How to Get a Class B CDL in Pennsylvania: Permit, Training, Tests

To get a Class B CDL in Pennsylvania, you pass a DOT physical, apply for a commercial learner’s permit at a PennDOT Driver License Center, complete a federally required entry-level driver training program, pass the written knowledge tests, and then pass a three-part skills test. From first appointment to license, plan on several weeks minimum. Government fees add up to roughly $180 to $200, and training tuition and the DOT physical are separate costs on top of that.¹

What a Class B CDL Lets You Drive

A Class B CDL covers a single vehicle rated at 26,001 pounds or more gross vehicle weight, and you can tow a trailer behind it as long as that trailer stays at or under 10,000 pounds GVWR.² Straight trucks, large dump trucks, box trucks, city transit buses, school buses, and segmented buses all fall under Class B.

If the trailer you’re pulling exceeds 10,000 pounds, that’s a Class A vehicle and a different license. Smaller vehicles under 26,001 pounds that carry hazmat, 16 or more passengers, or serve as a school bus fall under Class C. Confirming the class before you start matters, because the training and testing are class-specific.

Who Qualifies

You need a valid Pennsylvania non-commercial driver’s license and must be at least 18 years old. At 18 you can only drive commercially within Pennsylvania. Interstate driving and hauling hazardous materials require you to be 21.³

Certain convictions disqualify you from holding any CDL. A first DUI conviction, leaving the scene of an accident, or using a commercial vehicle to commit a felony triggers a one-year disqualification (three years if hazardous materials were involved). A second major offense results in a lifetime disqualification, and using a commercial vehicle to manufacture or distribute controlled substances is a permanent lifetime ban with no reinstatement.⁴ Multiple serious traffic violations within a three-year window also trigger disqualification periods.

Step 1: Pass a DOT Physical and Self-Certify

Every CDL applicant needs a DOT physical performed by a medical examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry. You can search the registry on the FMCSA website. The examiner checks vision, hearing, blood pressure, and general fitness. If you pass, you get a Medical Examiner’s Certificate, commonly called a DOT medical card.⁵ The exam typically costs $50 to $150 out of pocket, since most insurance won’t cover it.

You also complete Form DL-11CD, the Self-Certification Form telling PennDOT which of four categories your commercial driving falls into. Most Class B drivers self-certify as non-excepted interstate, which requires a current medical certificate on file. If you drive only within Pennsylvania, you’ll certify as intrastate. Anyone who does both excepted and non-excepted work must certify as non-excepted.⁶

Step 2: Apply for a Commercial Learner’s Permit

Your first in-person step is a visit to a PennDOT Driver License Center to apply for a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). Bring the following:⁷

Proof of identity: birth certificate with a raised seal, a valid U.S. passport, or naturalization documents
Original Social Security card (not a photocopy)
Proof of Pennsylvania residency: a current utility bill, lease, mortgage document, tax record, or W-2
Your Medical Examiner’s Certificate (required before PennDOT will issue a CLP if you’re in a non-excepted category)
Completed Form DL-31CD (CLP application) and Form DL-11CD (self-certification)

The CLP application fee is about $29.50, and each endorsement you add costs another $5.¹ PennDOT will issue a Knowledge Test Authorization (KTA) once your application is processed. The CLP itself is valid for one year, and you get three attempts to pass the skills test on a single permit.⁸

Step 3: Pass the Knowledge Tests

With your KTA, you can take the written tests at any PennDOT Driver License Center. Every Class B applicant takes the General Knowledge test, which has 50 questions and requires a score of 80% or higher. If the vehicle you plan to drive has air brakes, you’ll also take a separate 25-question Air Brakes test.⁹ Each endorsement you’re pursuing (Passenger, School Bus, Tank, Hazmat) has its own separate knowledge test.

The Pennsylvania Commercial Driver’s Manual is the primary study resource and is free online from PennDOT. It covers federal regulations, vehicle systems, and the specific knowledge areas tested. Once you pass all required knowledge tests, PennDOT issues the physical learner’s permit. From that point, a mandatory 15-day waiting period runs before you can take the skills test.⁸

Step 4: Complete Entry-Level Driver Training

Since February 2022, federal law requires all first-time Class B applicants to complete entry-level driver training (ELDT) before the skills test. It applies whether you train through a trucking company, a private school, or a community college.¹⁰

Training has two parts: theory instruction and behind-the-wheel practice. Theory covers vehicle control, space and speed management, hazard perception, hours-of-service rules, emergency procedures, inspections, and cargo securement. Behind-the-wheel training mirrors those topics on a driving range and on public roads.¹¹ There is no federal minimum number of Class B training hours, but the instructor must cover every required topic and document the behind-the-wheel public road time.

