New Jersey · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
New Jersey CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, New Jersey CDLs are issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Applicants pay a non-refundable $125 commercial examination/permit fee, must hold a basic Class D license, and after ELDT, the 14-day CLP period, and the skills test pay $42 for a 4-year CDL plus $2 per endorsement. Minimum age is 18, but drivers under 21 are restricted to intrastate operation and cannot hold hazmat or passenger endorsements; NJ's Class C also uniquely covers for-hire vehicles carrying 8-15 passengers.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in New Jersey?
New Jersey licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Federal layer: ELDT required since Feb 7, 2022 for new Class A/B applicants, upgrades, and first-time H/P/S endorsements; DOT medical certificate on file with the National Registry plus MVC self-certification; 14-day CLP hold; endorsements H (TSA check), N, T, P, S at $2 each in NJ. NJ specifics: $125 non-refundable commercial examination test receipt fee starts the CLP process (covers testing); 4-year CDL $42 plus $2 per endorsement; duplicate CLP $11; renewal $42 in person only. Vision standard 20/40 in each eye with color recognition (red/green/amber). Under-21 drivers: intrastate only, no hazmat or passenger endorsements, night and passenger restrictions. State add-on: NJ Class C includes for-hire vehicles designed for 8-15 passengers, broader than the federal minimum. CDL transfers from all states accepted under federal CDLIS.
What licenses does New Jersey issue?
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission 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: New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (nj.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does New Jersey require?
CDL knowledge test(s) (covered by the $125 commercial examination test receipt fee). Administered by New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
CDL skills test (vehicle inspection, basic controls, road test). Administered by New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (covered by the commercial examination fee).
How much does a New Jersey CDL truck driver license cost?
Getting a journeyman CDL truck driver license in New Jersey costs $167 in board fees, before any training. That is the application fee and the initial license 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.
- Application fee$125
- Exam feeincluded
- Initial license fee$42
- Renewal fee (recurring)$42
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 4 years (prorated to match the driver's basic license expiration); CDL renewal must be completed in person at a motor vehicle agency
Continuing education: None for the base CDL. Endorsement renewals cost $2 each; hazmat endorsement requires TSA security threat assessment renewal; medical examiner certificate must remain current on the National Registry.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No apprenticeship is required or credited toward licensure; since Feb 7, 2022 applicants must complete Entry-Level Driver Training from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before taking the skills test for a CDL or applicable endorsements.
How does New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | not published | Statewide |
| Delaware | not published | Statewide |
| New York | not published | Statewide |
| Pennsylvania | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- NJ MVC - Getting your Commercial Driver License (CDL)
- NJ MVC - Commercial Driver License (CDL) classes and endorsements
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: New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma.
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 New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission before making decisions. Not legal advice.