How Hard Is It to Get a CDL? Steps, Requirements, and What to Expect
Getting a CDL takes 3–8 weeks and requires passing written exams and a skills test. Here's every step, what makes it hard — and how Roehl pays you while you do it.
Getting your CDL means passing written exams, completing hands-on training behind the wheel of an actual semi, and passing a skills test that covers everything from inspecting the truck to driving it on public roads. For most people, that's somewhere between three and eight weeks. Many, many people get their CDL every year, but it takes real preparation. This guide covers what's actually involved, what makes it hard, and how to get through every step. It also covers something a lot of guides skip: with Roehl Transport's Get Your CDL™ program, you get hired on day one and earn $616 a week while you get your CDL with Roehl..
At a Glance
| Age requirement | 18 for intrastate driving; 21 for interstate driving (required for most trucking jobs) |
| Written exams required | 3 — General Knowledge, Combination Vehicle, Air Brakes |
| Skills test | 3 parts — vehicle inspection, basic controls, road test |
| Typical timeline | 3–8 weeks depending on the training path you choose |
| Paid alternative | Roehl Transport pays $616/week — you are hired as an employee on day one |
Is Getting a CDL Hard?
We hear this one a lot. The truth is that it depends on how you prepare and how committed you are to getting your CDL.
The CDL process isn't designed to trick you. The material is very learnable. While some candidates may go in underestimating what's actually required, others show up prepared and get through .
Here are the three things that trip up candidates:
- The written knowledge exams. There are three of them — General Knowledge, Combination Vehicle, and Air Brakes — and you need to pass all three before you can get your Commercial Learner's Permit. Each test stands on its own. The material is specific, and it rewards the people who actually study it.
- The pre-trip vehicle inspection. This part of the skills test surprises people. You're walking around the truck with an examiner, identifying components and explaining their condition — brakes, tires, lights, coupling systems. It's memorization-heavy and nothing like getting a regular driver's license. Candidates who don't prepare for it specifically are the ones who struggle.
- Backing a semi. Straight-line backing, offset backing, alley dock — maneuvering a 53-foot trailer in tight spaces takes real practice. Most people have never done anything like it. This is a skill you develop over time, not something you figure out on test day.
CDL Requirements: What You Need Before You Start
Before you start, there are a few things you'll need to have in order. These requirements are set by the federal Department of Transportation.
You'll need to be at least 18 to drive commercially within your home state (intrastate) — but for interstate driving, which is what most over-the-road trucking jobs require, you need to be 21. Your current driver's license needs to be valid and in good standing. If it's suspended or revoked, the process stops before it starts.
You'll also need to pass a DOT physical exam and a drug test. The physical is done by a certified medical examiner and covers vision, hearing, blood pressure, and general fitness for heavy duty truck driving. When you pass, you receive a Federal Medical Card — and in many states, you'll need that card before you can even get your Commercial Learner's Permit. Roehl's pre-employment process includes both a urine test and a hair follicle test. It's important that you disclose any prescription medications you're currently taking and what they're prescribed for.
Documentation requirements — proof of identity, Social Security number, proof of legal presence — vary by state. Check with your driver licensing center before your appointment so you're not making two trips. And be aware that background screening is part of the process. Certain violations or convictions may affect eligibility depending on the state and the employer. Your state Department of Motor Vehicles can tell you what applies in your situation.
Take the Next Step - Apply for Paid CDL Training
If you qualify, Roehl Transport will pay you while you get your CDL. Fill out the form below & select Get Paid to Get Your CDL!
By providing my phone number, I agree to receive recurring recruiting and marketing communications from or on behalf of Roehl Transport via calls and SMS/text messages, including those sent using automated technology, prerecorded messages, and AI-assisted systems, about job opportunities and related services. Consent is not a condition of applying for employment.
I don't have a CDL. I want to drive for Roehl and receive their paid CDL training.
I've graduated in the last 90 days, am currently attending or plan to attend a truck driving school.
I'm an experienced CDL-A driver with over 30,000 solo miles seeking a company driver position.
