At a Glance: What You Need to Drive a Truck

How Old Do You Have to Be to Drive a Truck?

Federal law sets the minimum age for interstate commercial driving — crossing state lines — at 21. Most states allow drivers as young as 18 to get a CDL and drive commercially within state borders (intrastate). At Roehl, the minimum hiring age is 21 for all driving positions, matching the federal interstate standard.

If you’re 18–20 and planning a driving career, those years aren’t wasted time: you can research training programs, study your state’s CDL manual, and build a clean driving record — elements carriers consider when you apply.

What License Do You Need to Drive a Truck?

You need a Commercial Driver’s License. A Class A CDL covers combination vehicles — tractor-trailers — with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, and it’s the license most heavy-duty driving jobs require. The path runs through a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP): pass the knowledge tests, hold the permit for the state-required period, complete training, then pass the three-part skills test.

Since February 7, 2022, all first-time CDL applicants must complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) from a provider listed on the FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry before taking the skills test. Roehl’s Get Your CDL™ program is ELDT compliant and Roehl is on the ELDT Training Provider Registry.

For the step-by-step process, fees, and timelines, see the companion guides: how to get a CDL, CDL fees by state, and what CDL school costs.

What Are the DOT Physical Requirements?

Every Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) driver must pass a DOT physical performed by a medical examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry. The exam certifies you’re physically qualified to operate a commercial vehicle safely under 49 CFR 391.41. Key standards include:

• Vision: at least 20/40 acuity in each eye (with or without correction) and at least 70° peripheral vision in each eye. Glasses and contacts are fine.
• Hearing: ability to perceive a forced whisper at five feet or better, with or without a hearing aid.
• Blood pressure and cardiovascular health within certification thresholds — controlled hypertension typically means a shorter certification period, not disqualification.
• Diabetes: drivers with insulin-treated diabetes can qualify under the standards adopted in 2018, with proper documentation from the treating clinician.
• No medical condition — such as uncontrolled epilepsy — that interferes with safe operation.

A passed exam earns a Medical Examiner’s Certificate valid for up to 24 months; examiners can issue shorter certifications when a condition warrants monitoring. The exam typically costs $75–$150 and isn’t usually covered by health insurance. Many trucking companies, including Roehl, will cover this cost for applicants.

Tips for Your DOT Physical

When you complete the medical history portion, accuracy protects your career:

• Disclose all medical conditions and medications honestly — omissions discovered later can invalidate your certification.
• Bring your glasses or contacts, hearing aids, and a list of current medications with dosages.
• If you have a managed condition (blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea), bring recent records or a letter from your treating clinician.
• Get a normal night’s sleep and avoid excess caffeine before the exam — it can elevate your blood pressure reading.

When you train to get your CDL with Roehl, the DOT physical and drug screening are scheduled for you at a facility near you as part of the hiring process.

What Drug Testing Is Required?

Federal rules require a negative DOT pre-employment drug test before you can perform safety-sensitive functions, plus random, post-accident, and reasonable-suspicion testing throughout your career. Test results and violations are recorded in the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, which carriers must check when hiring.

Roehl’s screening includes both the DOT urine test and a hair follicle test.

What Disqualifies You From Getting a CDL?

The FMCSA defines disqualifying offenses in 49 CFR 383.51. Major offenses — driving a CMV under the influence, refusing a drug or alcohol test, leaving the scene of an accident, or using a vehicle to commit a felony — carry a one-year disqualification for a first offense and a lifetime disqualification for a second. Certain offenses, like using a CMV to commit a felony involving controlled substances, carry a lifetime ban on the first offense. Repeated serious traffic violations — excessive speeding, reckless driving, improper lane changes — in a CMV can trigger 60- to 120-day disqualifications.

Beyond the federal tables, each carrier sets its own review standards for driving records and work history. 

Does Roehl Hire Drivers With a Criminal Record?

Roehl encourages everyone to apply. Roehl reviews every application against the requirements of the job.

Do You Have to Speak English to Drive a Truck?

Yes — federal regulation 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) requires CMV drivers to read and speak English well enough to converse with the public, understand highway traffic signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports and records. Since June 2025, FMCSA enforcement guidance makes an English proficiency violation an out-of-service condition at roadside inspections.

Do You Need Experience to Become a Truck Driver?

No. Trucking is one of the few careers with a genuine earn-while-you-learn path. Roehl’s Get Your CDL™ program hires you as a full-time employee on day one — you’re paid while you complete ELDT-compliant training and earn your CDL, with no tuition.

Every new Roehl driver — experienced or not — goes through a structured onboarding including the DOT drug screen, hair follicle test, and a DOT physical, if yours isn’t current.

Requirements for Military Drivers

If you drove commercial-style vehicles in the military, two FMCSA programs can shorten your path: the Military Skills Test Waiver lets qualifying drivers with two or more years of experience skip the CDL skills test, and the Even Exchange program can waive knowledge tests for drivers with equivalent military licenses. Roehl’s military programs team can walk you through both.

Frequently Asked Questions: Truck Driver Requirements

How old do you have to be to drive a truck?

21 for interstate driving under federal law. Many states issue CDLs at 18 for intrastate-only driving. Roehl hires drivers starting at age 21.

What disqualifies you from getting a CDL?

Federal rules (49 CFR 383.51) disqualify drivers for major offenses like driving a CMV under the influence, refusing a drug test, leaving an accident scene, or using a vehicle in a felony — one year for a first offense, lifetime for a second. Repeated serious traffic violations bring 60–120 day disqualifications.

Can you become a truck driver with a felony?

Federal rules disqualify specific offenses, especially those involving a commercial vehicle. Roehl encourages everyone to apply. Roehl reviews every application against the requirements of the job.

What does the DOT physical check?

Vision (20/40 in each eye, correctable), hearing (forced whisper at 5 feet), blood pressure, cardiovascular health, and any conditions that interfere with safe driving. It’s performed by an FMCSA-certified medical examiner and the certificate is valid for up to 24 months.

Can you drive a truck with glasses or hearing aids?

Yes. The standards apply with or without correction — 20/40 vision with glasses or contacts qualifies, and hearing aids are allowed for the hearing standard.

Can diabetics drive trucks?

Yes — including drivers with insulin-treated diabetes, under FMCSA standards adopted in 2018 that require documentation from the treating clinician instead of the old exemption process.

Do you need a high school diploma to drive a truck?

There’s no federal education requirement for a CDL. You need to pass the knowledge and skills tests and meet the medical and record standards.

What drug tests do trucking companies use?

All carriers must run DOT pre-employment urine testing plus random testing, checked against the FMCSA Clearinghouse. Many carriers, including Roehl, also use hair follicle testing, which detects use over a longer window.

Do you need experience to get hired as a truck driver?

No. Programs like Roehl’s Get Your CDL™ hire you as an employee first and pay you during training — no experience, no tuition.

Do truck drivers have to speak English?

Yes — federal regulation requires enough English to converse, read road signs, respond to officials, and complete reports, and since June 2025 violations are an out-of-service condition at inspections.

Meet the requirements — or want to find out where you stand? Apply with Roehl or explore truck driving jobs near you.