Commercial Driver's License (CDL) In Georgia State
Driving is a source of income for many Georgians. Drivers of certain classes and sizes of commercial vehicles in Georgia must have a
Georgia Commercial Drivers License. Obtaining a commercial driver's license can be difficult; the Georgia DDS website has a comprehensive list of all GA CDL requirements and resources to assist you. Here are a few things you should be aware of.
CDL Classes
CDLs are classified into three types. Before you get your license, you'll need to figure out which of the three is required for the type of vehicle you'll be driving. The three fundamental classes are as follows:
Class A CDL
Class A allows the holder to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the vehicle or vehicles towed have a GVWR greater than 10,000 pounds. Examples are tractor-trailers, truck and trailer combinations, tractor-trailer buses, tanker vehicles, livestock carriers, and flatbeds.
Class B CDL
Class B allows the holder to operate any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more and any vehicle with a GVWR OF 26,001 pounds or more. Or heavier towing another vehicle weighing UP TO 10,000 lbs. Straight trucks, large buses such as city, tourist, and school buses, segmented buses, box trucks such as delivery or courier trucks, and dump trucks with small trailers are examples of these vehicles.
Class C CDL
Class C allows the holder to operate any single or combination of vehicles that is not a Class A or B if the vehicle is designed to transport 16 to 23 passengers, including the driver, or is used to transport hazardous materials as defined by federal guidelines. Small HAZMAT vehicles, passenger vans, and combination vehicles not described in class A or B are examples of these types of vehicles.
CDL Requirements
If you're 18 or older, you can apply for a Georgia CDL; however, if you're between the ages of 18 and 21, your Georgia CDL is only valid in Georgia, which means you won't be able to accept work that requires interstate driving. When you reach the age of 21, you must go to a DDS examination station, and the restriction will be lifted.
Your employer should inform you if the driving you'll be doing requires a CDL; not all driving jobs do. If you're unsure whether your driving job necessitates a CDL, keep in mind that the following vehicles (and vehicle combinations – that is, trucks with trailers) necessitate a CDL:
- Combination of vehicles weighing at least 26,001 pounds,
- A single-vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of at least 26,001 pounds
- A single-vehicle capable of transporting more than 15 people (including the driver)
- Any vehicle that needs hazardous material placards.
CDL Application
You must complete the CDL application and pay the $35 application and $50 road test fees once you are qualified to apply for your CDL. Applications and fees can be dropped off at any Customer Service Center that conducts road tests. Albany, Brunswick, Cumming, Dalton, Gainesville, Jackson, Milledgeville, Rome, and Thompson. To take a road test, you must make an appointment. Appointments can be made by dialing (
678)
413-8500.
Learner's Permit
If you want to get a new CDL, you must first get a Conditional Learner's Permit, which allows you to practice driving skills on the road with a licensed CDL holder in the vehicle. It would be best if you did the following:
- Make an appointment with the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) Customer Service Center in your area.
- Submit a driving history. Your record will be checked for the last ten years in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Pass all required written exams for the type of CDL you want.
- Fill out the CDL Application
- Examine your vision.
You'll also need to bring the necessary paperwork and documents, such as:
- Your medical clearance
- Your driver's license is from Georgia.
- The application fee is $35.
- The fee is $10.
- Proof of your identity, address, and Social Security number and proof that you are a U.S. citizen or have lawful status in the U.S. For examples of qualifying documents, contact your local DDS office.
The CDL Exam
To obtain a Georgia CDL, you must pass both a written exam and a road test. CDL applications and manuals are available at any DDS Customer Service Center. The application fee is $35.00. Only the Albany, Between, Brunswick, Dalton, Gainesville, Jackson, Milledgeville, and Thomson exam stations offer CDL road tests, and they are only available by appointment. To schedule an appointment, call the DDS at (
678)
413-8500. You will almost certainly need to attend an approved CDL driving school to prepare for this exam. The Georgia DDS website has a list of them.
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