The steps
- Get a DOT medical card. A commercial driver must pass a physical with a medical examiner listed on FMCSA’s National Registry (49 CFR 391.41, 391.43); the certificate lasts up to 24 months.
- Pass the knowledge test and get a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). The CLP lets you practise with a qualified CDL holder beside you and is valid for no more than a year (49 CFR 383.25).
- Hold the CLP for at least 14 days before taking the skills test (383.25(e)).
- Complete entry-level driver training with a provider on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry, if this is your first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade, or a first passenger, school bus or HazMat endorsement (49 CFR 380.609). 191 registered providers have a training location in New Jersey, 185 of them offering behind-the-wheel training.
- Take the skills test: vehicle inspection, basic control skills and an on-road test, in a vehicle of the class you want (49 CFR 383.113). New Jersey names 9 places as CDL skills test sites.
- Age. Driving across state lines requires being at least 21 (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)); a state may license drivers from 18 for driving inside the state only.
Where to take the CDL test in New Jersey
28 offices and test sites in New Jersey are on the official lists, and 9 are named by the state as CDL skills test sites. The most are in Lawrenceville (1), Cherry Hill (1), Delanco (1), Eatontown (1), Lodi (1), Rahway (1), Randolph (1), Wayne (1), Ancora (1), Bayonne (1). See all CDL testing and DMV offices in New Jersey, with a map and search by city or ZIP.
CDL schools in New Jersey
191 training providers registered with FMCSA list a location in New Jersey. The most are in Paterson (11), East Brunswick (8), Trenton (7), Jackson Township (7), Piscataway (5), Newark (5), New Brunswick (4), Freehold (4), Irvington (4), Cape May (3). See all CDL schools in New Jersey.
What a CDL costs in New Jersey
| Commercial permit (minimum age 18, valid 180 days) | $125 |
|---|---|
| Commercial license, initial or renewal | $42 + $2.00 per CDL endorsement |
| Commercial license upgrade (prorated on the license expiration date) | $24 + $2.00 per CDL endorsement |
| Duplicate, correction or downgrade | $11 |
Source: License and Permit Fees, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Checked September 24, 2026. Training, the medical exam and third-party testers’ charges are separate.
Adding HazMat
The hazardous materials endorsement needs a TSA security threat assessment with fingerprints (49 CFR 1572). 13 TSA enrollment centers in New Jersey take HazMat applications. See the enrollment centers in New Jersey.