I'm currently an Owner-Operator or an experienced driver wanting to lease a truck from Roehl.
How to Get a CDL — Step by Step
STEP 1: IS THIS CAREER RIGHT FOR YOU?
Before anything else, read through the requirements carefully. This is a big step — you're moving into the community of heavy duty truck drivers and taking on a job that's regulated by the Department of Transportation. If you're applying through Roehl's Get Your CDL™ program, a Roehl teammate can walk you through everything with you before you move forward. This will help you complete a thoughtful and informed application.STEP 2: STUDY FOR THE WRITTEN CDL EXAMS
Getting your Commercial Learner's Permit means passing three written tests — General Knowledge, Combination Vehicle, and Air Brakes — at your state's driver licensing center. Start with your state's CDL manual. It's available online or at your local DMV, and it's the foundation for everything on the written exams. Then use practice tests to check yourself before you go in.Roehl offers free CDL practice tests for all three exams at https://www.roehl.jobs/cdl-practice-tests. Use them. Take them more than once.
| Skipping the studying is the most common reason candidates fail and have to reschedule. It adds weeks to your timeline. Don't skip it. |
STEP 3: GET YOUR COMMERCIAL LEARNER'S PERMIT (CLP)
Pass all three written tests and you'll receive your CLP. It's the authorization that lets you get behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle while a qualified CDL holder rides with you. Most states require you to hold your CLP for at least 14 days before you can take the CDL skills test — so the sooner you get it, the sooner you can test.Here's something worth knowing: in most cases, you should get your DOT physical done before you go for your CLP. Many states require your Federal Medical Card to issue the permit. If you're going through Roehl's program, your recruiter will walk you through exactly how to sequence it for your state.
STEP 4: COMPLETE CDL TRAINING
Training is where it all comes together — classroom instruction and real time behind the wheel. If you're weighing the cost of traditional CDL school, see https://www.roehl.jobs/driving-jobs/cdl-truck-driving-schools/cdl-school-cost for a full breakdown. Traditional programs run three to six weeks. Through Roehl's Get Your CDL™ program, Phase 1 is three weeks at a Roehl terminal. You'll train in small groups — three students to one instructor — on the same trucks and trailers you'll actually drive on the job. Training covers:- Basic vehicle control and control systems
- Vehicle inspections — pre-trip and post-trip
- Speed management and space management
- Backing, docking, and turning
- Coupling and uncoupling
- Hazard prevention and protective driving
- Communication systems, atlas use, and trip planning
- Accident procedures
STEP 5: PASS THE CDL SKILLS TEST
Three parts. All three have to pass.
- Vehicle inspection. You walk the examiner around the truck and call out components and their condition — brakes, tires, lights, steering, coupling devices. This is the part most people underestimate. Study it specifically.
- Basic vehicle controls. Off-road maneuvering, including the backing exercises. If you haven't practiced enough, this is where it shows.
- Road test. You're on public roads with the examiner. Safe driving behaviors, proper lane use, correct technique at intersections. Drive the way you were trained.
STEP 6: GET YOUR CDL AND KEEP MOVING
Pass the skills test and your state issues your Commercial Driver's License. You're a licensed commercial driver. With Roehl's program, that moment also kicks off Phase 2 — you head out on the road with a Certified Roehl Driver Trainer, working with live freight, and earning a new daily rate. Getting your CDL license is an accomplishment, but it's not the finish line.Option 1: Get Paid While You Train with Roehl Transport
Roehl Transport is not a CDL school. We're a trucking company, and we hire you as a full-time employee on day one. Getting your CDL is part of the job — not a prerequisite for it. Instead of coming up with tuition, you earn a paycheck while you train.
|
Learn more: roehl.jobs/driving-jobs/cdl-truck-driving-schools
THE THREE PHASES
Phase 1 — Get Your CDL (3 weeks): You're at a Roehl terminal, learning from instructors with real over-the-road experience, training on the actual trucks you'll drive. Three students per instructor. $616 a week. Lodging and most meals are on us. You take your CDL skills test in the final week.Phase 2 — On-the-Job Training (at least 19 days): Now you're on the road. You'll go out with a Certified Roehl Driver Trainer and work with live freight. Your trainer is in the passenger seat — this isn't team driving, it's coaching. When you drive, your trainer gives you real-time feedback. You earn a daily rate throughout Phase 2, and you'll sleep in the truck at truck stops, just like you will on your own.
