA Background Check
Adding an H endorsement combines three processes run by different parties: theory training from a registered provider, a state knowledge test, and a TSA security threat assessment.