Maryland CDL Requirements Guide

This page summarizes what Maryland requires of Class A Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) and Commercial Driver's License (CDL) applicants, with links to the official government sources. Requirements come from Maryland's licensing agencies and federal regulations; FLO LLC's own training standards appear separately below. Sources were checked on 2026-10-13. Where anything here differs from the agency, the agency controls.

• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)

Official Maryland CDL Manual

Maryland Commercial Driver's License Manual DL-151 (05/26) — published by the state. FLO LLC links to the state's own document; it does not copy or host it.

READ MARYLAND CDL MANUAL

Opens the official PDF in a new tab. If it does not open, use the state's manual page: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — manual page.

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) requirements

• Federal rule: a CLP is valid for no more than one year, and its holder may drive a commercial motor vehicle on public roads only when accompanied by a CDL holder with the proper class and endorsements (49 CFR 383.25).
• Confirm Maryland's current procedure on the official Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) page linked below.

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

CDL eligibility and age requirements

• Be at least 18 to drive commercially within Maryland (intrastate only), or at least 21 to drive across state lines, transport hazardous materials, or transport passengers.
• Federal rule: a driver must be at least 21 years old to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)).

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers

Interstate versus intrastate driving

• Federal rule: a driver must be at least 21 years old to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)).
• Every CLP and CDL applicant must self-certify one of four types of commercial driving — non-excepted interstate, excepted interstate, non-excepted intrastate, or excepted intrastate — and non-excepted drivers must provide a current medical examiner's certificate (49 CFR 383.71(b)(1)).
• Confirm Maryland's current procedure on the official Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) page linked below.

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Identity and residency documentation

• Provide proof of identity, age, Social Security number and Maryland residency.

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page

Legal-presence requirements

• Federal rule: CLP and CDL applicants must prove U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency, or qualify under the federal non-domiciled rules (49 CFR 383.71).
• Confirm Maryland's current procedure on the official Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) page linked below.

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Medical certification and self-certification

• Pass a physical exam by a medical examiner on the FMCSA National Registry; your Medical Examiner's Certificate is sent directly to the MVA from the National Registry.
• Every CLP and CDL applicant must self-certify one of four types of commercial driving — non-excepted interstate, excepted interstate, non-excepted intrastate, or excepted intrastate — and non-excepted drivers must provide a current medical examiner's certificate (49 CFR 383.71(b)(1)).

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Knowledge examinations required

• Class A applicants take the General Knowledge and Combination Vehicles knowledge tests, plus Air Brakes for an air-brake vehicle (Maryland manual, Section 1.1). Endorsements require their own tests.
• Federal standard: at least 80% correct is required to pass each knowledge test (49 CFR 383.135).

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.135 — Passing knowledge and skills tests

Steps to obtain the CLP

• Schedule a CDL permit appointment at an MVA branch office and pass the knowledge test(s).

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page

CLP holding period

• Complete the required ELDT, obtain a CLP and hold it for at least 14 days before the CDL skills (road) test.
• Federal rule: a CLP holder may not take the CDL skills test during the first 14 days after the CLP is first issued (49 CFR 383.25(e)).

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements

• Federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) applies to anyone obtaining a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading to Class A or B, or obtaining a first school bus, passenger or hazardous materials endorsement (49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F).
• ELDT has two parts — theory (classroom/online) and behind-the-wheel (range and public road) — and both must be completed with providers listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, which reports your completion electronically before you may take the skills test.
• Confirm Maryland's current procedure on the official Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) page linked below.

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Behind-the-wheel training requirements

• ELDT behind-the-wheel training must be taken from a behind-the-wheel provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, on a range and on public roads, in a vehicle of the class you are training for. The instructor decides when you are proficient; federal rules set no minimum number of hours (49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F, Appendix A).
• FLO LLC's online course is ELDT THEORY only. It does not provide behind-the-wheel training.

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Skills examination procedures

• Schedule a CDL skills test appointment with the MVA. Maryland CLP holders may complete their skills test in another state (results reach MVA through AAMVA's CSTIMS); applicants with a K (intrastate-only) restriction, such as those under 21, may not test out of state. Maryland does not test permit holders from other states.
• The skills test has three parts taken in order — vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control and on-road driving. The Maryland manual's basic control section describes the Modernized exercises: Forward Stop, Straight-Line Backing, Forward Offset Tracking and Reverse Offset Backing.

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page

Licensing office and scheduling resources

• Use the official Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) pages linked below to find offices, schedule tests and confirm current procedures.

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page

Steps to receive your Class A CDL

• After you pass the skills test you receive an interim license document; the CDL is mailed within 7-10 business days.

Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — CDL page