Oregon · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Oregon CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Oregon CDLs are issued by Oregon DMV (Driver & Motor Vehicle Services, a division of the Oregon Department of Transportation). Applicants need a valid Oregon Class C license, must pass knowledge tests ($10 each) to get a Commercial Learner Permit ($40), complete ELDT, and pass the three-part skills test ($145 at DMV, or through a third-party examiner plus a $40 certificate fee). An original CDL costs $160 and fees rose sharply on Jan 1, 2024 under HB 2100 (2023 session); minimum age is 18 for intrastate and 21 for interstate driving.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Oregon?
Oregon licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Federal layer: ELDT since Feb 2022 for new Class A/B applicants; DOT medical certificate; endorsements H (TSA check), N, T, P, S. Oregon specifics: minimum age 18 intrastate / 21 interstate; general knowledge test offered in English only; knowledge and skills test results each valid 6 months; HB 2100 (2023) roughly doubled commercial fees effective Jan 1, 2024 (original CDL $75 to $160, skills test $70 to $145, CLP $23 to $40, renewal $61 to $104); CDL replacement $30; CDL-with-motorcycle renewal $132; optional Real ID adds $30. Oregon DMV stopped issuing non-domiciled CDLs/CLPs effective Sept 29, 2025, and limited-term CDLs/CLPs are no longer issued as of March 16, 2026. Applicants must self-certify driving category and be verified against the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
What licenses does Oregon issue?
The Oregon DMV (Driver & Motor Vehicle Services), Oregon Department of Transportation 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: Oregon DMV (Driver & Motor Vehicle Services), Oregon Department of Transportation (oregon.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Oregon require?
CDL knowledge test(s) - general (English only), combination (Class A), air brakes, endorsement tests; results valid 6 months. Administered by Oregon DMV. Exam fee $10.
CDL skills test (pre-trip inspection, basic control, on-road); results valid 6 months. Administered by Oregon DMV (or third-party examiner; DMV charges $40 for the Certificate of Test Completion plus issuance fee). Exam fee $145.
How much does an Oregon CDL truck driver license cost?
Getting a journeyman CDL truck driver license in Oregon costs $210 in board fees, before any training. That is the application fee, the exam 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$40
- Exam fee$10
- Initial license fee$160
- Renewal fee (recurring)$104
Source: fee schedule (oregon.gov). Verified July 2026.
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 8 years (Oregon licenses are valid for 8 years; renewable up to 12 months early)
Continuing education: None. Medical certification must stay current on the DMV record for non-excepted drivers; hazmat endorsement renewal requires retaking the hazmat knowledge test (with test fee) and a TSA security background check within the past 4 years 9 months.
Source: renewal requirements (oregon.gov). Verified July 2026.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No apprenticeship requirement; ELDT from an FMCSA-registered provider is required for first-time Class A/B and certain endorsements (performance-based, no hour minimums). Military skills-test waivers available.
How does Oregon 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | not published | Statewide |
| California | not published | Statewide |
| Idaho | not published | Statewide |
| Nevada | not published | Statewide |
| Washington | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- Oregon DMV - HB 2100 Commercial Licensing Fee Changes (2023 session, effective Jan 1, 2024)
- Oregon DMV - Getting a Commercial Driver License or Commercial Learner Permit
- Oregon DMV - Commercial Driver License Fees
- Oregon DMV - Renewing a Commercial Driver License
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: Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota.
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 Oregon DMV (Driver & Motor Vehicle Services), Oregon Department of Transportation before making decisions. Not legal advice.