Your complete guide to commercial driving in Washington State.
Before you get started
Prefer a printed version?
Visit a driver licensing office to get a printed copy of the CDL Guide. If you live out of state or can't get to an office, call us and we'll send a guide to you free of charge.
You can also download the commercial driver guide to print at home.
What's in the guide
- Commercial driver license (CDL) requirements
- Skills test overview
- State CDL laws and regulations
- Types of commercial vehicles and operation guidelines
- Safe driving tips and techniques
- Safe transportation guidelines for passengers and cargo
- Hazardous materials
New supplemental guide
Hard copies of a new supplemental guide will be available by the end of August. If you take your test on or after October 1, you'll need to study and get trained on the new testing criteria.
When to use the new supplemental guide
- When skills testing on or after October 1.
- Study from both the current CDL guide and the supplemental guide.
- If you're upgrading your CDL on or after October 1 and it requires a skills test.
New skills test requirements
We're implementing AAMVA’s CDL Modernized Skills Test on October 1, 2023. The new test changes the Vehicle Inspection and Basic Control segments of the skills test. The road test will remain the same.
The new testing criteria only applies to approved schools and employer training providers. We'll begin the new skills test for ESD and transit drivers in early 2024.
Previous test scores
- Previous scores won't be valid on or after the implementation date. No exceptions.
- If you don't pass all 3 segments of the skills test before October 1, we won't carry over any passing scores. You'll have to start over at the Vehicle Inspection.
