If you’re planning to get your CDL, or upgrade from a Class B to a Class A, there’s one requirement you can’t skip: ELDT training.
A lot of people have heard the term. Some know it’s required. But very few really understand what it is, why it matters or how to complete it correctly.
This guide breaks everything down in plain English so you know exactly what to expect and what to do next to get your CDL license.
What Is ELDT? (Explained Simply)
ELDT stands for Entry-Level Driver Training. Think of it as the federal training program that ensures every new commercial driver has the proper knowledge and hands-on experience before taking their CDL test.
It’s not optional.
It’s not a bonus course.
You cannot take your CDL skills test without completing it.
The ELDT program includes two major components:
Theory (classroom or online learning)
Behind-the-Wheel (hands-on driving with a certified instructor)
Both are required, and both must be completed at a school approved by the FMCSA.
Why ELDT Exists: Safety, Consistency and Better Drivers
Before February 7, 2022, CDL training varied wildly from state to state.
One school in Ohio might offer 20 hours of driving practice; another in New Jersey 160 hours and another in Florida might only offer 2. Some drivers were passing CDL tests without ever being properly trained behind the wheel of an actual truck! Which is either incredibly impressive, or incredibly fishy.
The other issue was that there was no standard set of knowledge a semi-truck driver needed to know. Things like what to do if you’re in an accident, how to drive at night and how often you need to check your brakes.
Before ELDT Rules, Many Drivers Lacked Important Knowledge About Driving Trucks Safely. ELDT changed that
The federal ELDT standards were created to ensure that every new commercial driver, no matter where they train in the United States, learns the same core safety skills, including:
- Proper vehicle operation
- Driving in different conditions
- Understanding vehicle systems
- Pre-trip inspections
- Defensive driving
- Emergency procedures
The goal of the ELDT rule is simple: better trained and more knowledgeable drivers are safer drivers, which means safer roads for everyone.
Who Must Complete ELDT Training?
One of the most common questions we see online is, “Do I need to do ELDT training?”
The short answer is you probably do. But let’s break it down so you know exactly if you need to complete entry level truck driver training or not.
You must go through ELDT training if you are trying to…
- Get a Class A or Class B commercial driver’s license (CDL) for the very first time
- Upgrade your Class B CDL license into a Class A CDL
- Add one of these endorsements to your license for the first time
- S for school bus
- P for passenger vehicles
- H for hazardous materials
- If you started CDL training but never finished
Who Is Exempt?
…and the second most common is, “Am I exempt from ELDT?”
You do not need to do ELDT if:
- Your CDL license or endorsement was issued before February 7, 2022 (even if you’re upgrading from B to A)
- You had a CDL that you let expire
- You’re a military veteran who drove military vehicles similar to commercial trucks in the past year
- You’re a farmer transporting agricultural products to or from a farm
- Any individual who meets one of the exceptions for taking a skills test in 49 CFR Part 381 is also exempt from the ELDT requirements
If you don’t fall into an exemption category, then ELDT is mandatory. There is no way around it.
How To Complete ELDT Training (Step-by-Step)
Most people get confused because they’re not sure how the process works. They know they need to do the ELDT training but don’t know what’s actually involved.
Luckily, ELDT is pretty simple when you follow these steps.
The school must be listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR). Meaning that the CDL School must have an approved program that includes all the required topics in their curriculum.
If the school is not in FMCSA Training Provider Registry, your training won't count
This portion covers the knowledge you must understand before driving a commercial vehicle safely. Topics include:
- Basic Operation
- Safe Operating Procedures
- Advanced Operating Practices
- Vehicle Systems & Malfunctions
- Non-Driving Activities (post-crash procedures, hours of service, fatigue, etc.)
In order to pass you’ll need to get at least 80% right.If you do fail, don’t fret because you can retake it right away. (Though you’ll probably want to go back and study a bit.)
Once you pass the ELDT exam, your CDL school sends your results to a government registry so you can move on to the next part of becoming a truck driver, behind-the-wheel training.
In the past, you could get your practice in for the skills test by borrowing your uncle’s tractor-trailer.
But now, under the ELDT rules, to get your CDL you’ll need to complete your behind-the-wheel training at a CDL school that is approved by the FMCSA. This ensures that the training meets federal safety standards and is officially recognized when you go to get your CDL.
