Making the decision to obtain an Ohio CDL or commercial driver’s license is an important step in opening up a wide range of career opportunities and providing a stable source of income for you and your family. Your CDL training is important for setting you up to have a successful career as a trucker. If you are 18 years or older and already have a non-CDL drivers license, follow these steps to learn how to get a CDL in Ohio:
- Study for a commercial learner’s permit or CLP, which will allow you to train for an actual CDL by practicing in a commercial motor vehicle. (You can find practice tests here)
- Pay the $27 commercial learner’s permit fee at the time you take your test.
- Sign up for a CDL training course like Napier’s, especially if you plan to drive a semi or work as an OTR driver (over-the-road or long-distance truck driver)
- Schedule an appointment with a CDL-certified doctor for a fitness examination (Form 649-F). You will receive a medical examiner’s certificate that you must keep on you at all times while driving a commercial vehicle.
- Pass an eye examination, which can be done with or without eyeglasses or contact lenses. Your normal or corrected vision must be a minimum of 20/40 in each eye.
- Submit to a driving record check that covers your driving history for the past 10 years, across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- After course completion, Napier will help schedule your CDL exam and will continue to work with you until you pass.
- Before the exam, be sure to have the proper identification documents such as a birth certificate, driver’s license, and social security card at the time you take your test to prove your:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Lawful U.S. presence
- Social Security Number
- Ohio street Address
Contact us to learn more about an exciting, and well-paying career as a CDL truck driver. Our quality instructors and guided classroom training will qualify you to pass the CDL test and drive tractor-trailers across the country or delivery trucks in your area.