Maryland · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Maryland CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Maryland CDLs are issued by the MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). The CDL learner's permit costs $106 and that fee includes the license issuance itself; CDLs are valid up to 8 years with a $64 renewal, except hazmat-endorsed CDLs which are limited to 5 years ($30 plus a $109.25 background check). Applicants must be 18 for intrastate driving, 21 for interstate/hazmat/passengers, complete ELDT before the skills test, and hold the CLP at least 14 days.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Maryland?
Maryland licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Fees effective 9/1/2025 per the MVA fee page: CDL learner's permit $106 (the permit fee includes the fee for obtaining the license, no additional fee at issuance); CDL renewal $64 (8-year); out-of-state CDL conversion $64 ($40 for 5-year with hazmat); CDL with hazmat endorsement $30 (5-year); skills retest $20; duplicate/correction $30; add motorcycle $45; hazmat background check $109.25. Under-21 CDL holders receive a K (intrastate-only) restriction and may not test or drive out of state. Maryland accepts out-of-state CDL skills test results through CSTIMS but does not issue or recognize temporary CDLs from other jurisdictions, transfers of temporary CDLs must restart with a Maryland CLP. Federal layer: ELDT since Feb 2022, DOT medical certificate, endorsements H (TSA), N, T, P, S.
What licenses does Maryland issue?
The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) 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: Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) (mva.maryland.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Maryland require?
CDL knowledge (written) tests. Administered by MDOT MVA branch offices (by appointment).
CDL skills test (45-min pre-trip inspection, basic control maneuvers 10 min each, on-road test). Administered by MDOT MVA (applicant provides a representative vehicle); out-of-state skills tests accepted via AAMVA CSTIMS.
How much does a Maryland CDL truck driver license cost?
Getting a journeyman CDL truck driver license in Maryland costs $106 in board fees, before any training. That is the application fee charged once, with renewal charged separately below. No board publishes this total, so it is added up here from the schedule it does publish. An exam is required and its fee is not in that figure, because no amount for it appears in the board material this page is built from. Check the board's current fee schedule before budgeting.
- Application fee$106
- Renewal fee (recurring)$64
Source: fee schedule (mva.maryland.gov). Verified July 2026.
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: Up to 8 years ($64 renewal); CDLs with hazmat endorsement limited to 5 years ($30 + $109.25 hazmat background check every cycle)
Continuing education: None required by the state. Must keep the Medical Examiner's Certificate (DOT card) current, it flows to the MVA from the FMCSA National Registry, or face CDL downgrade; hazmat endorsement requires TSA background check ($109.25) every 5-year cycle.
Source: renewal requirements (mva.maryland.gov). Verified July 2026.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No apprenticeship pathway to licensure. First-time Class A/B applicants (and first P/S/H endorsements) must complete performance-based ELDT from an FMCSA Training Provider Registry provider before the skills test (before the knowledge test for hazmat); Maryland sets no minimum training hours.
How does Maryland 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | not published | Statewide |
| Delaware | not published | Statewide |
| Pennsylvania | not published | Statewide |
| Virginia | not published | Statewide |
| West Virginia | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
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: Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi.
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 Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) before making decisions. Not legal advice.