REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEWFlorida CDL Class A requirements
Requirements depend on the applicant and can change. Verify each item with the cited agency.
age
Florida residents seeking a Class A CDL, with additional age rules for interstate operation or hazardous-materials privileges.
Florida's CDL manual states that an applicant must be at least 18 to drive a commercial motor vehicle intrastate and at least 21 to drive interstate. It also states that a hazardous-materials endorsement requires the applicant to be at least 21.
documents
Applicants preparing for an original Florida Class A CDL transaction.
The Florida CDL manual says applicants must be Florida residents, hold a Florida Class E license, surrender other driver licenses, provide a valid medical report or card when required, provide proof of Social Security number, pass required tests, and pay the proper fee. Florida's general credential rules also require primary identification, Social Security or approved secondary identification, and two documents showing Florida residential address.
tests
Class A applicants and applicants adding vehicle- or operation-specific endorsements.
All CDL applicants take general knowledge. A Class A combination-vehicle applicant also studies and tests for combination vehicles, and air-brake knowledge is required when the vehicle has air brakes. Endorsement tests apply only when the applicant seeks the corresponding privilege. CDL skills testing covers vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control, and on-road driving. First-time Class A applicants, and Class B holders upgrading to Class A, are subject to federal ELDT unless an exception applies.
passing
Applicants taking CDL knowledge or skills tests.
Federal CDL standards require at least 80 percent correct on each knowledge test. For the skills test, the applicant must successfully perform the required skills; Florida's CDL manual divides the test into vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control, and on-road driving and requires each segment to be passed before moving to the next.
applicability
Drivers deciding whether Florida Class A and particular endorsements match the vehicle or operation they intend to use.
Florida Class A applies to a combination with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of at least 26,001 pounds when the towed vehicle is more than 10,000 pounds. A Class A license does not automatically grant every endorsement: Florida separately requires appropriate tests and endorsements for doubles/triples, passenger vehicles, school buses, tank vehicles, and placarded hazardous-materials operations.