CDL Academy in Houston, TX

Why You Should Become a CDL Driver

If you’re looking for a career that’s in demand, pays well, and offers freedom, earning your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) might be the smartest move you can make right now.

Many CDL drivers start out earning $50,000–$70,000/year, and with experience or endorsements (like Hazmat or Tanker), you can earn up to $120,000/year or more. And unlike many careers, you don’t need a college degree to get there, just the right training and a CDL.

If sitting behind a desk 9–5 isn’t for you, trucking offers something totally different. You’ll travel the country, see new places, and enjoy the independence of being out on the road, not stuck in a cubicle.

Vehicles: This license allows you to operate combination vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, where the vehicle being towed weighs over 10,000 pounds. Examples include tractor-trailers, flatbeds, tankers, and livestock carriers.

Job opportunities: Long-haul truck drivers, regional freight haulers, flatbed operators, tanker drivers, and owner-operators.

Class B CDL

Vehicles: This license allows you to operate single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, including straight trucks, dump trucks, large buses (e.g., school buses, city buses), and box trucks.

Job opportunities: Bus drivers, delivery drivers, dump truck operators, and local commercial drivers.

Vehicles: This license allows you to operate vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) or hazardous materials (HazMat) in small quantities.

Job opportunities: Passenger van drivers, HazMat transporters, and shuttle drivers.

Class C CDL

Class A CDL

CDL trainings

Find out what exactly you should go for.

You are at the right place!

1. Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)
Anyone applying for a Class A or B CDL for the first time, upgrading from Class B to A, or seeking endorsements like Passenger (P), School Bus (S), or Hazmat (H), must complete ELDT from an FMCSA-approved provider. This training includes theory, range (yard), and public road components.

2. Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP)
To get your CLP, you must be at least 18 (21 for interstate driving), pass a DOT medical exam, and clear a written test. You must hold the CLP for at least 14 days before taking the CDL skills test.

3. CDL Skills Test
After completing ELDT and holding your CLP, you must pass the vehicle inspection (pre-trip), basic controls, and road test to earn your CDL.

4. DOT Medical Certification
Most CDL holders need a valid DOT medical certificate, which requires passing a physical by a certified examiner. It’s valid for up to two years based on your health.

5. Background Checks
If applying for a Hazmat (H) endorsement, you must undergo a TSA background check and fingerprinting.

FMCSA Requirements for CDL Applicants

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)
Effective February 7, 2022, all new CDL applicants must complete ELDT from an FMCSA-approved training provider. This includes first-time Class A or B CDL applicants, those upgrading from Class B to A, and anyone adding a passenger, school bus, or HazMat endorsement. The training consists of theory (classroom or online), range (yard), and public road driving.

Who Needs ELDT?
If your CLP was issued before Feb 7, 2022 and you obtained your CDL before it expired, you’re exempt. But if your CLP expires before getting your CDL—or if it was issued on or after Feb 7, 2022—you must complete ELDT. The same applies if you're upgrading your license or adding S, P, or H endorsements after that date.

Theory Training
This prepares you for the written CDL exams and can be completed online or in person. It includes 48 courses covering all CDL types. Once done, we submit your completion to FMCSA so you can take your written test.

Range (Yard) Training
After passing your written exams and getting your CLP, you’ll train in our private yard with one-on-one instruction. This phase focuses on pre-trip inspections and basic control skills.

Public Road Training
In this final phase, you’ll practice real driving—highways, city roads, lane changes, turns, and more—to get fully prepared for the CDL road test.

After Training
Once you complete all parts of ELDT, we update your status in the FMCSA system, making you eligible to move forward with your CDL test.

What is ELDT

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