The Texas CDL handbook: what to study, and in what order
The handbook Texas DPS publishes is more than a study guide. It maps the tests, forms, and deadlines between a regular license and a CDL, and it changed this year.
Written by Inely Baez
The Texas CDL path in numbers
The Texas CDL handbook is the Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook (form DL-7C), revised March 2026 and free as a PDF from Texas DPS. Study only the sections your license class and endorsements require, plus Section 14, the Texas-only rules the handbook tells every applicant to know.
Most people look up the Texas CDL handbook expecting a study guide. It is one, but it is also the clearest map of the whole licensing process: which tests you take, in what order, and which clocks start along the way.
I lead operations at Simplex, and I read a process like this the way I read any system: find the gates, the deadlines, and who checks what. This guide does that for the edition DPS publishes today.
The full briefing, read aloud
7 chapters. Select one to jump to it.
Generated with AI text-to-speech from this article's key insights, in order, rather than reading it word for word. Chapter times come from a transcript of the audio. The article itself was written and reviewed by Inely Baez.
Key takeaways
Use the March 2026 edition
The current handbook is form DL-7C, revised March 2026, free from Texas DPS and published online only.
Study by license class
Figure 1.2 in the handbook lists the sections each class and endorsement needs, so you can skip the rest.
Section 14 is the Texas part
It covers Texas papers, equipment, size and weight limits, operating rules, and registration.
Knowledge tests are English-only
Since June 1, 2026, DPS gives every CDL knowledge test in English. The Spanish handbook dates from 2019.
The process runs on clocks
Hold the CLP at least 14 days; it lasts 180 days. An application stays open 90 days from the date you apply, or until three failed attempts.
In this articleContents
Where do you get the current Texas CDL handbook?
Download it free from Texas DPS as form DL-7C. The current edition says Revised March 2026 on the cover, and DPS publishes it online only, for personal use.
Most chapters come from the national model manual that AAMVA writes for state licensing agencies. Texas adds a prologue with its own procedures and fees, two sections for the Del Rio and Wichita Falls test sites, and Section 14.
If a copy you downloaded elsewhere shows an older date, replace it with the DPS file.
What changed for Texas CDL applicants in 2026?
Three things changed this year, and each one affects how you prepare.
- A new handbook edition. DPS revised the handbook in March 2026.
- English-only knowledge tests. Since June 1, 2026, DPS gives every CDL knowledge test in English, citing the federal English proficiency rule in 49 CFR 391.11. Skills tests continue in English.
- No paper medical certificates. Since April 10, 2026, Texas no longer accepts them. Your medical examiner submits the results electronically through FMCSA's National Registry, and DPS says to allow up to 10 business days for your record to update.
Applicants who cannot show enough English proficiency during testing or issuance are not eligible for a Texas CLP or CDL. Our English proficiency Q&A for CDL drivers covers what the rule means once you are on the road.
What is in the Texas CDL handbook?
The Texas CDL handbook has 14 numbered sections, and you need only the ones that match your license class and endorsements. Figure 1.2 in Section 1 maps them. Not sure which class you need? Start with our guide to CDL vs non-CDL requirements.
| License or endorsement | Sections to study |
|---|---|
| Class A | 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 12, 13 |
| Class B or C | 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 13 |
| Air brakes (any class) | Add 5 |
| Hazardous materials (H) | 9 |
| Tank vehicle (N) | 2, 6, 8, 9 |
| Doubles and triples (T) | 2, 5, 6, 7 |
| Passenger (P) | 2, 4, 11, 12, 13 |
| School bus (S) | 10, 11, 12, 13 |
The sections are: 1 Introduction, 2 Driving Safely, 3 Transporting Cargo Safely, 4 Transporting Passengers Safely, 5 Air Brakes, 6 Combination Vehicles, 7 Doubles and Triples, 8 Tank Vehicles, 9 Hazardous Materials, 10 School Bus, 11 Vehicle Inspection, 12 Basic Vehicle Control Skills Test, 13 On-Road Driving, and 14 Special Requirements for Texas Commercial Motor Vehicles.
Sections 11 to 13 are the three parts of the skills test. For the first part, see our Texas CDL pre-trip inspection guide.
What does Section 14 cover?
Section 14 is the part written for Texas. Figure 1.2 does not list it, but the handbook tells every applicant to pay close attention to it. It covers papers and permits, equipment, size and weight limits, operating rules, registration, and the federal rules DPS has adopted. Some of its limits:
- Height: 14 feet, including the load
- Width: 102 inches, including the load
- Semitrailer length: 59 feet in a tractor-semitrailer combination, or 28½ feet each in a double
- Gross weight: 80,000 pounds, unless you hold an oversize/overweight permit
- Load overhang: 3 feet past the front and 4 feet past the rear without a special permit
Section 14 lists exceptions for specific vehicles. Loads beyond these limits need a permit; our guide to oversize permits explains how that works.
