To apply for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in New Hampshire, you must have a clean record and a valid New Hampshire driver’s license. You also need to be at least 18 years old for intrastate travel or 21 years old for interstate travel.

Legality and safety go hand in hand when it comes to commercial driving. To ensure the safety of everyone on the road, drivers must pass certain knowledge and skills tests in order to legally operate their commercial vehicles in New Hampshire.

All applicants must provide proof of insurance, proof of identity, and access to a commercial vehicle to perform the road test. Here to walk you through the additional requirements that can come with applying for a CDL in New Hampshire is

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What is required for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in New Hampshire?

If you have a

clean driving record

and a valid New Hampshire driver’s license, then you can apply for a CDL in New Hampshire. But the exact requirements that come with the application depend on the class of CDL you’re getting. For instance, if you’d like to drive a dairy tanker or a hazmat vehicle or a school bus, then you will need specific endorsements to legally operate that vehicle.

Your first task is to select which Class of CDL you’d like to earn.

New Hampshire CDL classes

In New Hampshire, there are three classes of CDL: Class A, Class B, and Class C. Each one gives you legal permission to operate a specific type of commercial motor vehicle (CMV).

Class A: required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more, to include a towed vehicle that is heavier than 10,000 lbs. This includes tractor-trailers, truck and trailer combinations, tractor-trailer buses, tankers, livestock carriers, and flatbeds.

Class B: required to operate a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs. or heavier, and/or any vehicle as described above that is towing another vehicle weighing UP TO 10,000 lbs. This includes straight trucks, large buses, segmented buses, box trucks, and dump trucks with small trailers.

Class C: may be required if the vehicle you intend to drive does not meet the criteria for either a Class A or Class B license, and is meant to transport either at least 16 passengers (to include you, the driver), or hazardous material (hazmat) as laid out by federal guidelines. Vehicles requiring a Class C CDL include small hazmat vehicles, passenger vans, and small trucks towing a trailer.

You will need to pick a class before you can apply for a CDL in New Hampshire.

Endorsements

There are five categories of

endorsements

that you can earn for a New Hampshire CDL. For some of these endorsements, you must pass additional knowledge and performance tests.

H: for transporting hazardous materials (the TSA and FBI will check your biometrics and criminal history before you can earn this endorsement)

N: for operating tank vehicles

P: for passenger transport

S: for operating school buses

T: for pulling double and triple trailers

There are also some restrictions that a New Hampshire CDL can carry. For instance, a K restriction indicates that the license holder may only conduct intrastate (in-state) commercial travel (applies to drivers under age 21).

Minimum age requirement

The minimum age for intrastate commercial vehicle operation in New Hampshire is 18 years old. For special endorsements and interstate (across state lines) commercial travel, drivers must be at least 21 years old.

Medical requirements

All commercial driver’s license applicants must pass a medical test in New Hampshire. This test includes requirements for vision, blood pressure limits, and more. Those requirements can include:

Vision at least 20/40 in both eyes

Ability to hear a forced whisper from a distance of five feet

Ability to keep blood pressure under 200 without injections

Ability to distinguish colors

Blood pressure of 160/100 or better

Any use of Schedule 1 drugs is absolutely prohibited. After you pass the medical exam, you will receive a medical examiner’s certificate to bring with you when you apply for your CDL.

New ELDT requirements

As of 2022, there are new requirements to get your CDL in New Hampshire. The

Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT)

states that applicants must complete training with a

registered

provider before they can apply for a CDL.

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How to apply for a CDL in New Hampshire

The first thing you will need is a clean New Hampshire driver’s license. Then, you can pick up an

application

However, first you must apply for a

commercial learner’s permit (CLP)

. After you’ve held this license for at least 14 days—and you’ve trained with the ELDT—then you may apply for your CDL.

Another requirement: you must pass the written and road skills

tests

You will have to prove that you know the rules of commercial vehicle operation in New Hampshire, along with general knowledge, endorsement-specific facts, and pre-inspection test expertise. The road test includes proving that you can:

Start and stop the vehicle safely on the roadside

Parallel park

Back up in a straight line

Back up in off-set fashion

Navigate curves, railroad crossings, and intersections while obeying right-of-way rules

The

fees in New Hampshire

include $20 for the CLP, $60 per class of CDL, and $10 for every endorsement.

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How long is a CDL valid in New Hampshire?

Your New Hampshire CDL is valid for between five and eight years, depending on the endorsements on your license. Renewal may require you to get a new medical certificate as well.

MORE:

Seat-belt laws in New Hampshire

How to save on car insurance in New Hampshire

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