Getting a commercial driver license in Florida is a clear, fixed sequence — but most people waste weeks because nobody lays the whole thing out in order. Here is the exact path from a regular Class E license to a CDL in your hand, current for 2026.
Step 1 — Check that you qualify
- Age 18+ for a Florida CDL. Under 21, you're limited to driving inside Florida only (intrastate). At 21 you can cross state lines.
- A valid Florida Class E driver license.
- Pass a vision screening.
- A clean enough record — a DUI in any vehicle (even your personal car) disqualifies you from commercial driving for one year on a first offense.
Step 2 — Pass the knowledge tests and get your CLP
Your Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) comes from passing written knowledge tests. For Class A, that's General Knowledge (50 questions), Combination Vehicles (20 questions), and Air Brakes (25 questions). For Class B, you skip the Combination test.
Federal law requires you to hold your CLP for at least 14 days before you can take the skills test. Use that time to train — it's not a waiting period, it's practice time.
Step 3 — Pass your DOT physical
You need a medical exam from a doctor on the FMCSA National Registry. Since December 2025, Florida receives your results electronically — you no longer hand a paper medical card to the DMV. Keep your copy for about two weeks until your driving record updates.
Step 4 — Complete ELDT training with a registered school
Since 2022, federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rules require first-time CDL applicants to complete theory and behind-the-wheel training with a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry — you cannot just walk in and take the test. Your school submits your training record electronically; without it, Florida won't let you test.
Step 5 — Pass the 3-part skills test
- Pre-trip inspection — walk around the truck and explain what you're checking and why.
- Basic vehicle control — backing maneuvers: straight-line, offset, and alley dock.
- Road test — real Orlando traffic with an examiner in the cab.
In Florida, skills tests are run through licensed third-party testers. That's why training at a school that administers the final test on-site matters: at Moov, the truck you test in is the truck you trained in, on a course you already know. The final CDL test is included in every program.
What it costs at the state level
- Florida CDL issuance: $75
- Endorsements (Hazmat, Tanker, Doubles/Triples): $7 each
- Knowledge retest: $10 · Skills retest: $20
- Tax collector offices may add a ~$6.25 service fee
School tuition is the bigger number — see our full breakdown of what CDL school costs in Orlando.
One decision that follows you: automatic or manual
If you take your skills test in an automatic truck, your CDL is stamped with an E restriction — you can't legally drive a manual, and some carriers won't hire you. Test in a manual and your CDL is unrestricted. We wrote a full guide on the E restriction and what it costs you.
Ready to start? Most students finish in about 4 weeks.
Train at the Florida Mall in Orlando on automatic AND manual trucks, with bilingual instructors and the final CDL test included.
See If You Qualify