North Carolina CDL Info: Requirements, Fees, Forms, FAQs, Locations

North Carolina Commercial Driver License CDL

Classes of North Carolina CDL (Commercial Driver's License)

• North Carolina Commercial Class A - Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating, GVWR, of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the GVWR of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• North Carolina Commercial Class B - Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, and any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a GVWR not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• North Carolina Commercial Class C - Any vehicle not described in Class A or B above but is: Designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or used in the transportation of hazardous materials that require the vehicle to be placarded under C.F.R., Part 172, Subpart F.

North Carolina CDL Learner Permit

• Valid for six months
• Limit of two permits in two years
• Permit thirty days over their expiration date, the driver is required to retake all written tests

Your North Carolina Commercial Driver license is issued for a period of 5 years.

The cost of a North Carolina license & endorsements is based on the yearly charge.

North Carolina CDL Requirements & Documents

You will need to bring 4 documents total
To avoid inconveniences, make sure you have all necessary documents before visiting the Driver License Office.

In order to apply for the first time issuance of a NC CDL you will need to gather documents from the following categories:

• Proof of Age & Identity
• Proof of Social Security
• Proof of Residency
• Proof of Liability Insurance

Proof of Clear Driving Record
At time of application, you must certify that;

• Your license is not suspended, disqualified or revoked
• You currently do not hold more than one Driver License

CDL Holders Medical & Physical Requirements

Many commercial motor vehicle drivers are required to have medical cards. Those who require medical cards are required to bring them at the time of both the original application and renewal.

If questions arise about a driver's physical condition, the North Carolina DMV may require the driver to submit a completed medical report, before or after certification, provided by the North Carolina DMV Driver License Section.

North Carolina CDL Learner Permit - Additional Requirements

• You must be at least 18 years of age (21 for operations that require a medical card)
• You must possess a valid Classified A, B, or C Driver License
• Will be accompanied by a licensed CDL operator, with the proper class of license, in the front seat beside you.

North Carolina CDL Tests

North Carolina CDL Written Tests - Written tests are provided at all full service Driver License locations.

North Carolina CDL Skills Tests - Skills tests are provided at many Driver License locations throughout NC. Skills tests are also given by Certified Third Party testers to employees of their company.

North Carolina CDL Fees

Payments for transactions at Driver License Offices are accepted in the form of cash, money order, personal checks. Debit/credit cards are not accepted at this time.

• Application Fee - $30.00
• CDL Endorsement - $3/yr. per endorsement
• Class A License, CDL - $15.00/yr.
• Class B License, CDL - $15.00/yr.
• Class C License, CDL - $15.00/yr.
• Duplicate License - $10.00
• Learner Permit, CDL - $15.00

North Carolina CDL Suspensions & Revocations

In addition to the rules that apply to the driving public, North Carolina Commercial Driver License (CDL) holders are required to follow rules specific to Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers in order to comply with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act, maintain their CDL license and keep their school bus driving privileges.

North Carolina Commercial Driver License Rules

For a complete listing of rules, view the North Carolina Commercial Driver's Manual, Section 1. A few key rules include:

• No one can drive a commercial motor vehicle without a CDL.
• No one can have more than one license. If you break this rule, you can be fined for up to $5000 or put in jail.
• Notify your employer and the motor vehicle licensing agency in the state issuing your CDL within 30 days of conviction for any moving traffic violations.
• Notify your employer if your license is suspended, revoked, or canceled, or if you are disqualified from driving.
• Give your employer information on all driving jobs you have held for the past 10 years. You must do this when you apply for a commercial driving job.
• It is illegal to operate a CMV if your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is .04% or more. You will lose your CDL for one year for your first offense. You will lose it for life for your second offense. If your blood alcohol concentration is less than 0.04% but you have any detectable amount, you will be put out-of-service for 24 hours.
• Fines for violations of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Out-of-State criteria must be paid when the citation is written.
• It is a violation of State law to possess any alcoholic beverage (open or closed) while operating a commercial motor vehicle.
• There is a minimum fine of $250 for speeding in highway work zones in addition to any fines or penalties that may be imposed for speeding violations.
• There are now minimum limits of insurance requirements for commercial motor vehicles licensed in North Carolina, whether interstate or intrastate, private or "For Hire" in the amount of $750,000.
• The court system can double any fine for operators of commercial motor vehicles that violate motor vehicle laws in which points are assessed.
• There will be an increase in the number of points assessed to your driving record for motor vehicle law violations including railroad crossing violations and possession of an alcoholic beverage while operating a CMV.

North Carolina CDL Written Knowledge Tests
You will need to pass the North Carolina Knowledge Tests that are required for the class of license, restriction, and endorsements you wish to possess. A general knowledge test for the Class A or Class B and C license must be successfully completed by all CDL applicants. The information needed to pass these tests is contained in the FREE North Carolina CDL Handbook. Please read and study this manual carefully.

• Class A - 70 Questions (50 GK + 20 Combination Vehicles) - Skills test required.
• Class B - 50 Questions - Skills test required.
• Class C - 50 Questions - Skills test required for bus, school bus and air brakes vehicles..
• Passenger Endorsement - 20 questions - Skills test required in bus.
• School Bus Endorsement - 25 questions - Skills test required in school bus.
• Doubles/Triples Endorsement - 20 questions - No additional skills tests.
• Tank Vehicle Endorsement - 20 questions - No additional skills tests.
• Hazardous Materials Endorsement - 30 questions - No additional skills tests.
• Air Brake Restriction Removal - 25 questions - Additional skills test in vehicle with Air Brakes.

• FREE NORTH CAROLINA CDL HANDBOOK - NC CDL MANUAL

• North Carolina CDL - MAIN Index Page
• North Carolina CDL Rules
• North Carolina CDL - School Bus Handbook
• North Carolina CDL - Hazardous Materials Endorsement - FAQs
• North Carolina CDL - Hazardous Materials Endorsement - Info
• North Carolina CDL - Medical Certification Requirements - General Info
• North Carolina CDL - Medical Certification - FAQs
• North Carolina CDL - Medical Self-Certification Form
• Contact a North Carolina License Offices
• North Carolina CDL - Military CDL Skills Waiver Program
• North Carolina CDL - Military CDL Skills Waiver Certification Form