ELDT Training Online
What Entry-Level Driver Training is, who needs it, and the fastest, cheapest way to get it done — $20, 100% online, finished in a day.
ELDT training (Entry-Level Driver Training) is the federally required training every new CDL driver must complete before their licensing test. The theory portion can be done 100% online — and ELDT HQ delivers it for $20, self-paced, with your completion reported to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
- Required since: February 7, 2022 — federal rule, 49 CFR Part 380, all 50 states.
- Who needs it: First-time Class A or Class B CDL applicants, Class B→A upgrades, and anyone adding a Hazmat, Passenger, or School Bus endorsement.
- Two parts: Theory (online — this is what ELDT HQ offers) and behind-the-wheel (in person; not required for Hazmat).
- