Recruiting
CDL (Commercial Driver's License)
A CDL is the state-issued license required to operate a commercial motor vehicle over 26,001 lbs GVWR or any vehicle hauling hazmat.
Commercial Driver's Licenses come in three classes: Class A (any combination over 26,001 lbs with a trailer over 10,000 lbs — the OTR standard), Class B (single vehicle over 26,001 lbs), and Class C (smaller vehicles carrying hazmat or 16+ passengers).
Endorsements add capability: H (hazmat), N (tank), T (doubles/triples), P (passenger), S (school bus), X (combination hazmat + tank). Hazmat requires a TSA background check and renews every 5 years.
Since February 2022, all new CDL holders must complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) from an FMCSA-registered training provider before testing.
Run compliance & dispatch in one place
Hayes combines a DOT-aware ATS, dispatch, EDI, and document compliance — built for carriers who don't want five logins.
Related terms
Compliance
DOT Number
A DOT number is the unique identifier the FMCSA assigns to every interstate commercial motor carrier in the United States.
Compliance
FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse
The Clearinghouse is the FMCSA database of CDL drivers' drug and alcohol program violations. Carriers must query it before hiring and annually.
Recruiting
Owner-Operator
An owner-operator is a CDL driver who owns or leases the truck they drive, contracting with carriers under their own authority or a carrier's MC.