Texas CDL Manual and Test Resources

The Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Handbook is the primary study source for Texas CDL applicants. It covers general commercial driving knowledge, air brakes, combination vehicles, vehicle inspection, endorsements, safe operation, and skills-test preparation.

CDL Mastery can help you practice and organize the material, but the current Texas Department of Public Safety handbook and official DPS instructions should remain your final authority.

Important Texas testing change Beginning June 1, 2026, Texas administers all CDL and commercial learner permit knowledge examinations in English only. Interpreters are not permitted for these exams. CDL skills tests are also conducted in English.

Official Texas CDL handbook

Texas DPS publishes the official Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Handbook online. The handbook should be reviewed before taking any Texas CDL or endorsement knowledge test.

The current DPS form listing identifies the Commercial Driver Handbook as form DL-7C, revised in March 2026.

Open the official Texas Commercial Driver Handbook

Open the Texas DPS Commercial Driver License center

Major handbook sections to study

The sections you need depend on your intended CDL class, vehicle, endorsements, and restrictions.

Texas Commercial Rules: Texas-specific commercial licensing and operating requirements.
General Knowledge: inspection, basic control, shifting, speed management, hazards, emergencies, and safe driving.
Air Brakes: system components, pressure, warning devices, spring brakes, inspections, and leakage testing.
Combination Vehicles: coupling, fifth wheels, trailer air lines, rollover risk, off-tracking, inspection, and uncoupling.
Transporting Cargo: load securement, weight distribution, inspections, and handling.
Tank Vehicles: liquid surge, outage, vehicle control, and inspection.
Doubles and Triples: converter dollies, coupling, inspection, and handling.
Passenger and School Bus: passenger safety, loading, unloading, inspections, and emergencies.
Hazardous Materials: placards, shipping papers, loading, security, parking, and emergency response.

Texas CDL classes

Texas issues Class A, Class B, and Class C commercial driver licenses. The class needed depends on the vehicle’s weight ratings, trailer weight, passenger capacity, and whether placarded hazardous materials are transported.

Class A: Generally covers qualifying combinations with a gross combination weight rating of at least 26,001 pounds when the towed vehicle exceeds 10,000 pounds.
Class B: Generally covers qualifying single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 26,001 pounds and certain passenger vehicles.
Class C: Covers certain commercial vehicles that do not meet Class A or B definitions but transport qualifying passenger numbers or placarded hazardous materials.

Review Texas CDL classes and application requirements

Applying for a Texas commercial learner permit

First-time CDL applicants, applicants upgrading their CDL class, and applicants adding certain passenger-related endorsements generally must obtain a commercial learner permit before taking the applicable CDL skills test.

Texas requires a CLP to be held for at least 14 days before the applicant may take the CDL driving test when the permit requirement applies.

Texas DPS lists the general application process as:

Hold a valid Texas driver license.
Complete the Texas CDL application.
Schedule a driver license office appointment.
Provide identity and lawful-presence documentation.
Provide required residency and Social Security documentation.
Complete CDL medical self-certification.
Pay the applicable fee.
Provide thumbprints and have a photograph taken.
Pass the vision examination.
Pass the required knowledge examinations.

Permit supervision rule A Texas CLP holder practicing on public roads must be accompanied by a qualified CDL holder who is at least 21, holds the proper class and endorsements, and is seated beside the permit holder.

Texas knowledge-test order

Texas DPS states that required CDL knowledge examinations must be taken in this order:

Texas Commercial Rules.
General Knowledge.
Combination Vehicles for Class A applicants.
Air Brakes when applicable.
Required endorsement examinations.

Applicants should identify every required examination before visiting the driver license office so their handbook preparation matches the license privileges they are seeking.

