Complete guide to getting your Commercial Driver
return ( CDL Requirements in Alabama To obtain a Commercial Driver's License in Alabama, you must meet these baseline requirements set by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): Age — You must be at least 18 years old to get a CDL for intrastate (within Alabama) driving.
You must be at least 21 to drive interstate (across state lines) or to haul hazardous materials.
If you're under 21 with a CDL, you're restricted to Alabama-only freight.
Residency — You must be an Alabama resident.
You can only hold a CDL from one state — the state where you have your permanent address.
Existing license — You must already hold a valid Alabama driver's license (Class D or above).
Medical certification — You must pass a DOT physical examination (more on this below) and maintain a valid medical certificate.
Driving record — Your driving record cannot include a current disqualification, suspension, or revocation of any type of driving privilege.
DUI convictions within the previous 10 years will disqualify you from a CDL.
English proficiency — You must be able to read and speak English well enough to communicate with the general public, understand traffic signs, respond to official inquiries, and fill out reports.
CDL Classes: A, B, and C There are three classes of CDL, and the class you need depends on the type of vehicle you intend to drive: Class A — Required for combination vehicles where the towed unit has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 10,000 lbs and the combined weight exceeds 26,001 lbs.
This is what most truck drivers need — tractor-trailers, flatbeds, tankers, and any truck pulling a heavy trailer.
If you plan to rent a semi-trailer from Motor Carrier Leasing and haul freight, you need a Class A CDL.
Class B — Required for single vehicles with a GVWR over 26,001 lbs, or a vehicle towing a trailer with a GVWR under 10,000 lbs.
Covers straight trucks, large buses, dump trucks, and box trucks.
Not sufficient for pulling a semi-trailer.
Class C — Required for vehicles that don't fit Class A or B but carry 16+ passengers or haul hazardous materials.
Small buses and some hazmat vehicles fall here.
If you're getting into trucking to haul freight as an owner-operator, get a Class A CDL .
Even if you start with a straight truck, having Class A gives you the option to drive any commercial vehicle, including tractor-trailers.
Getting a Class B and upgrading later means retesting — do it right the first time.
Step 1: Get Your DOT Physical (Medical Certificate) Before you can apply for a CLP (Commercial Learner's Permit), you need a valid DOT physical examination.
This is a medical exam performed by a licensed medical examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry.
The exam verifies that you are physically capable of safely operating a commercial vehicle.
What the DOT Physical Covers Vision — At least 20/40 in each eye (with or without corrective lenses), at least 70-degree field of vision in each.
View All Guides | Browse Trailers
MotorCarrierLeasing.com — 22529 Hwy 189, Elba, AL 36323 — 1-334-316-3198 — USDOT# 4256528
Browse Available Trailers | Free Trucking Guides | List Your Trailer