You must train with a certified instructor at a licensed CDL school
At your local CDL school, you’ll learn:
- Basic vehicle control
- Backing maneuvers
- Turning, shifting, and speed control
- Pre-trip inspections
- On-road driving in actual traffic
FAQs About ELDT
If you ask Google how much it costs to get ELDT training you’ll see a range from as little as $25 to over $10,000!
Why the huge range in price for ELDT? Because the low-end is just the price for online only programs. They don’t include the mandatory Behind-The-Wheel training.
Online ELDT courses typically cost between $50 to $150. But, in order to get your CDL you’ll need to also attend an in-person school.
To complete the Behind the Wheel training you’re looking at a cost between $2,500 and $6,000. Be suspicious of any school that claims they can do the in-person training required by the ELDT rules for less than $2,500. There’s a good chance you won’t actually have enough practice time to pass the difficult test or they might not even be approved by the FMCSA!
Officially there is no minimum number of hours required for ELDT training.
As long as your certified CDL school has a curriculum that meets the FMCSA minimum standard, the number of hours for classroom learning or behind the wheel learning is not set in stone. Certain states do require a certain number of hours behind the wheel. As a rule of thumb you’ll want to attend a program that offers at least 36 hours of behind the wheel training. But in actuality you’ll want to complete at least 100 hours of behind the wheel time in the truck yard for a Class A license and at least 60 hours to get a Class B CDL license.
Nope. Theory and behind the wheel ELDT training can be done at completely different schools. That is as long as they’re both on the FMCSA approved list.
But why would you want to pay extra for separate schools when you can go to a school like Driving Academy that offers free online ELDT theory classes as part of becoming a behind the wheel student?
It can be cheaper to do the ELDT Theory Training online. However at a school like Driving Academy the online ELDT theory course is FREE when you sign up.
While every student is unique, most people complete ELDT theory coursework in 2 weeks or less. It really depends how good you are at studying on your own. When it comes to the actual training part of becoming a trucker, most CDL training providers have 4-6 week ELDT BTW training programs. Some more indepth programs can take up to 8 weeks or more to complete.
At Driving Academy we’ve got programs that allow you to train on your schedule. Full time or part time, with night and weekend CDL classes. It’s not uncommon for our truck driving students to spread training out over a few months. We also have an accelerated 2 week CDL training program for out of state students who need to get their CDL fast!
It’s easy to find out if your trucking school is on the approved FMCSA list. All you have to do is visit the FMCSA Training Provider Registry website.
- You can complete the theory part of ELDT training at any time in the CDL process. So the ELDT theory section can be done before or after you take your CDL permit exam. Both theory and behind the wheel training need to be completed before you take your CDL road test.
That being said, you do need to complete the ELDT theory training before you can take the hazmat (H), school bus (S) or passenger (P) endorsement tests.
Unlike the CDL learners permit that expires in a year, once completed, the ELDT certification never expires. Even if you let your CDL license expire, you don’t need to redo the ELDT training. However you do need to complete your behind-the-wheel training within 12 months of finishing the theory portion. Otherwise you will need to retake the ELDT theory exam.
Because ELDT certification is handled at a federal level, you don’t need to redo it if you move to another state. You will need to transfer your CDL driver’s license to the new state you’re moving to.
Quick Recap: What You Need to Remember
- ELDT is mandatory for almost all new CDL drivers.
- You must complete theory AND behind-the-wheel training.
- It must be from a TPR-registered CDL school, or it won’t count.
- Online ELDT courses are convenient for the theory portion, but behind-the-wheel must be done in person.
- You can take your CDL road test once your school uploads your program completion to the FMCSA.
Why Choose Driving Academy To Do Your ELDT Training?
If you want to get your CDL, Driving Academy is here to help! As the best CDL school, we guide you every step of the way, from permit to paycheck.
Here’s what sets us our trucking school apart:
- Online ELDT theory for maximum flexibility
- Full hands-on behind-the-wheel training and realistic truck driving simulators to practice on
- Road test preparation and scheduling support
- Real trucks, real instructors, real experience
- Multiple training programs to match your schedule and goals including nights and weekends.
- Job placement assistance until the day you die!
We make the tractor-trailer training process easy, clear and stress-free to help you get on the Road To Freedom!
