Louisiana · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Louisiana CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Louisiana CDLs are issued by the Office of Motor Vehicles (Department of Public Safety & Corrections). The basic Class A/B/C CDL fee is $61.50 ($76.50 for Orleans Parish residents) for a 6-year license under La. R.S. 32:412, and CDL skills tests are administered by OMV-approved third-party testers with a statutory fee cap of $60. The CLP is issued for up to 180 days (extendable once, 360-day max) and must be held 14 days before the skills test.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Louisiana?
Louisiana licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
CLP applicants must be 18 or older and already hold a Louisiana license; federal rules require age 21 for interstate driving, hazmat, or passengers. CLP is issued for up to 180 days, extendable 180 more (360-day max from initial issuance), and the holder cannot take the skills test in the first 14 days. Orleans Parish residents pay $76.50 instead of $61.50 (portion funds the city police pension fund). Federal layer: ELDT since Feb 2022, DOT medical certificate, endorsements H (TSA), N, T, P, S; CLP can carry only N, P, S.
What licenses does Louisiana issue?
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) issues the credentials below for this trade. Boards often list further classes for specialties and business licenses; these are the ones this page covers.
Hours are what each class asks for on its own terms. Where a senior class shows fewer than a journeyman, the board is counting time served after the earlier license rather than from the start; the prerequisite column says which.
| License | On-the-job hours | Classroom hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A CDL | not published | not published | Yes |
| Class B CDL | not published | not published | Yes |
| Class C CDL | not published | not published | Yes |
Source: Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) (legis.la.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Louisiana require?
CDL knowledge tests. Administered by Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.
CDL skills test (pre-trip, basic control, road). Administered by OMV-approved third-party testers.
How much does a Louisiana CDL truck driver license cost?
Louisiana sets its fees per license class rather than as one figure for the trade, so no single total would be true of every applicant. The published items are below exactly as the board sets them.
- Exam feeset per license class
- Initial license fee$61.5
- Renewal fee (recurring)$61.5
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 6 years, CDL expires on the anniversary of the applicant's birthday nearest 6 years from issuance (La. R.S. 32:412); basic fee $61.50 per cycle ($76.50 Orleans Parish)
Continuing education: None required by the state. DOT medical certificate (from a National Registry-certified examiner) must be kept current; hazmat endorsement requires a TSA security threat assessment with fingerprinting ($85.25, ~6 weeks processing) for every new issuance, renewal, or state-of-record change.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No apprenticeship pathway to licensure. First-time Class A/B applicants must complete performance-based ELDT from an FMCSA-registered provider; Louisiana sets no minimum training hours.
How does Louisiana compare to neighboring states?
Requirements stop at the state line, which matters if you live near one or expect to move. Here is what the neighboring states ask of the same trade.
| State | Journeyman hours | Licensing model |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | not published | Statewide |
| Arkansas | not published | Statewide |
| Mississippi | not published | Statewide |
| Texas | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- Louisiana OMV - New CDL
- Louisiana OMV - Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL)
- La. R.S. 32:412 - license fees and duration (official legislature site)
Last verified July 2026. Found an error? Report it and it will be corrected and logged on the corrections page.
Other states with published requirements for this trade: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota.
Price the whole path with the license cost estimator, or weigh earning against paying for school with the apprenticeship comparison. Back to CDL truck drivers overview.
Licensing requirements change between our verification sweeps. This page is informational only, so confirm current requirements with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) before making decisions. Not legal advice.