Freight Logistics Operation – FLO LLC

North Dakota CDL Requirements Guide

State of North Dakota

Free public guide. No account, payment or sign-in is needed to read it.

FLO LLC course enrollment for North Dakota is not open yet. This guide is information only; it does not open enrollment or training in North Dakota, and it does not mean FLO LLC is approved, licensed or endorsed by any North Dakota agency.

This page summarizes what North Dakota 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 North Dakota'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.

North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division

Official North Dakota CDL Manual

2025-2027 Class A, B and C Commercial Driver License Manual (NDDOT) — published by the state. FLO LLC links to the state's own document; it does not copy or host it.

Opens the official PDF in a new tab. If it does not open, use the state's manual page: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — 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 North Dakota's current procedure on the official North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division page linked below.

Sources: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

CDL eligibility and age requirements

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)).
Confirm North Dakota's current procedure on the official North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division page linked below.

Sources: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — 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 North Dakota's current procedure on the official North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division page linked below.

Sources: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — CDL page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Identity and residency documentation

Confirm North Dakota's current procedure on the official North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division page linked below.

Sources: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — 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 North Dakota's current procedure on the official North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division page linked below.

Sources: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Medical certification and self-certification

Effective April 21, 2025, per federal regulation, the North Dakota Driver License Division no longer accepts medical examiner certificates from drivers; nationally certified medical examiners must upload results to 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: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — 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 (North Dakota 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: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.135 — Passing knowledge and skills tests

Steps to obtain the CLP

1. Study the official North Dakota CDL manual (link above).
2. Gather the identity, residency, Social Security and legal-presence documents the agency lists, and complete your self-certification (and medical examination if you are non-excepted).
3. Pass the required knowledge tests with NDDOT.
4. Receive your CLP.

Sources: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — CDL page

CLP holding period

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)).
Confirm North Dakota's current procedure on the official North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division page linked below.

Sources: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — 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 North Dakota's current procedure on the official North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division page linked below.

Sources: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — 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: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — CDL page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Skills examination procedures

Schedule an appointment through NDDOT; North Dakota also uses CDL third-party testing.
The skills test has three parts taken in order — vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control and on-road driving. The North Dakota manual's basic control section describes the exercises described in Section 12 of the manual (straight-line backing, offset backing, and alley dock or parallel parking as listed there).

Sources: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — CDL page

Licensing office and scheduling resources

Use the official North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division pages linked below to find offices, schedule tests and confirm current procedures.

Sources: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — CDL page · North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — Thirdparty page

Steps to receive your Class A CDL

1. Hold your CLP for at least the required holding period (federal minimum 14 days).
2. Complete ELDT theory (for example, FLO LLC's online course) and ELDT behind-the-wheel training with providers on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
3. Pass the three-part skills test with NDDOT or an authorized tester.
4. Obtain your Class A CDL from NDDOT.

Sources: North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division — CDL page

Three different kinds of tests

FLO LLC practice tests: Study tools inside this portal. They prepare you for your state's knowledge tests; they are not state tests.
FLO LLC ELDT theory assessments: The module and final assessments that complete FLO's ELDT theory course (85% FLO standard).
Official state CDL examinations: The knowledge and skills tests given only by your state licensing agency or its authorized testers.

FLO LLC enrollment status

FLO LLC course enrollment is not open for North Dakota yet, so accounts and course payments are not accepted for this state. Use this guide and the official North Dakota sources above to prepare.