Your training provider must be listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Only registered providers can certify your completion. Search the registry at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov to find providers near you and contact them directly about scheduling and tuition.¹² Class B program tuition varies widely and generally runs from a few thousand dollars upward.

Step 5: Pass the Three-Part Skills Test

The skills test has three parts, all conducted the same day:¹³

Vehicle inspection. You walk around the vehicle, identify key components, and explain what you’re checking and why.
Basic vehicle control. Maneuvers like straight-line backing, offset backing, and parking in a controlled area. Most applicants who struggle struggle here.
Road test. Driving on public roads while the examiner evaluates turns, lane changes, speed management, and overall safe driving.

You must bring a properly equipped Class B vehicle to the test. PennDOT does not provide one. Most applicants use a vehicle from their ELDT school or employer, and a licensed CDL holder must accompany you to the test site. The skills test fee is approximately $91.50, and the four-year license fee after you pass is approximately $62.25.¹

The Automatic Transmission Restriction

If you test in an automatic-transmission vehicle, your CDL will carry an “E” restriction limiting you to automatic commercial vehicles. That narrows your job options, since many fleets run manuals. Removing the restriction later requires passing the road-test portion again in a manual vehicle. If you have access to a manual truck for testing, using it avoids the restriction entirely.

If You Fail

You get three attempts on a single CLP. Fail all three and you’ll need to apply for a new CLP, retake the knowledge tests, and pay the associated fees again.⁸ Solid practice before the first attempt is cheaper than a full reset.

Endorsements Worth Adding During Application

If your Class B job involves passengers, hazmat, or a tank, add the endorsement when you apply for the CLP. Each additional endorsement permit costs only $5 at that stage, and you’ll take the endorsement knowledge tests alongside the general knowledge test.¹⁴

Passenger (P): vehicles designed to carry 16 or more people including the driver. 20-question knowledge test plus a skills test in a bus.
School Bus (S): school bus operation. 25-question knowledge test plus a skills test in an actual school bus. PennDOT issues a separate School Bus endorsement card that renews annually.
Tank Vehicle (N): liquid or gaseous materials in bulk tanks. 20-question knowledge test, no additional skills test.
Hazardous Materials (H): any vehicle carrying placarded hazardous materials. 30-question knowledge test plus a TSA security threat assessment, which includes fingerprinting and a separate TSA application.

Hazmat and Tank are often combined as an “X” endorsement when you need both.

After You Pass

Your Class B CDL is valid for four years. Keep your Medical Examiner’s Certificate current the entire time. If your medical card expires or your health status changes, PennDOT can downgrade the CDL to a regular non-commercial license until you file updated medical documentation.

Renewal happens at a Driver License Center before the license expires. You won’t retake the skills test to renew, but you will need a current DOT medical card and may need to update your self-certification. A Hazmat endorsement requires a fresh TSA background check at renewal.

1
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Payments and Fees
2
PennDOT. Commercial Driver’s License Fact Sheet
3
Land Line Media. Pennsylvania Senate Adopts Resolution for Truck Drivers Under Age 21 to Haul Interstate
4
eCFR. 49 CFR 383.51 – Disqualification of Drivers
5
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). DOT Medical Exam and Commercial Motor Vehicle Certification
6
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). How Do I Determine Which of the 4 Categories of Commercial Motor Vehicle Operation I Should Self-Certify To
7
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Documentation for CDL Drivers
8
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Commercial Driver License (CDL) Learner’s Permit FAQs
9
CDL Practice Test. Free Pennsylvania CDL Practice Tests – 2026 CDL Test Questions
10
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. ELDT Applicability
11
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). ELDT Curriculum Summary
12
Department of Transportation – FMCSA. About – Training Provider Registry
13
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for a Pennsylvania Commercial Driver’s License
14
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Commercial Driver’s License FAQs