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Get a Free ConsultationUnder FMCSA rules, a commercial driver in interstate commerce must be at least 21, read and speak English well enough to do the job, be able to drive the vehicle safely, be medically certified, hold one valid license (a CDL for heavier vehicles), not be disqualified, and pass a road test or an accepted equivalent.
We can verify the records behind each one and keep your driver files current.
Anyone who drives a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce, and the carrier that lets them drive. Under 49 CFR 390.5T, a CMV is a vehicle that:
That reaches well below CDL trucks. A driver of a 14,000-pound box truck crossing state lines needs no CDL, but still needs a medical certificate, a road test, and a qualification file. An owner-operator must meet both the carrier rules and the driver rules (49 CFR 391.1).
Drivers who never leave one state follow that state’s rules, which can differ. Age is the clearest example: 49 states and the District of Columbia let 18-to-20-year-olds drive intrastate with a commercial license. The CDL rules in Part 383 apply to interstate and intrastate drivers alike.
There are seven, listed in 49 CFR 391.11. A carrier may not require or permit anyone to drive who misses one of them.
| Requirement | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Age | At least 21 years old |
| English | Reads and speaks English well enough to talk with the public, understand road signs, answer official questions, and fill out records |
| Experience or training | Can safely operate the type of vehicle assigned |
| Physical qualification | Holds a current medical certification from an examiner on FMCSA’s National Registry |
| One license | Holds a currently valid license from only one state, of the right class for the vehicle |
| Not disqualified | Not disqualified under 49 CFR 391.15 (CDL holders are also subject to 383.51) |
| Road test | Passed the carrier’s road test, or presented a CDL or recent road test certificate the carrier accepts as equivalent |
The federal minimum is 21. A commercial learner’s permit can be issued at 18, which is why younger drivers can train and drive inside their state. FMCSA’s Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot, which let some 18-to-20-year-olds drive interstate under supervision, ended on November 7, 2025, so under-21 drivers cannot run interstate through it today.
Since June 25, 2025, a driver who cannot meet the English requirement is placed out of service under the CVSA out-of-service criteria. The inspector interviews the driver and checks recognition of highway signs. In August 2026 FMCSA proposed writing that out-of-service rule into the regulations. Our English proficiency Q&A covers the roadside check in detail.
The vehicle decides the class. A CDL is required for the three groups in 49 CFR 383.91; below them, no CDL is needed, even when the vehicle is a CMV under the federal rules.
| Class | Vehicles covered | Can also drive |
|---|---|---|
| A (combination) | Combinations of 26,001 lb or more where the towed unit is over 10,000 lb | Class B and C vehicles, with the right endorsements |
| B (heavy straight) | Single vehicles of 26,001 lb or more, towing no more than 10,000 lb | Class C vehicles, with the right endorsements |
| C (small vehicle) | Smaller vehicles designed for 16 or more passengers, or carrying placarded hazardous materials | Class C vehicles only |
Endorsements are added for specific work: T (double/triple trailers), P (passenger), N (tank vehicle), H (hazardous materials), X (tank plus hazmat), and S (school bus). The H endorsement also requires a Transportation Security Administration security threat assessment.
A driver whose license has lapsed is not qualified until it is renewed. Our guide on what to do with an expired CDL walks through the options.
The driver must pass a DOT physical with a medical examiner listed on FMCSA’s National Registry. A certificate lasts up to 24 months; drivers with insulin-treated diabetes or who qualify under the alternative vision standard are recertified at least every 12 months (49 CFR 391.45).
The standards in 49 CFR 391.41 are mostly about whether a condition interferes with safe driving, not about the diagnosis alone:
For CDL and permit holders, proof of medical certification now comes electronically. Since June 23, 2025, examiners report results to FMCSA, which sends them to the state, and the carrier proves certification with the driver’s CDLIS motor vehicle record instead of a paper card. A temporary FMCSA exemption that let carriers rely on a paper copy for up to 60 days after it was issued ended on October 11, 2026; FMCSA renewed it for Alaska only, through October 12, 2027. Drivers who do not need a CDL still get, and must carry, a paper certificate.
