Rhode Island · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Rhode Island CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Rhode Island CDLs are issued by the RI Division of Motor Vehicles, with all in-person CDL transactions handled only at the Cranston DMV headquarters by appointment. Under RI DMV Rules (280-RICR-30-05-1), applicants must be 18 for intrastate (21 for interstate), have held a driver's license for at least two years, and meet clean-driving-record standards. A new Commercial Learner's Permit costs $73.50, knowledge tests $23.50 ($10 each additional), and a 5-year CDL renewal is $103.50, all inclusive of a $3.50 technology surcharge.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Federal layer: ELDT since Feb 2022; DOT medical certificate; endorsements H (TSA check), N, T, P, S. Rhode Island state add-ons are unusually strict: minimum 2 years as a licensed driver, plus lookback rules (no 3+ moving violations in 12 months within prior 2 years; no suspensions/reckless/eluding within 3 years; no drug/alcohol convictions within 5 years) under RI DMV Rules 280-RICR-30-05-1. Ages: 18 intrastate-only, 21 for interstate. Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residence required for all CDL transactions (others receive non-domiciled CDL). All CDL transactions at Cranston DMV only, by appointment; P and S endorsements require a Chauffeur Application. Other fees: out-of-state CDL transfer $59.50, duplicate $23.50, update $23.50, motorcycle endorsement add $38.50, in-state chauffeur $5.50.
What licenses does Rhode Island issue?
The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (RI DMV) 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: Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Rhode Island require?
CDL knowledge exam(s) (8:30am-1:30pm, by appointment; hazmat requires ELDT + TSA Security Threat Assessment before testing; P and S endorsements require a Chauffeur Application before testing). Administered by RI DMV, Cranston branch.
CDL skills test - 3 parts: Vehicle Inspection, Basic Controls, Road Test. Administered by RI DMV (Commercial Skills Test program).
How much does a Rhode Island CDL truck driver license cost?
Getting a journeyman CDL truck driver license in Rhode Island costs $97 in board fees, before any training. That is the application fee and the exam 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$73.5
- Exam fee$23.5
- Renewal fee (recurring)$103.5
Source: fee schedule (dmv.ri.gov). Verified July 2026.
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 5 years ($103.50); 2 years for drivers 70 and older ($49.50); renewal allowed only within 45 days of expiration
Continuing education: None. Medical self-certification and DOT Medical Certificate required at CLP issuance and must be kept current for non-excepted drivers; hazmat requires TSA Security Threat Assessment.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No apprenticeship requirement; ELDT courses through an FMCSA Training Provider Registry provider are required between the CLP and skills test (performance-based, no hour minimums). A Military Skills Test Waiver Program is available.
How does Rhode Island 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | not published | Statewide |
| Connecticut | not published | Statewide |
| Massachusetts | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- RI DMV - Commercial Fees (full CDL/CLP fee table incl. $3.50 technology surcharge)
- RI DMV - Commercial Driving License (CDL): steps, eligibility per 280-RICR-30-05-1, proof of status
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: South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont.
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 Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (RI DMV) before making decisions. Not legal advice.