Texas CDL Exam Prep

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Driver License Division is the state agency responsible for issuing Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL) in Texas. A CDL is required to legally operate commercial motor vehicles covered by 49 CFR Part 383, including large trucks, buses, and other vehicles above the federal weight and passenger thresholds. DPS administers the knowledge and skills testing process, working within the framework set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), while applying its own state-specific fees, scheduling, and administrative rules.

Every CDL applicant must first hold a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), pass the applicable knowledge test or tests, and wait at least the federal minimum 14 days after CLP issuance before attempting the skills test. Anyone applying for a first-time Class A or Class B CDL, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or applying for the P, S, or H endorsement for the first time must also complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) through a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before testing, a federal requirement in effect since February 7, 2022. Texas manual language mirrors the federal ban on holding a phone for a voice call (beyond a single button to dial or answer) or texting while driving a CMV.

Texas issues the three federal CDL classes defined in 49 CFR 383.91:

• Class A - Any combination of vehicles with a combined gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the vehicle(s) being towed have a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds.
• Class B - A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, or such a vehicle towing a unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.
• Class C - A vehicle that does not meet the Class A or B definition but is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or is used to transport hazardous materials requiring placards under 49 CFR 383.5.

Endorsements can be added to any class as needed: H (hazardous materials), N (tank vehicle), P (passenger), S (school bus), T (doubles/triples), and X (combined tank vehicle and hazmat).

Texas delivers CDL skills testing through the CDL Third Party Skills Testing (TPST) program: DPS-certified companies and examiners test their own students or employees for Class A, B, and C, governed by 49 CFR 383.75 and 384.228, Texas Transportation Code 522.023, and 37 TAC 16.31. The general knowledge test uses 50 questions, with 40 correct required to pass, per the DPS commercial driver manual.

Texas requires a score of at least 80 percent to pass each CDL knowledge test (general knowledge, air brakes, combination vehicles, and each endorsement test). This matches the federal minimum set in 49 CFR 383.135(a)(1). The Texas DPS commercial driver manual states this requirement per section.

Typical requirements to obtain a CDL in Texas include:

• Minimum age 18 for intrastate-only driving; minimum age 21 for interstate operation, hazmat (H or X endorsement), or passenger and school-bus (P or S) transport.
• A valid DOT medical certificate from an examiner listed on FMCSA's National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.
• Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) through a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, required since February 7, 2022, for first-time Class A or B applicants, Class B-to-A upgraders, and first-time P, S, or H endorsement applicants (anyone who already held the relevant credential before that date is grandfathered).
• A Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), held for a federal minimum of 14 days before the skills test may be scheduled. In Texas, the CLP itself is issued for a 180-day validity period, within the federal one-year ceiling.
• Passing the applicable knowledge test (general knowledge, plus air brakes and combination vehicles if applicable) and the skills test (vehicle inspection, basic controls, and road test).
• For the H or X hazmat endorsement, a TSA Security Threat Assessment (fingerprint-based background check) under 49 CFR Part 1572, in addition to the age-21 minimum.

Requirements can change. Always confirm current licensing rules with DPS before applying.

Texas DPS publishes these CDL fees: a new or renewal CDL (8-year term) is $97; a CDL with a Hazmat endorsement is $61 on a 5-year term tied to the TSA background-check cycle; drivers age 85 and older pay $26; an original or renewal CLP is $25 (issued for 180 days, within the federal one-year ceiling); a replacement CDL or adding or removing an endorsement or restriction is $11; a non-domiciled CDL is $121. DPS does not publish a separate per-endorsement fee for non-hazmat endorsements, and skills tests are delivered through Third Party Skills Testing providers who set their own charges. Always confirm current fee amounts on the official DPS fee page before paying.

A focused 6 to 8 week study plan works well for most Texas CDL candidates:

• Week 1-2: Learn the CDL class definitions (A, B, C), the endorsement letter codes (H, N, P, S, T, X), and the restriction codes (E, L, Z, K, O, M, N, V) from 49 CFR 383.153.
• Week 3-4: Study general knowledge topics: vehicle inspection, basic control, safe driving practices, and air brakes.
• Week 5: Focus on the combination vehicles section (coupling and uncoupling, doubles and triples basics) if you are pursuing a Class A license.
• Week 6: Review any endorsement-specific content you need (hazmat, tank vehicle, passenger, school bus) and confirm ELDT training provider requirements if this is your first Class A or B CDL.
• Week 7-8: Take full-length practice tests, review missed questions, and confirm the current knowledge and skills test format with DPS before your test date.