Common Texas CDL endorsements

H — Hazardous Materials: Allows transportation of qualifying hazardous materials.
N — Tank Vehicles: Allows operation of qualifying tank vehicles.
P — Passenger: Allows operation of qualifying passenger vehicles.
S — School Bus: Allows operation of qualifying school buses when other requirements are met.
T — Doubles and Triples: Allows operation of qualifying double- or triple-trailer combinations.

Endorsements may require additional knowledge tests, CLP holding periods, background checks, ELDT, or skills testing.

Review Texas CDL endorsements and restrictions

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 HazMat, passenger, or school bus endorsement applicants.

ELDT is not required before obtaining the initial CLP. When ELDT applies, the required training must be completed before the applicable skills test or, for a first-time HazMat endorsement, before the HazMat knowledge test.

Search the FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Texas CDL medical certification

Texas commercial drivers and CLP applicants must self-certify the type of commercial operation they perform or intend to perform. Depending on that certification, a valid medical examiner’s certificate may be required.

Texas began receiving medical-certification information electronically through the National Registry integration. Effective April 10, 2026, Texas no longer accepts paper medical certificates for this process.

Keep your medical status current When a required medical certificate is not valid and recorded, commercial driving privileges may be downgraded. Texas DPS advises drivers to verify that their medical information has been processed.

Review Texas CDL medical-certification requirements

Texas CDL skills test

The Texas CDL skills test evaluates whether an applicant can inspect, control, and safely operate the commercial motor vehicle used for testing.

The test includes:

Vehicle inspection: identifying safety-critical components and explaining what is being checked.
Basic control skills: demonstrating required low-speed maneuvers.
Road test: safely operating the vehicle in real traffic conditions.

Texas fully adopted the modernized national CDL skills-test standards in September 2024. Applicants may test at designated DPS locations or, when eligible, through an authorized third-party skills-testing provider.

Review Texas CDL skills-test information

Review the Texas CDL third-party skills-testing program

Texas hazardous materials endorsement

A Texas HazMat endorsement requires more than passing the knowledge examination. Applicants must also satisfy federal Transportation Security Administration security-threat-assessment requirements.

The process may include:

Completing required ELDT for a first-time HazMat endorsement.
Submitting the Texas HazMat endorsement application.
Providing citizenship or qualifying immigration documentation.
Passing the HazMat knowledge examination.
Completing fingerprinting.
Receiving TSA security-threat-assessment approval.

A first-time applicant cannot receive the Texas HazMat endorsement until TSA clearance is completed.

Review the Texas HazMat endorsement process

Texas CDL and CLP fees

Texas fees depend on the credential, applicant age, endorsements, and other circumstances. DPS currently lists separate fees for original and replacement CLPs, standard CDLs, HazMat CDLs, and non-domiciled credentials.

Because fees can change, confirm the current amount before your appointment.

Check current Texas driver license and CDL fees

How to study the Texas handbook

Choose your CDL class. Determine whether you need Class A, B, or C.
List your endorsements. Identify Tanker, HazMat, Passenger, School Bus, or Doubles and Triples requirements.
Study Texas Commercial Rules. This is the first knowledge examination in the Texas testing order.
Master General Knowledge. Focus on inspection, hazards, speed, space, emergencies, and safe control.
Add vehicle-system sections. Study Combination Vehicles and Air Brakes when applicable.
Add endorsement sections. Study each required endorsement separately.
Practice by topic. Use practice questions to identify weak areas.
Review mistakes in the official handbook. Learn the safety reason rather than memorizing an answer position.
Complete mixed practice. Prepare to move between Texas rules, general knowledge, systems, and endorsements.

Related CDL Mastery guides

Last checked: July 17, 2026 Texas CDL forms, fees, handbook editions, testing procedures, locations, language requirements, and medical-certification rules can change. Verify all requirements directly through Texas DPS before applying or testing.

Official Texas CDL resources

This page is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with the Texas Department of Public Safety. It does not replace the current Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Handbook, official DPS instructions, instructor guidance, employer procedures, or applicable federal and state law.