How do you get a CDL in Texas?
You get a Texas CDL in two stages: a commercial learner permit (CLP), then a skills test at least 14 days later. Each step below has its own gate.
Step 1: Start with a Texas license and a medical category
You need a valid Texas driver license first. You also self-certify the kind of driving you will do on form CDL-4, CDL-5, or CDL-10. Most interstate drivers use CDL-4, which requires a medical examiner's certificate and a minimum age of 21.
Step 2: Pass the knowledge tests and get your CLP
Bring the CDL-1 application, proof of identity and of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, and your Social Security number, and pay the $25 CLP fee. You need 80% on each knowledge test.
For a Class A or B, the order is Texas Commercial Rules, General Knowledge, Combination (Class A only), Air Brakes if equipped, then endorsements. Only the P, S, and N endorsements can go on a CLP.
Step 3: Hold the CLP for at least 14 days and train
A CLP lets you drive a commercial vehicle on public roads only with a CDL holder, 21 or older, with the same class, sitting next to you. In Texas it is valid for 180 days and can be renewed once.
First-time Class A or B applicants, and drivers upgrading to either, must finish entry-level driver training from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before the skills test, and DPS checks it electronically. Our entry-level driver training guide covers who needs it.
Step 4: Pass the three-part skills test
Bring a vehicle that matches your license class. Before the test, DPS checks its registration, insurance, inspection certificate, and equipment, and a failed check postpones your test.
You then pass vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control, and the road test, in that order. A new CDL costs $97 for drivers aged 18 to 84 and is valid for eight years.
Watch the clock: your application stays open for 90 days from the date you apply. After 90 days or three failed attempts, whichever comes first, you start over with a new application and fee.
What does a new Texas CDL mean for your fleet?
A new CDL means the state has licensed the driver. It does not qualify them for your trucks: under 49 CFR 391.51, the carrier must keep a driver qualification file for every driver it employs.
Read the license before you dispatch. Restrictions such as L (no air brakes), E (no manual transmission), or K (intrastate only) limit which vehicles and trips a driver can take.
Our driver qualification file service builds those files and keeps them audit-ready.
How Simplex helps Texas carriers with new CDL drivers
The license is the driver's part. Qualifying and keeping that driver compliant is yours, and we help with it.
Driver qualification files
Our driver qualification file team works with you and your drivers to keep every file compliant and audit-ready.
Checking driver qualifications
We help fleets verify commercial driver qualifications before hiring, from age and CDL to medical certification and endorsements.
DOT compliance in Texas
Our Texas DOT compliance services help carriers get set up with FMCSA and stay compliant as they grow.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a 2026 Texas CDL handbook?+
Where can I download the Texas DPS CDL handbook?+
Is the Texas CDL handbook available in Spanish?+
Is the handbook enough to pass the Texas CDL tests?+
How much does a Texas CDL cost?+
Where this information comes from
The requirements below come from Texas DPS publications and federal regulations, checked on September 24, 2026.
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1
Texas DPS — Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook (DL-7C)
The March 2026 edition: sections, Figure 1.2, Section 14, test order, CLP rules, and the 90-day window.
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2
Texas DPS — How do I apply for a Commercial Driver License?
English-only knowledge tests from June 1, 2026, CLP requirements, documents, and test order.
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3
Texas DPS — CDL Medical Certification Requirement
Electronic medical certificates, the April 10, 2026 paper cutoff, and self-certification categories.
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4
Texas DPS — Driver License Fees
CLP and CDL fees and how long each is valid.
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5
Texas DPS — How to Prepare for a Commercial Skills Test (DL-60A)
Vehicle assessment before the skills test, knowledge tests by class, and retest limits.
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6
eCFR — 49 CFR 383.25
Federal CLP rules: supervision, endorsements allowed, and the 14-day wait.
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7
eCFR — 49 CFR 383.71
When entry-level driver training must be finished, and applicant certifications.
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8
eCFR — 49 CFR 391.51
The carrier's duty to keep a qualification file for every driver.
Written by
Inely Baez
Chief Operating Officer, Simplex Group
Chief Operating Officer at Simplex Group, with nearly eight years at the company leading operational strategy and execution across compliance, technology, logistics, and performance systems. She is a Certified Public Accountant with a background spanning operations and finance, including leadership roles within Simplex's Freight 4 U division and Velox Transport Solutions. Her work focuses on building scalable, disciplined systems that support long-term performance and growth.
Published · Updated
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Study your sections, then work the clock
The handbook tells you what to learn. The permit, training, and retest windows decide how fast you get licensed.
If you are bringing new CDL drivers into your fleet and want their files right from day one, talk to our team.