One of the most significant recent changes to CDL regulation is the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirement, which took full effect in February 2022. Under FMCSA regulations, all first-time CDL applicants — as well as CDL holders upgrading their license class or adding Hazardous Materials, Passenger, or School Bus endorsements — must complete training from a provider registered on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR).
The ELDT requirement establishes minimum training standards for both theory (knowledge) and behind-the-wheel (skills) components of CDL training. Training providers must demonstrate instructor qualifications, adequate equipment, and curriculum compliance to be listed on the TPR. Before enrolling in a CDL training program, applicants should verify that the school or company is listed on the FMCSA TPR at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov — programs not listed on the registry cannot fulfill the ELDT requirement, and completion of non-registered training will not be accepted by state DMVs when processing CDL applications.
For current CDL holders who are not upgrading their class or adding a covered endorsement, the ELDT requirement generally does not apply. Renewal of an existing CDL at the same class level without adding new endorsements proceeds as it did before February 2022. However, any CDL holder who wants to add a HazMat, Passenger, or School Bus endorsement for the first time must complete the relevant ELDT endorsement curriculum from a registered provider before the state will add that endorsement to their license.
Commercial drivers are subject to the most stringent drug and alcohol testing requirements in any U.S. industry, governed by FMCSA regulations under 49 CFR Part 382. Understanding these requirements helps drivers maintain compliance and avoid disqualification.
The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, launched in January 2020, is a secure online database that tracks CDL drivers' drug and alcohol violations. All FMCSA-regulated employers are required to query the Clearinghouse before hiring a CDL driver and annually for all current drivers. Drivers must provide electronic consent for employers to access their Clearinghouse record. A positive drug test, test refusal, or alcohol violation remains in the Clearinghouse until the driver completes the return-to-duty process — which includes evaluation by a Substance Abuse Professional and negative follow-up testing.
Despite state-level marijuana legalization in many states, marijuana remains a federally prohibited substance for CDL drivers under FMCSA regulations. Commercial drivers are not permitted to use marijuana (including medical marijuana) and remain subject to federal drug testing standards regardless of the state where they live or operate. A positive marijuana test result has the same consequences as any other positive drug test — the driver is immediately removed from safety-sensitive duties until completing the full return-to-duty process.
FMCSA adjusts random drug testing rates annually based on industry violation rates. Drivers selected for random testing must report immediately upon notification. Failure to report for a random test is treated as a refusal, which carries the same consequences as a positive test. Employers are responsible for maintaining their random testing program and must use a DOT-compliant laboratory for all testing.
Hours of Service regulations govern how long commercial drivers may operate their vehicles before taking mandatory rest periods. These rules are designed to prevent fatigued driving, which is a leading cause of serious commercial vehicle crashes. Here are the key HOS rules for property-carrying drivers (truck drivers) as currently in effect:
Passenger carriers operate under different HOS rules: 10 hours of driving (vs. 11 for property), and 15-hour on-duty limit (vs. 14 for property). The 60/70-hour rule applies to passenger carriers as well. School bus drivers operating under state law may be exempt from FMCSA HOS rules in some states.
Several exemptions modify or waive standard HOS rules for specific situations: the short-haul exemption (drivers operating within a 150 air-mile radius may be exempt from electronic logging device and 30-minute break requirements under certain conditions), the adverse driving conditions exemption (drivers may extend driving by up to 2 hours in adverse weather), and agricultural exemptions that apply to farm commodity transportation during planting and harvesting seasons.
The CDL knowledge tests are administered by state DMVs and cover federally standardized content under FMCSA regulations. The tests are multiple-choice, computer-based in most states, and require a minimum passing score of 80% on each subject. Here is what is currently tested:
The General Knowledge test is required for all CDL applicants regardless of vehicle class. Current topics include: vehicle inspection procedures (the standard pre-trip inspection sequence), basic vehicle control (starting, stopping, backing), shifting and braking techniques, coupling and uncoupling trailers, space management and following distance, night driving and adverse weather procedures, emergency procedures, hours of service rules, and hazardous materials recognition. The test is drawn directly from each state's CDL handbook, which is based on the FMCSA standards.
Separate knowledge tests are required for each endorsement: Air Brakes (25 questions), Combination Vehicles (20 questions), HazMat (30 questions), Passenger (20 questions), School Bus (20 questions), Tank Vehicle (20 questions), and Doubles/Triples (20 questions). Each requires 80% correct to pass. Candidates may take multiple knowledge tests in a single DMV visit, though some states limit tests per session.
The most important study resource for CDL knowledge tests is your state's official CDL handbook, available free from your state's DMV website. Online CDL practice tests — including those available on PracticeTestGeeks — help reinforce handbook knowledge and identify gaps before your actual test. FMCSA also publishes the Model Commercial Driver License Manual that serves as the template for all state CDL handbooks.
The FMCSA Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate requires that most commercial motor vehicles subject to federal HOS regulations be equipped with a certified ELD to record driving time electronically. The mandate was fully phased in by December 2019. Here is what CDL drivers and carriers need to know about ELD compliance:
ELDs are required for drivers who are currently required to maintain hours of service records of duty status (RODS). This includes most interstate CDL drivers operating property-carrying or passenger-carrying vehicles. Exemptions include: drivers who operate using the short-haul exception (within 150 air-mile radius and meeting all conditions), vehicles manufactured before model year 2000, drivers on HOS exemptions who are exempt from keeping RODS, and driveaway-towaway operations where the vehicle being transported is the commodity.
Not all electronic devices are compliant. FMCSA maintains a list of registered ELD devices at eld.fmcsa.dot.gov. Carriers must use a device from this list to be compliant. ELD providers self-certify that their devices meet FMCSA specifications — FMCSA does not independently test devices, but requires providers to certify compliance. If a non-compliant device is detected during a roadside inspection, it can result in an out-of-service order.