ELDT stands for Entry-Level Driver Training — the federally required training every new commercial driver must complete before taking their CDL skills test or Hazmat knowledge test. It took effect on February 7, 2022, it applies in all 50 states, and if you're getting your first Class A or Class B CDL — or adding a Hazmat, Passenger, or School Bus endorsement — it applies to you. Here's everything the rule actually requires, in plain English.
Where ELDT came from
Before 2022, CDL training standards were a patchwork: some states required formal training, others let you walk into the DMV with a permit and a borrowed truck. Congress directed the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) to set a national baseline, and the result is the ELDT rule in 49 CFR Part 380. Since February 7, 2022, no state can administer a first-time Class A or Class B skills test — or a first-time Hazmat knowledge test — unless the federal Training Provider Registry shows you completed the required training.
Who needs ELDT
- Anyone obtaining a Class A CDL for the first time
- Anyone obtaining a Class B CDL for the first time
- Class B holders upgrading to Class A (a shorter upgrade curriculum)
- Anyone adding a Hazmat (H), Passenger (P), or School Bus (S) endorsement for the first time
Who doesn't: ELDT is not retroactive. If your CDL or endorsement was issued before February 7, 2022, you're grandfathered. If you got your commercial learner's permit before that date and earn the CDL before the permit expires, you're exempt too. Military drivers, farmers, and firefighters covered by existing state CDL exceptions generally remain excepted. And note the Tanker (N) endorsement never requires ELDT — only a state knowledge test.
Theory vs. behind-the-wheel
ELDT has two components, and understanding the split is the key to doing it cheaply:
- Theory (knowledge) training — the classroom portion. The FMCSA explicitly allows it online, there's no minimum hour requirement, and you must score at least 80% on the assessment. This is what ELDT HQ delivers for $20 per course.
- Behind-the-wheel (BTW) training — in-person range and road instruction with a registered provider. Required for Class A, Class B, and the Passenger and School Bus endorsements. There's no federal minimum hour count; you train to proficiency.
The exception worth knowing: the Hazmat endorsement is theory-only. Complete the online course, pass the TSA background check, pass your state knowledge test — no driving component exists.
What the curriculum covers
Each credential has its own federally defined curriculum in the appendices of 49 CFR Part 380 — which is why every compliant provider teaches the same material:
- Appendix A — Class A theory: basic operation, safe operating procedures, advanced practices, vehicle systems and malfunctions, non-driving activities (hours of service, cargo, trip planning).
- Appendix B — Class B theory: the same five areas, tailored to single heavy vehicles.
- Appendix C — Passenger: loading/unloading, ADA obligations, baggage, emergencies.
- Appendix D — School Bus: student loading, danger zones, railroad crossings, evacuation.
- Appendix E — Hazmat: 13 units covering hazard classes, placarding, shipping papers, security.
How the Training Provider Registry works
The TPR (tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov) is the federal database that makes ELDT enforceable. Training providers register there and self-certify they meet the requirements; when you finish a course, your provider reports your completion to the registry, usually within a couple of business days. When you show up for your skills or knowledge test, the state checks the registry — no record, no test. That's also your quality check as a buyer: if a provider isn't on the TPR, their course doesn't count, no matter what the sales page says.
What ELDT costs
Theory pricing varies wildly for identical federally standardized content: many online providers charge $99–$150, and CDL schools bundle theory into tuition of $3,000–$8,000. ELDT HQ charges $20, one-time — certificate and registry reporting included. Behind-the-wheel training is priced separately by local providers and is the real cost center of getting a CDL, which is exactly why overpaying for theory makes no sense.
How to complete ELDT online
The whole theory process takes four steps: pick the course that matches your goal (see the full ELDT training guide if you're unsure), work through the curriculum at your own pace on any device, score 80%+ on the assessment, and get your certificate while your completion is reported to the registry. Most students finish in a single day — then move on to the permit, behind-the-wheel training, and the skills test covered in our CDL guide.