California Heavy Truck Driver (CDL) License: Requirements, Cost & Timeline
California requires a state license for this trade. Here is every step, fee and hour it takes — and what it pays once you are licensed.
Do you need a license?
Yes. The credential is the California Commercial Driver's License (CDL) — Class A or Class B, issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Working without it is a violation in California and can carry fines or a stop-work order, so the sequence below matters: training first, then the exam, then the application.
Steps to get licensed
- Hold a valid California noncommercial Class C driver's license and complete the online CDL application
- Visit a DMV office with identity/residency documents, a 10-year history record check (DL 939) if licensed elsewhere, and a DOT medical examiner's certificate; pay the $100 application fee
- Pass the CDL knowledge tests to receive a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), then hold the CLP at least 14 days
- Complete Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a provider listed on the federal Training Provider Registry and submit the DL 1236 certificate
- Pass the skills test (vehicle inspection, basic control, road test) and receive the CDL; a retest costs $46
What it costs
The figures below are what the state charges. Training is separate and quotes vary by provider — a community-college programme and a private trade school can differ by thousands for the same licence.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $100 |
| Renewal fee | $59 |
| Total state fees | $146 |
The exam fee is set by the testing vendor, not the state, and is not included above.
Full cost breakdown for California →
Keeping it valid
Renewal terms vary by credential — check the board page. A valid out-of-state CDL that is current or expired less than two years can be surrendered for a California CDL with the skills test waived, provided the classification, endorsements and restrictions match.
What it pays in California
Median annual wage for Heavy Truck Driver (CDL) in California: $58,270 ($28.02/hour), across 204,190 jobs. That is the midpoint — half of people in this trade earn more, half less.
Pay detail for California, and how it compares →
Other states
| State | State fees | Time | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $75 | — | $52,760 |
| Texas | $122 | — | $54,550 |
Common questions
Do you need a license to be a Heavy Truck Driver (CDL) in California?
California Commercial Driver's License (CDL) — Class A or Class B. Yes — issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
How much does a Heavy Truck Driver (CDL) license cost in California?
$146 in state fees. Exam retakes cost extra.
How long does it take to get a Heavy Truck Driver (CDL) license in California?
The board does not publish a fixed hour requirement.
What does a Heavy Truck Driver (CDL) make in California?
The median is $58,270 a year ($28.02 an hour) statewide, per BLS OEWS May 2024.
Sources
- https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/commercial-driver-licenses-cdl/“If you have never had a commercial driver’s license (CDL) ... you first need to get a CLP and hold it for at least 14 days.”
- https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/licensing-fees/“Commercial Class A or B Application Original Fee $100 ... Application Renewal Fee $59 ... Commercial driving or skill retest Fee $46”
- https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/commercial-driver-licenses-cdl/“Successful completion of Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) conducted by a registered training provider listed on the federal Training Provider Registry (TPR) is required”
- https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/commercial-driver-licenses-cdl/“If you have a valid CDL from another state that is current or has been expired for less than two years, you can surrender that license”