A driver is disqualified for as long as their license is suspended, revoked, or canceled, and for set periods after certain convictions. The table summarizes the main ones from 49 CFR 391.15 and, for CDL holders, 49 CFR 383.51.
| Offense | First time | Repeat |
|---|---|---|
| Under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 0.04 alcohol or more in a CMV, refusing a state alcohol test, leaving the scene of an accident, or a felony using the vehicle | 1 year (3 years if hauling placarded hazmat) | Life on a second conviction |
| Serious traffic violations in a CMV: speeding 15 mph or more over the limit, reckless driving, improper lane changes, following too closely, texting, hand-held phone use | No disqualification for one | 60 days for a second in 3 years; 120 days for a third |
| Violating an out-of-service order | 90 days to 1 year (180 days to 2 years with hazmat or 16+ passengers) | 1 to 5 years for a second in 10 years |
| Using a CMV in a felony involving controlled substances or human trafficking | Life, with no reinstatement | Life |
Drug and alcohol violations also follow the driver. A driver in “prohibited” status in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse cannot perform safety-sensitive work, and since November 18, 2024 the state must remove CDL privileges within 60 days of being notified (49 CFR 383.73). Getting back on the road runs through the return-to-duty process.
By checking each requirement against records, not the applicant’s word. These must be done before the first dispatch:
Within 30 days of hire, you also need the driver’s motor vehicle record from every state that licensed them in the past 3 years, and their safety performance history from DOT-regulated employers over the same period (49 CFR 391.23). After that, you review every driver’s record at least once a year. Our step-by-step hiring guide puts these in order, and the driver qualification files page lists what each file must hold and for how long.
We check the records behind each requirement so you know a driver is qualified before the first load, and we keep checking.
CDL, medical exam, and employment verification, file management, and driver compliance reporting are part of the Essentials and Managed tiers of our compliance programs. The self-service SimplexHub tier offers driver onboarding tools and file monitoring for fleets that prefer to do it themselves.
An honest caveat: verification services help you catch problems, but the rule is written to the carrier. If an unqualified driver is behind the wheel, FMCSA holds your company responsible, so treat any gap we flag as a stop, not a suggestion.
Use the form below with your USDOT number and how many drivers you have or plan to hire. Our team will review your driver files and tell you what each driver still needs.
A commercial driver operates a commercial motor vehicle: in interstate commerce, a vehicle of 10,001 pounds or more, one built or used to carry more than 8 passengers for pay or more than 15 without pay, or one carrying placarded hazardous materials. Only some commercial drivers need a CDL; the license is required for vehicles of 26,001 pounds or more, 16 or more passengers, or placarded hazmat.
Only if it is issued as a commercial license. A Class C CDL covers vehicles under the Class A and B weights that carry 16 or more passengers or placarded hazardous materials. A state’s non-commercial license may also use the letter C, but it does not authorize driving a vehicle that requires a CDL.
Yes, inside one state. A commercial learner’s permit can be issued at 18, and 49 states and the District of Columbia let 18-to-20-year-olds drive intrastate with a commercial license. Driving a CMV across state lines requires the driver to be at least 21.
Yes, if they drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce, such as a truck of 10,001 pounds or more. The medical certification rules in Part 391 apply to them even though no CDL is required, and they must carry the paper certificate when on duty.
Failing any of the seven qualifications (for example, being under 21 for interstate work or not being medically certified), a suspended or revoked license, and convictions such as driving under the influence, refusing an alcohol test, leaving the scene of an accident, a felony using the vehicle, repeated serious traffic violations, or violating an out-of-service order. A driver in prohibited status in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse cannot drive until completing the return-to-duty process.
The rules and figures on this page come from these official sources, checked on October 5, 2026.