The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) issues commercial licenses. Here is how the process works. Rules and fees change, so treat this guide as a starting point and confirm everything on the official site before you go.
Who can apply
- You must be at least 18 and hold a valid Ohio driver license.
- You need a valid Social Security number and proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency.
- If you are under 21 you can drive commercially only inside Ohio.
The permit and knowledge tests
- The commercial learner permit (CLP) is valid for 12 months.
- With a CLP you can drive a commercial vehicle on a highway only with a properly endorsed CDL holder.
- You take a knowledge test for each class, each endorsement, and to remove the air brake restriction.
- Take the written tests at any driver exam station.
Training and the skills test
Before you can schedule or attempt the skills test, you must have electronic proof that your entry-level driver training is complete, or proof of an exemption. The skills test has three parts: the pre-trip inspection (30-minute limit), basic maneuverability (40-minute limit) and the road test. You must finish the whole test within three hours. If you fail a part, you wait two days before retesting.
Getting the license
You get the CDL at a deputy registrar license agency, and it must be issued before your permit expires.
The pre-trip inspection is timed. Practice saying the inspection out loud, in the same order every time.