Phase 3 — Your Own Truck (~1 month): You've got your own truck and you're earning mileage pay based on the fleet you're in. A fleet training manager checks in with you every day — sometimes more than once. When you're done, you transition to a regular fleet manager and you're on your way. Roehl drivers with at least a year on the job average $1,345 a week. The top half of our drivers average $1,525.
WHERE YOU TRAIN
Roehl offers paid CDL training at five terminal locations: Marshfield, WI (headquarters); Neenah, WI (Appleton Terminal); Conley, GA (Atlanta Terminal); Gary, IN (Chicago Area Terminal); and Phoenix, AZ. Roehl is a registered ELDT training provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR).
How Long Does It Take to Get a CDL?
Depends on the path. Traditional CDL school runs three to six weeks for the program itself — but add your CLP study time, scheduling at the licensing center, and any delays, and it stretches out. Community college programs often take longer.
Through Roehl's Get Your CDL™ program, Phase 1 is three weeks, Phase 2 runs at least 19 days, while Phase 3 is roughly a month. Add it up and you're looking at about four months from start to on your own — and you've been earning a paycheck the whole way through.
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Frequently Asked Questions: How to Get a CDL
How hard is it to get a CDL?
It depends on how seriously you take the prep work. The three written tests require real study — candidates who don't study them may fail and have to come back. The vehicle inspection portion of the skills test catches a lot of people off guard; it's memorization-heavy and nothing like a regular driver's test. Backing a 53-foot trailer takes practice you can't fake on test day. Thousands of people obtain a CDL every year by practicing and doing the necessary work.
What are the requirements to get a CDL?
You'll need to be 21 for interstate driving (18 is fine for intrastate), hold a valid driver's license, pass a DOT physical and drug test, pass three written knowledge tests to get your Commercial Learner's Permit, complete CDL training, and pass a three-part skills test. Some states have additional requirements — check with your local DMV.
What are the three CDL written tests?
General Knowledge, Combination Vehicle, and Air Brakes. All three need to pass before you're issued your CLP. Roehl has free practice tests for all three at roehl.jobs/cdl-practice-tests. Take them more than once.
What is on the CDL skills test?
Three parts. First is the vehicle inspection — you walk the examiner around the truck and identify components and their condition. Brakes, tires, lights, coupling devices. Second is basic vehicle controls, which includes backing maneuvers in a controlled area. Third is the road test on public roads. You need all three to pass.
How long does it take to get a CDL?
Traditional school programs run three to six weeks — sometimes longer at a community college. With Roehl's paid program, Phase 1 is three weeks and ends with the CDL test. Phases 2 and 3 run another couple of months, but you're earning the whole time. The total start-to-solo truck driver timeline is roughly four months.
Can you get a CDL without going to truck driving school?
Yes. Federal ELDT rules say CDL training has to come through a program that's registered on the FMCSA's Training Provider Registry — but that doesn't have to be a traditional school. Roehl Transport is a registered ELDT provider on the TPR. You get paid $616 a week during training, lodging and most meals are covered, and there's no tuition.
How do I get a CDL and get paid at the same time?
Apply to Roehl Transport's Get Your CDL™ program. You're hired as an employee on day one. Phase 1 is three weeks at a Roehl training facility — $616 a week, lodging and most meals provided. You test for your CDL in the final week and move straight into Phase 2. You're earning from the first day to the last. roehl.jobs/driving-jobs/cdl-truck-driving-schools| READY TO GET STARTED? Roehl Transport's Get Your CDL program is the alternative to paying for CDL school.
|
This page was updated on: 5/28/2026