CDL Self Certification and License Classes

Certify Your Driving

Every commercial driver must self-certify to the type of commerce he or she intends to drive when applying for a Commercial Learner Permit or CDL.

Most CDL holders who drive commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce are "non-excepted interstate" drivers and will be required to submit an Medical Examination Certificate. This becomes part of your DMV driving record.

"Excepted" drivers are not required to file an MEC under state or federal regulations. However, your employer may require an exam.

If a physical is required, you must obtain it from a physician listed in the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.

Which Driver Am I?

Drivers must choose whether they operate intrastate or interstate and whether the loads they haul will make them "excepted" or "non-excepted."

  • Interstate or Intrastate

    Interstate or Intrastate (Choose One)

    INTERSTATE - operating inside and outside the State of Nevada

    INTRASTATE - operating within the borders of Nevada

  • Non-Excepted or Excepted

    Non-Excepted or Excepted (Choose One)

    NON-EXCEPTED – Medical Examination Required
    Permits the operation of a commercial motor vehicle by a driver who is subject to and meets the requirements of 49 C.F.R part 391 with respect to qualifications of drivers to include physical qualifications and examinations.

    EXCEPTED – Medical Examination Not Required If you intend on operating a commercial motor vehicle only for any of the purposes below, you are not required to obtain a medical examination:

    • To transport school children and/or school staff between home and school only. Transporting children for extracurricular activities will require a medical examination.
    • As Federal, State or local government employees;
    • Fire truck or rescue vehicle drivers during emergencies and other related activities;
    • Primarily in the transportation of propane winter heating fuel when responding to an emergency condition requiring immediate response such as damage to a propane gas system after a storm or flooding;
    • In response to a pipeline emergency condition requiring immediate response such as a pipeline leak or rupture;
    • In custom harvesting on a farm or to transport farm machinery and supplies used in the custom harvesting operation to and from a farm or to transport custom harvested crops to storage or market;
    • Beekeeper in the seasonal transportation of bees;
    • Controlled and operated by a farmer, but is not a combination vehicle (power unit and towed unit), and is used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery or farm supplies (no placardable hazardous materials) to and from a farm and within 150 air-miles of the farm;
    • As a private motor carrier of passengers for non-business purposes;
    • To transport migrant workers; or
    • To transport human corpses or sick or injured persons;

CDL License Classes & Endorsements

Class A

Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, if the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

These are tractor-trailers, tankers, livestock or vehicle transporters and similar vehicles.

Class B

Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle which does not have a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds.

These are buses, large cargo trucks, cement trucks and similar vehicles that may tow a small trailer.

Class C

Any single vehicle or combination of vehicles that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is designed either to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver or placarded hazardous materials.

Endorsements

The following are types of CDL endorsements you may need:

  • T – Double/Triple trailers
  • P – Passenger
  • N – Tank Vehicle
  • H – Hazardous Materials
  • X – Hazardous Materials and Tankers
  • S – School Bus

See the Commercial Driver Handbook, Nevada Information section for more details and exemptions.

A CDL of any class allows you to drive vehicles in lower classes and your personal vehicles. You will not need any other license. If you have a large RV or other private vehicle, that falls within the Class A or B specifications, you must obtain a non-commercial license for that class.