You must be at least 21 years of age to operate a commercial vehicle outside New York State (interstate commerce) or for a Hazmat and School Bus endorsement. If you are a new resident of New York State with a valid CDL from another state, you must exchange your license. You do not need to take the tests you already passed in your former state except Hazardous Materials. While you can take the knowledge tests in any language, you must be able to speak and read English for the road test as you will be tested on your ability to read signs directed at commercial vehicles. You must be legally present in the United States (New York’s Green Light Law does not apply to CDL, it’s only for non-commercial driver licenses). You will need a DOT medical certificate. In order to get one, you must see a medical examiner who is listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners and pass a physical examination to obtain the certificate. You will not be eligible to apply for a CDL if you have any of the following on your driving record: leaving the scene of an accident violations involving alcohol and/or drugs felonies involving a motor vehicle
If you would like to drive a combination of vehicles providing the towed vehicle is more than 10,000 pounds resulting in the total combined weight of the truck and trailer being more than 26,000 pounds, you will need Class A. If you would like to drive a single vehicle of more than 26,000 pounds (may tow vehicles of 10,000 pounds or less, or more as long as the total combined weight of the truck and trailer is not more than 26,000 pounds), you will need Class B. If you want to drive a vehicle of up to 26,000 pounds with seating for more than 15 passengers or placarded for Hazardous Materials (may tow vehicles of 10,000 pounds or less, or more as long as the total combined weight of the truck and trailer is not more than 26,000 pounds), you will need Class C.
Interstate commerce means you will drive a commercial motor vehicle in any state including New York or into a foreign country or transport cargo that began or will end its journey in another state or foreign country. Intrastate commerce means you will drive a commercial motor vehicle only in New York.
Excepted commerce is generally limited to the transport of people and farm goods, such as farm machinery, supplies, and crops. Visit the DMV website here for a complete list. Non-Excepted commerce categories include all other driving purposes than the ones listed under the Excepted category. If you drive for both Excepted and Non-Excepted activities, you must select Non-Excepted.
There are certain restrictions placed on commercial drivers. You will need to disclose certain medical conditions, including: Seizures or epilepsy Eye disorders or diseases (but not glasses or contact lenses) Heart disease or heart attack Lung, kidney, liver, or muscular disease Fainting, dizziness, or loss of consciousness Sleep disorders (e. g. , narcolepsy) Stroke or paralysis Missing limbs Alcohol, narcotic, or habit-forming drug use If you take medications, you must disclose this information to the medical examiner. Some medications may prevent you from driving a commercial vehicle unless your prescribing doctor writes a letter to the medical examiner clearing you. The medical examiner does not have to take your doctor’s advice. If you do not renew a certificate when it’s due, the state will suspend your CDL privileges until you submit the new certificate within 55 days before they downgrade your CDL to a regular (Class D) driver’s license. You cannot legally drive a commercial vehicle while your CDL is suspended (you can get arrested).
The questions are designed by New York State who frequently rewords the questions to prevent those who didn’t read the manual from passing (i. e. only used practice tests to get out of reading the manual). You must answer at least 80 percent of the questions correctly to pass all of the tests.
Beginning on May 21, 2014, all USDOT Medical Examiner’s Certificates must be provided by an examiner on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. You can find that registry here. Check with your employer. Some employers may cover the fee associated with getting this certificate.
Bring your existing driver license and your Social Security Card for proof of identity. You must also bring 2 additional documents, such as utility bills or pay stubs, that display your full legal name. Bring a total of $50 to pay fees. The application fee for the learner permit is $10. This fee allows you to take the written tests. The fee for the road test (skills test) is $40. You must pay this fee before you may schedule your road test. The DMV accepts cash, credit cards, and checks or money orders. If you are transferring your license from out of state, you will need to bring a $10 application fee and a licensing fee. Licensing fees will vary depending on your age and commercial driving class. Bring a completed Medical Certification Requirements for Commercial Drivers form. You will also need to bring a Medical Examiner’s Certificate that proves you are fit to drive a commercial vehicle. You must pass a physical examination every 2 years to maintain a commercial driver license in the state of New York.
The Passenger and/or School Bus endorsements include a special skills test which if passed will allow you to drive both buses and trucks. These tests can be taken to obtain your original CDL or after. A Passenger endorsement is required to drive a bus, transport at least 16 passengers, or apply for a School Bus endorsement. You must pass the knowledge test for the endorsement and skills tests to avoid restrictions on your license. A School Bus endorsement is required to drive a School Bus. You must be at least 21 years of age, have the Passenger endorsement, and pass the knowledge test for the endorsement and skills test to avoid restrictions on your license.
Upgrading to a Class A (if you will upgrade from Class B, the curriculum is a lot shorter because you already have knowledge of driving heavy vehicles. If you do not have Class B, you must complete the full curriculum) ELDT is also required to remove an “O” restriction for those with a Class A license even if they obtained it before February 7, 2022. An “O” restriction means you took the skills test in a smaller truck and trailer combination so you cannot drive full-size tractor-trailers. Upgrading to a CDL Class B. Adding a Passenger, School, Bus, and/or HazMat endorsement for any class of CDL (including Class C). This still applies even if you already have a CDL but not the endorsement. NOTE: If you only want a Hazardous Materials endorsement, you only need to complete the theory portion of ELDT before being allowed to take the knowledge test. You do not need to complete the next step.
You must pay the $40 fee before you can schedule a road test. You can pay that fee in person when you apply for your CDL learner permit, or you can pay it online with a credit card. When you make the appointment, you will be required to provide the Client ID number displayed on your learner’s permit and the receipt number that was given to you when you paid the road test fee.
For the Pre-Trip Inspection and In-Cab Inspection, you must know where every item of your bus or truck is and explain to the examiner why you would inspect it. For the In-Cab inspection, you must know how to test your Air Brakes. The examiner may ask you to do a full inspection (where you must inspect the entire vehicle) or only a portion (they may ask you only to inspect under the hood, or from the door to the rear of the vehicle). For Class A, click here to see a demonstration. For Class B, click here to see a demonstration. For Buses, click here to see a demonstration. For the Basic Vehicle Control, you will be asked to back a bus or truck in a straight line without hitting the cones along with two different maneuvers that will be decided by your examiner. It may be an offset (right or left), parallel parking (right or left), or the most challenging alley docking. Except for the straight line backing, you are allowed to pull up or get out of the vehicle up to two times (after with penalty) without being penalized to get a better glance or position. Click here to see what a Straight Line Backing looks like. Click here to see what an offset backing looks like. Click here to see what parallel parking looks like. Click here to see what alley docking looks like. For the Road Test, you will be asked to drive on public roads and highways. Your examiner will evaluate how you make turns, judgments, or use your signals. Any error will result in points. Too many points will result in a failure. You must pay attention to the signs because the examiner may ask you what the sign said as part of your test. The examiner will also ask you to complete a railroad crossing and in the middle of the test, stop at a safe location to see how far you are from the curb. They may also ask you how much the bus or truck weighs, the height, or the width.
The New York DMV no longer issues 10-day temporary license documents. You will get a temporary CDL valid for 90 days that you can use until your photo CDL arrives by mail. It should arrive within 3-4 weeks. Bring your Medical Examiner’s Certificate every time you visit the DMV regarding your CDL to avoid processing delays.
In New York, driver licenses expire on your birthday. The DMV will send you a renewal notice about 50 days before the expiration date, along with a self-certification form for your driving type (Excepted or Non-Excepted). You can renew your CDL up to one year before it expires. If you renew your license before it expires, you don’t have to take the written or road test again.
