Anyone who gets their Commercial Learner’s Permit after February 7th, 2022 is required to receive entry-level driver training in order to obtain their CDL.

Our curriculum was developed by a leading trucking safety company. The best part about the curriculum is that the creators were members of an advisory board that helped the FMCSA come up with the curriculum items included in the regulations. Our system is fully compliant with the FMCSA’s ELDT regs because the creators were part of the team designing the rules!

Yes! The creators of our program were actually on the FMCSA advisory board helping to create the curriculum standards, so our online theory training exceeds the minimum standards set by the FMCSA.

The Theory training can be online or in person according to the law. We do online training because you can complete the ELDT training on your mobile device or home computer from anywhere!

Our online training is divided into short modules. Each module has a quiz at the end. If you get 100% you can move on to the next module, if not, you will repeat the module. In this way our system guarantees you will finish your Theory training with 100% rather than just 80%!

Our Theory training exceeds the federal minimum standard for Theory training so your state should accept it, but some states may have additional requirements you need to meet in order to get your CDL which could potentially include additional theory courses.

Check with the DMV in your state for more information on if your state has additional regulations.

If you are living in or near South Dakota we have a number of companies that work directly with us to provide employment and behind the wheel training for new drivers. Those Behind the Wheel Training companies are listed on the CDL Driver Training page.

Completing our Theory program does not guarantee you employment, but it does get you one step closer! Look through the companies on our page and contact them to see if you are a fit.

And remember, these aren’t the only companies you can work with to get your Behind the Wheel training! You can look at the FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry to find Behind the Wheel Trainers in your area!

Yes. Theory (knowledge) and BTW training may be delivered by separate training providers and that is the model we use. Any training provider who gives you training must be listed on the Training Provider Registry. They are also required to submit driver-specific training certification information (i.e., proof of training) to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) so that you can get your CDL once training is complete.

Anyone who gets a new Commercial Learner’s Permit after February 7th, 2022 is required to receive entry-level driver training in order to obtain their CDL. If the permit was issued before that date and is not expired, the ELDT regulations do not apply.

If you had a CDL in the past, you are not subject to the ELDT requirements as long as the driver chooses to re-obtain a CDL of the same or lower class, even if the previously-issued CDL is not currently valid. (Per § 380.603(b))

You will need to pass a general knowledge test to get your commercial learners permit with your state before you can begin Behind the Wheel Training. In South Dakota there are three parts to the CDL A learner’s permit test: general knowledge, combination vehicles, and air brakes. You can take these tests together or separately.

If you want to drive freight between states you will need to have a DOT physical on file with the state. This physical must be completed by an FMCSA approved medical examiner. Not all doctors can do this, they have to receive specialized training. Additionally, some employers have preferred examiners, so it is a good idea to contact your future employer first.

You will need to submit to a drug test to secure employment and as a part of many Behind the Wheel training programs. As a reminder, even if marijuana is legal in your state, it is not legal to be a Commercial Motor Vehicle driver and use marijuana, even when you are off the road.

Yes, you may still be eligible to get your CDL even with violations such as a DUI or drug possession on your record. However, you may not be able to get employment due to those violations, depending on what they are and how recently they occurred.

If you have a criminal record (either drug and alcohol related or otherwise) and you are concerned about securing employment, contact some trucking employers. They will tell you their policies and this will give you a good idea of your employability. Some employers have stricter standards than others due to their insurance or the types of freight they haul.

No. There is no minimum number of hours that driver-trainees must spend on the theory or behind the wheel training. The regulations give specific topics that providers are required to cover, but there is no minimum number of hours. The ELDT Theory training must include a knowledge test where you get at least 80 percent in order to pass.

To be eligible to take the Class A or Class B CDL skills test, the S or P skills test, or the H knowledge test, commercial driver’s license (CDL) applicants must have completed applicable entry-level driver training from a registered training provider. The type of training required depends on the type of license or endorsement for which the driver is applying. For more info go to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry FAQ page.

Yes. If you successfully complete the entry-level driver training required for the Class A CDL, you can take the skills test for the Class B CDL or the Class A CDL. However, you cannot take the Class B training and then level up to a Class A skills test without additional training.

No. There is no mandatory order in which the theory, BTW-range, and BTW-public road training must be administered, nor do the regulations require that theory training be completed before obtaining a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). However, BTW training must be completed before taking the skills test(s) to get your CDL.