Georgia CDL Manual and Test Resources

The Georgia Commercial Driver’s Study Guide is the main study source for Georgia CDL applicants. It covers commercial licensing, safe driving, cargo, air brakes, combination vehicles, endorsements, vehicle inspection, basic control skills, and road-test preparation.

CDL Mastery can help you organize the material and practice individual topics, but the current Georgia DDS manual and official DDS instructions should remain your final authority.

Official Georgia Commercial Driver’s Manual

Georgia DDS provides the Commercial Driver’s Study Guide as both a downloadable PDF and an online publication. Use the official DDS manual page to obtain the current version.

Open the official Georgia DDS manuals page

Open Georgia DDS commercial license resources

Major Georgia CDL manual topics

The sections you need depend on your CDL class, vehicle equipment, endorsements, and expected commercial operation.

• Introduction and licensing: CDL classes, endorsements, restrictions, disqualifications, and application requirements.
• Driving Safely: inspections, vehicle control, speed, space management, hazards, emergencies, railroad crossings, and difficult conditions.
• Transporting Cargo Safely: cargo weight, balance, securement, inspections, and cargo-related safety risks.
• Passenger Vehicles: loading, unloading, emergency equipment, prohibited practices, and passenger safety.
• Air Brakes: system components, pressure, warning devices, spring brakes, leakage testing, and safe braking.
• Combination Vehicles: coupling, fifth wheels, trailer air lines, rollover risk, off-tracking, and inspections.
• Doubles and Triples: converter dollies, coupling order, vehicle stability, and inspections.
• Tank Vehicles: liquid surge, outage, vehicle control, and safe operation.
• Hazardous Materials: placards, shipping papers, loading, parking, security, and emergencies.
• School Buses: student loading, warning devices, railroad crossings, inspections, and emergency procedures.
• CDL skills testing: vehicle inspection, basic control skills, and the road test.

Georgia CDL classes

Georgia issues Class A, Class B, and Class C commercial driver licenses. Vehicle weight ratings, trailer weight, passenger use, and hazardous-material transportation determine the required class.

• Class A: Generally covers combinations rated at 26,001 pounds or more when the vehicle being towed exceeds 10,000 pounds.
• Class B: Generally covers single vehicles rated at 26,001 pounds or more and qualifying vehicles towing 10,000 pounds or less.
• Class C: Covers certain commercial vehicles outside Class A or B that require passenger, school bus, or hazardous-material qualifications.

Review Georgia driver license classes

Georgia commercial learner’s permit

First-time CDL applicants, applicants upgrading to a higher CDL class, and applicants making certain endorsement changes must first obtain a commercial learner’s permit.

Georgia requires the applicant to hold the CLP for at least 14 days before taking the CDL skills test. A Georgia CLP issued under the current rules is generally valid for 365 days.

Georgia’s CLP process generally includes:

1. Hold a valid regular Georgia driver’s license.
2. Complete the required DDS application information.
3. Provide identity and residency documents.
4. Self-certify the type of commercial operation.
5. Provide medical qualification information when required.
6. Pass the vision examination.
7. Pass the required CDL knowledge tests.
8. Pay the applicable permit and testing fees.

A CLP holder must operate the appropriate vehicle class while accompanied by a properly licensed CDL holder who is able to supervise the driver from the required seating position.

Review Georgia CDL permit requirements

Georgia CDL knowledge tests

The exact examinations depend on the CDL class, endorsements, restrictions, and vehicle the applicant intends to operate.

Possible knowledge tests include:

• General Knowledge.
• Air Brakes.
• Combination Vehicles.
• Passenger Transport.
• School Bus.
• Tank Vehicles.
• Doubles and Triples.
• Hazardous Materials.

Georgia DDS states that commercial knowledge examinations must begin at least 45 minutes before the Customer Service Center closes. Applicants should confirm office hours and appointment requirements before traveling.

Review Georgia DDS test and examination information

Entry-Level Driver Training

Federal Entry-Level Driver Training requirements apply to many first-time Class A and Class B applicants, Class B-to-Class A upgrades, and first-time passenger, school bus, or hazardous-material endorsement applicants.

