Florida CDL Requirements

Please note that your state and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regularly update these CDL requirements. Please visit the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) website and the FMCSA website for the most authoritative and up-to-date information regarding CDL requirements and processes.

To acquire a CLP in the state of Florida, you must pay the required license fee and provide the following:

• A valid Florida driver’s license
• A passing score on the required knowledge exams
• A passing score on the vision test
• Proof of identity and residency
• Proof of permission to work in the United States
• Proof that you have no previous CDL disqualifications
• A passing score on the Division of Driver Licenses’ medical exam
• A complete review of your driving record for the past 10 years

After you have successfully obtained your CLP and fulfilled the 14-day practice period, you will be eligible to take the tests required for a CDL, which consist of three basic areas: vehicle inspection, understanding of basic controls, and a driving test.

The requirements for drivers differ slightly, depending on whether you are testing for a Class A license or a Class B license.

Class A CDL drivers are qualified to drive trucks or truck combinations that weigh 26,001 lbs. or more and tow a vehicle or unit that weighs more than 10,000 lbs. You will be tested in the following areas if you are applying for a Class A CDL:

• General knowledge
• Combination vehicles
• Air brakes
• Pre-trip inspection
• Basic skills
• Road test

Class B CDL drivers are qualified to drive straight trucks and buses weighing 26,001 pounds or more. Applicants will be tested in the following areas:

• General knowledge
• Air brakes (if applicable)
• Basic skills
• Road test

If you are applying for any additional endorsements on either a Class A or Class B CDL, you will be tested on additional subject matter specific to those endorsements. Endorsements are special authorizations to transport certain materials or a certain number of passengers. These include hazmat vehicles, tank vehicles, vehicles transporting more than 15 persons, school buses, and double or triple trailers.

Remember, the most important thing to remember when you receive a ticket is that you should never just pay the ticket or the court fees without first talking to a legal representative who understands trucking laws. While you want to maintain a clean driving record, unforeseen violations can happen. When they do, you need expert legal protection. Drivers Legal Plan, the Nation's Leading CDL Defense Law Firm, is ready to defend your rights and your career.