1.    Applicants attempting to obtain a commercial driver's license and/or instructional permit of any class shall be required to take and pass the commercial driver’s license (CDL) general knowledge test.

2.    Applicants for all classes of commercial driver's license, including instructional permits, must receive a grade of at least 80 percent out of a possible 100 percent on the appropriate knowledge test(s).  Test scores are considered valid for one (1) year.  

  1. The Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) must be valid for no more than 180 days from the date of issuance.  The State may renew the CLP for an additional 180 days without requiring the CLP holder to retake the general and endorsement knowledge tests;
  2. The issuance of a CLP is a precondition to the initial issuance of a CDL.  The issuance of a CLP is also a precondition to the upgrade of a CDL if the upgrade requires a skills test.
  3. The only endorsements that will be allowed on a CLP are the “P” (passenger), and “S” (school bus).  The passenger endorsement will require that the CLP have a “P” restriction with prohibits passengers in CMV bus and “N” (tank), the “N” endorsement will require that the CLP have a “X” restriction which prohibits any cargo in the CMV tank vehicle;
  4. The CLP holder is not eligible to take the CDL skills test in the first 14 days after initial issuance of the CLP.

 3.   Out of state applicants who move to Georgia and have a commercial driver's license issued from their prior state of residence will be required to apply for a Georgia CDL by completing a CDL application and paying the appropriate fee. However, these licenses will be exchanged one for one, with the exception of the H endorsement. Applicants will be required to pass the hazardous materials knowledge test to maintain this endorsement. If applicants apply for a higher class of commercial driver's license or additional endorsements, the necessary test(s) and applicable fees will be required.

4.    Applicants for commercial driver's license and CLPs of classes A and B, whose vehicles are equipped with air brakes, must pass the Air Brakes test.

5.    Applicants are required to pay the fee for issuance of a Class A, B, or C CLP permit prior to attempting the written test(s) required for such permit.  If the applicant does not achieve a passing score, the issuance fee shall be retained by the Department as a testing fee, and such fee shall be pre-paid by the applicant on each successive attempt until  a passing score is achieved at which time such fee shall be considered the fee for issuance of the instructional permit.

6.   Applicants must pass the written test and skills test, if required for the specific endorsement sought before the endorsement can be applied to the license. A “P” endorsement may be applied to a commercial Class A, B or C instructional permit upon satisfactory completion of the applicable written test “S” endorsements shall  be applied to any class instructional permit and may only be applied to commercial driver’s licenses granted upon satisfactory completion of both the written test and skills test for such endorsement.

7.    The initial license issuance fee, regardless of how many endorsements are added, will be $32.00 for a term of eight (8) years.

8.    After the initial commercial driver's license issuance, additional endorsements may be added upon passing the test(s) for the additional endorsements requested. A fee of $5.00 for each additional endorsement may be assessed, plus a $32.00 license renewal fee.

9.       To add the Passenger “P” endorsement to a license the applicant must take and pass both the appropriate knowledge test and the skills test in the type of bus applicant plans to operate (i.e. transit bus, church bus, school bus).

10.     Upon passing the required knowledge test(s) an individual will be issued a CDL permit (CLP).  A CLP is considered a valid CDL for purposes of behind-the-wheel training on public roads or highways, if all of the following minimum conditions are met.  The CLP holder is at all times accompanied by the holder of a valid CDL who has the proper CDL class and endorsement(s) necessary to operate the CMV.  The CDL holder must at all times be physically present in the front seat of the vehicle next to the CLP holder or, in the case of a passenger vehicle, directly behind or in the first row behind the driver and must have the CLP holder under observation and direct supervision.  The CLP holder holds a valid driver’s license issued by the same jurisdiction that issued the CLP.  The CLP holder does not operate a commercial motor vehicle transporting hazardous materials as defined in 49 C.F.R. §383.5.

11.     When issued to a CDL holder, a CLP serves as authorization for accompanied behind-the-wheel training in a CMV for which the holder’s current CDL is not valid.

12.     All applicants must meet the medical requirement of 49 C.F.R. §391.41 and provide a copy of the DOT Medical Certificate at the time of application for initial issuance of a CLP, renewal of a CDL or transfer of a CDL from another state unless exempt under CDL Rule 1-1-.05.

Authority: O.C.G.A. Sec. 40-5-156, O.C.G.A 40-16-5(c), C.F. R. 383.133(c)(6)(ii))
Effective Date: 2/8/2017

Short Title
CDL Rule 1-1-.08