When ELDT applies, the required training must be completed through a provider listed in the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before the applicable state test.

Search the FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Georgia CDL medical certification

Every CDL holder must self-certify the type of commercial driving performed. The self-certification category determines whether a Medical Examiner’s Certificate is required.

Effective June 18, 2025, medical certificates submitted by certified medical examiners through the FMCSA National Registry are transmitted electronically to Georgia DDS. DDS states that it no longer accepts routine medical certificates by mail, fax, email, online upload, or in-person delivery after that transition.

Open Georgia CDL medical and self-certification resources

Georgia CDL skills test

The Georgia CDL skills test evaluates whether the applicant can inspect, control, and safely operate a representative commercial vehicle.

The test generally includes:

• Vehicle inspection: identifying safety-critical components and explaining what is being checked.
• Basic control skills: completing required low-speed maneuvers within the testing area.
• Road test: demonstrating safe operation in traffic and roadway situations.

The applicant must hold the proper Georgia license and CLP, satisfy applicable ELDT requirements, and bring an appropriate vehicle. Georgia also requires vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and medical documentation when applicable. The vehicle must pass the DDS safety inspection.

Review Georgia CDL road-test requirements

Georgia CDL road-test fee

Georgia DDS currently states that a commercial road skills testing fee is required for each testing attempt. Applicants should verify the current fee and accepted payment methods before their appointment.

Georgia HazMat endorsement

A hazardous materials endorsement requires additional state and federal steps beyond the standard CDL application.

The process may include:

• First-time HazMat Entry-Level Driver Training.
• Passing the Georgia HazMat knowledge test.
• Providing required identity and lawful-status documents.
• Completing TSA fingerprinting and a security threat assessment.
• Maintaining the required CDL and medical qualifications.

Georgia indicates that HazMat endorsements expire according to the TSA threat-assessment date, which may be different from the underlying CDL expiration date.

Review Georgia HazMat and TSA resources

Passenger and school bus endorsements

Passenger and school bus applicants may need additional knowledge tests, ELDT, permit restrictions, skills testing, medical qualifications, background checks, and employer or school-system requirements.

School bus applicants should study both the Passenger Vehicles and School Buses sections of the Georgia commercial manual.

Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse status

A driver with a prohibited status in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse cannot operate a commercial motor vehicle on public roads and cannot maintain active commercial driving privileges.

Georgia DDS began removing commercial privileges for drivers reported with a prohibited Clearinghouse status. The privileges remain unavailable until the driver completes the applicable federal return-to-duty process and the record is updated.

Open the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

How to study the Georgia manual

1. Choose your CDL class. Determine whether you need Class A, B, or C.
2. Identify every endorsement. List HazMat, Tank, Passenger, School Bus, or Doubles and Triples.
3. Study General Knowledge first. Build your foundation in inspections, speed, space, hazards, and emergencies.
4. Add Air Brakes when applicable. Learn the system components, warning devices, pressure rules, and inspection procedure.
5. Add Combination Vehicles for Class A. Focus on coupling, trailer air systems, rollover risk, off-tracking, and inspections.
6. Study endorsements separately. Keep HazMat, Tank, Passenger, School Bus, and Doubles and Triples in focused review sessions.
7. Practice by topic. Use missed questions to identify the manual section that needs review.
8. Prepare separately for the skills test. Practice inspection language, basic control maneuvers, and safe road-test habits in a representative vehicle.

Georgia CDL preparation checklist

• Read the current Georgia Commercial Driver’s Study Guide.
• Confirm your CDL class and endorsements.
• Prepare required identity and residency documents.
• Complete CDL self-certification.
• Confirm whether a medical certificate is required.
• Check whether ELDT applies.
• Pass the required knowledge tests.
• Hold the CLP for at least 14 days.
• Practice the vehicle inspection aloud.
• Practice basic control maneuvers.
• Schedule the Georgia CDL road skills test.

Related CDL Mastery guides

• CDL Permit Test Beginner Guide
• CDL General Knowledge Test Study Guide
• CDL Air Brakes Study Guide
• CDL Combination Vehicles Study Guide
• Pre-Trip Inspection Study Method
• Who Needs Entry-Level Driver Training?