CDL Background Check: What You Need to Know

Cindy Ellis - December 19, 2023

You’ll need a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) if you plan on driving large trucks like 18-wheelers, transporting some types of goods, or driving school buses or other types of public transportation. However, CDLs aren’t as simple to get when compared to a standard driver’s license. In fact, you’ll have to pass a CDL background check if you plan on getting one. 

When you’re applying for a CDL it’s important to prepare for That background check to help your case if you think something will show up. Thankfully, we’re here to help. 

Read on to learn everything you need to know about CDL background checks.

What Is a Commercial Driver’s License? 

A CDL is required if you plan on driving any commercial vehicles. So, if you plan on hitting the road in an 18-wheeler, dump truck, or bus, you’ll need a CDL. These licenses are issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and you need to pass road tests, CDL background checks, as well as pay a fee. Depending on what you plan on driving, some of the requirements may change. 

What Are the Types of Commercial Driver’s Licenses?

Several Classes of CDL are available. These include Class A, Class B, and Class C. The type of driver’s license you need to operate a vehicle comes down to how much the vehicle weighs, and how much weight you plan on towing. For commercial licenses, this refers to Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR).

Learn more about the specific details of each class below.

Class A 

The Class A CDL is required if you plan on driving vehicles that have a GCWR that’s more than 26,001 pounds, provided the tow vehicle is over 10,000 pounds.

With a Class A CDL, you can operate the following vehicles:

• Most Class B and Class C vehicles
• Tank vehicles
• Big flatbeds
• Vehicles that carry livestock
• Tractor-trailers
• Several combinations of trailers and trucks

Depending on your endorsements, you may be eligible to drive other commercial vehicles as well.

Class B 

The Class B CDL allows you to drive a  vehicle that has a GCWR that’s more than 26,001 pounds, provided the tow vehicle is less than 10,000 pounds. 

While less flexible than the Class A CDL, you can drive the following trucks:

• Straight trucks
• Passenger buses
• Buses with segments
• Box trucks
• Small trailers or dump trucks
• Some tractor-trailers

In some cases, you may also be eligible to drive Class C vehicles with a Class B CDL.

Class C 

A Class C CDL is a flexible license that allows you to transport at least 16 people (including yourself) or hazardous materials. Unlike the other license classes, there aren’t strict weight requirements. 

You can drive the following types of vehicles with a Class C CDL:

• Large passenger vans
• Some types of buses
• Vehicles that transport hazardous materials like waste

Some Class C licenses also allow you to drive trucks that are not covered in Class A or Class B.

What Are CDL Endorsements?

A CDL endorsement allows truck drivers to operate specialized vehicles. A specialized vehicle can be something like a school bus or a truck that hauls a specific material. Depending on the type of endorsement, you might have to pass a knowledge exam or an additional driving test with the vehicle you want to drive.

Learn about some of the common CDL endorsements below:

• H: Hazardous materials
• N: Tank vehicle
• P: Passenger
• T: Double/triple trailer
• S: School bus
• X: Combination of tank vehicle and hazardous material transportation

These endorsements will usually require extensive CDL background checks, knowledge exams, and/or driving tests.

What is a Commercial Learner’s Permit?

It’s hard to drive a semi-truck when you have no practice, especially if you plan on passing a road test. For this reason, many states offer a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). These permits allow you to practice driving a commercial vehicle, but you may have to pass a test to get one.

What Is a CDL Background Check?

A CDL background check is a unique type of background check that considers an individual’s driving history and criminal records. Infractions like speeding tickets, reckless driving, and running red lights may impact your ability to get a CDL. Misdemeanors and felonies will also impact your ability to obtain a CDL or a job that requires a CDL.

Every state has different rules regarding background checks, so make sure you brush up on your state’s laws before applying to a job that requires a CDL.

Does Every CDL Class Require a Background Check? 

Yes, every CDL class requires a background check. According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), all licensed commercial drivers must pass a background check before being hired. Some states have different rules about what’s allowed on a CDL background check, so it’s important to brush up on your state’s laws to stay prepared.

Do CDL Endorsements Require a Background Check?

Yes, most CDL endorsements require a background check as well. This is especially true if you’ll be working with hazardous materials, the general public, or children. If you want to have these endorsements added to your CDL, you have to pass a CDL background check. In fact, you may have to go through two background checks if you plan on getting a specific job – one to obtain the endorsement and another to get the job.

Different endorsements have different requirements as well. A DUI might not disqualify you from one endorsement, but it can disqualify you from a different one. Keep this in mind when applying for endorsements.

How To Prepare for a CDL Background Check

Preparation is key when it comes to a CDL background check. If you know what will show up on the report, you can better prepare for any related questions that may come later. This is crucial if you want to get a job that requires you to work with children, the public, or the transportation of hazardous materials.

Our favorite option for finding your driving records and criminal records is to use our background check search tool.

Information.com’s Background Check Search Tool 

The fastest way to find information about your driving record or criminal record is to use Information.com. Our background check tool will help you find everything you’re looking for as long as it’s a public record. This is perfect because CDL background checks will only find information that’s public record.

With our tool, you can find the following information:

• Sex offender status
• Criminal records
• Court records
• Misdemeanors
• Violations
• Some traffic records

Depending on how you’ve interacted with the authorities in the past, your report may reveal some or all of this information.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Every state has a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and you can obtain your records from them by going in person or visiting their website. For example, you can use the Records Request Navigator in New York to obtain a transcript of your driving history.

When you request your driving records with the DMV you can see how many points you have on your license, safety courses taken, and the status of your license. While you can’t find your criminal records with the DMV it’s perfect for finding anything else that a CDL background check looks for. Therefore, we recommend checking with your state’s DMV in addition to using our background check tool.

These are the best approaches for finding your records fast.

Prepare for a CDL Background Check Today! 

Staying prepared is always important for just about anything in life, so you should treat a CDL background check with the same care and preparation as you would any other type of background check. 

While you can use resources like the DMV to gain an understanding of your driving record, we always recommend using one of our background check tools to uncover other public records about yourself.