Texas employs more commercial drivers than any other state, and the freight never lets up — the Permian Basin oilfields, the Houston petrochemical corridor, cross-border loads through Laredo, and the Dallas-Fort Worth distribution hub all run on trucks. This page covers exactly how to get your Texas CDL: who qualifies, what it costs in 2026, the order the steps happen in, the Texas-specific rules most guides skip, and which written tests you'll take — with a free practice test for each. One thing up front that trips people up: in Texas, commercial licenses are issued by the Department of Public Safety (DPS), not a "DMV."
On this page: At a glance · 2026 changes · Step-by-step · Fees · Which tests · Texas specifics · Pay & jobs · FAQ
Texas CDL at a glance
Fees and rules change. Confirm current figures with the Texas DPS CDL application page. Appointments are scheduled at txdpsscheduler.com.
What changed for Texas CDLs in 2026
Verify current status with DPS before you apply — this is recent.
English-only knowledge tests. Effective June 1, 2026, Texas DPS administers every CDL knowledge exam in English only, aligning with the FMCSA's English-language proficiency rules (49 CFR 391.11). Spanish-language CDL knowledge tests are no longer offered and interpreters are prohibited. The skills test — pre-trip inspection, basic control, and the road test — has always been English only.
Non-domiciled CDL resumption for H-2A workers. Effective June 1, 2026, Texas resumed issuing non-domiciled CDLs and CLPs to individuals with H-2A (temporary agricultural worker) status. Eligibility rules are specific, so check the DPS non-domicile CDL page.
Modernized skills testing. Texas has rolled out the AAMVA CDL Skills Test Modernization initiative at all testing locations except Del Rio and Wichita Falls, with updated pre-trip and basic-control protocols and a vehicle-inspection checklist for applicants.
How to get your CDL in Texas, step by step
Step 1 — Hold a Texas driver license and meet the basics
You need a valid Texas driver license before you apply for a CDL. You must be at least 18 to drive commercially within Texas, or 21 to drive interstate or haul hazardous materials. You'll also self-certify your driving type using form CDL-4 (interstate) or CDL-5 (intrastate).
Step 2 — Pass your DOT physical
Pass a DOT physical with an examiner on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, which produces your Medical Examination Report and Medical Examiner's Certificate. Interstate non-excepted drivers must keep a current medical card on file with DPS.
Step 3 — Complete ELDT theory training
Federal law requires first-time applicants to complete Entry-Level Driver Training from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before the skills test. You can finish the theory portion online — we run an FMCSA-registered provider, ELDT365, for exactly that.
Step 4 — Apply and pass your knowledge tests (including Special Requirements)
Complete the CDL-1 application and pay the application fee, then test at a DPS office. Texas requires the knowledge exams in a set order, and it includes a Special Requirements test from Section 14 of the Texas handbook that most states don't have — you pass that before the others. You'll also take a vision test, give thumbprints, and have your photo taken. Pass, and DPS issues your Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP).
Step 5 — Hold your CLP for 14 days and practice
Hold the CLP for at least 14 days before the skills test. You can practice in a commercial vehicle with a CDL holder age 21 or older, who holds the right class, seated next to you. The CLP is valid for 180 days (or until your Texas license expires) and can be renewed once without retaking the knowledge exams.
Step 6 — Pass the skills test
The skills test has three parts: vehicle inspection (pre-trip), basic control skills, and the road test. Texas gives you three ways to take it — a DPS office, a DPS mobile testing team, or an approved third-party tester — and you must bring a commercial vehicle matching the class and endorsements you want.
Step 7 — Get your Texas CDL
Pass, and DPS issues your CDL for the class and endorsements you tested for. From there it's keeping your medical certificate current and renewing on schedule.
Texas CDL fees (2026)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| CDL application fee (paid before testing) | $25 |
| Class A or B commercial license (drivers 18–84) | $97 |
| Replacement / duplicate CDL | ~$11 |
| DOT physical exam | ~$80–$150 (varies by provider) |
| ELDT theory training | Varies by provider |
| Third-party skills test (optional) | Provider-set (often several hundred $) |
| HAZMAT endorsement — federal TSA background check | ~$80–$100 (separate federal fee) |
Government fees as of 2026; confirm on the Texas DPS fee schedule. One advantage worth noting: Texas has no state income tax, so more of a driver's pay stays in their pocket. Behind-the-wheel training at a CDL school is a separate, larger cost — commonly $4,000–$8,000 — and isn't a DPS fee.
Which written tests you'll take in Texas
Texas starts with the Special Requirements test, then General Knowledge, then whatever your class and job require. Questions come from the Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver's Handbook. Every test below is free to practice here — tap to start.
Class A (tractor-trailers)
General Knowledge, Combination Vehicles, and Air Brakes (skip Air Brakes and you get a restriction barring air-braked vehicles — nearly every truck).
Class B (straight trucks, buses)
General Knowledge (Class B) plus, almost always, Air Brakes. School bus drivers add Passenger and School Bus.
Endorsements (job-specific)
Add only what your job needs: HAZMAT (plus a TSA background check), Tanker (big in Houston's petrochemical corridor), Doubles/Triples, Passenger, and School Bus. The Pre-Trip Inspection is a spoken part of the skills test, not a written one.
Not sure which class and endorsements fit your goal? Run the Which CDL tool, or see the full step-by-step guide to getting your CDL.
Texas-specific rules worth knowing
- It's DPS, not the DMV. The Texas Department of Public Safety handles driver licensing; the Texas DMV handles vehicle registration and titles. For your CDL, you deal with DPS.
- The Special Requirements test is unique. Section 14 of the Texas handbook is its own knowledge test, required before the others. Most states don't have a separate test like this.
- Knowledge tests are English only. As of June 1, 2026, Spanish CDL knowledge tests are discontinued and interpreters aren't allowed.
- Three ways to take the skills test. DPS office, DPS mobile team, or an approved third-party tester — third-party often means shorter waits for a fee.
- Appointments required. Schedule at txdpsscheduler.com; many offices are appointment-only for CDL services.
- The handbook is the source. Every Texas knowledge question comes from the Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver's Handbook; our practice tests are built from the same FMCSA material.
CDL pay and jobs in Texas
Texas is the largest commercial-driving job market in the country. Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data puts the average annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers in Texas around $54,550, with the Dallas-Fort Worth metro higher at roughly $58,960. Those are averages across all experience levels; new drivers typically start lower while experienced drivers earn well beyond it. The real money in Texas is in specialization: oilfield hauling in the Permian Basin is among the highest-paying freight in the nation, Houston's petrochemical corridor keeps tanker and HAZMAT drivers in constant demand, and cross-border freight through Laredo and flatbed/heavy-haul work for the energy sector all pay premiums over standard dry-van runs. Combined with no state income tax and a lower cost of living, take-home pay in Texas stretches further than the raw numbers suggest.
Picking a school to get behind the wheel? Compare Texas CDL schools by location, price, and reviews on CDLSpot.
Wage figures are approximate and based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates; actual pay varies by employer, region, experience, route type, and endorsements.
Start practicing for your Texas CDL
Read the Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver's Handbook once, then use the practice tests to find your weak spots and retake until you're consistently above 90%. Every test is free, no sign-up, and reshuffles its questions on each attempt.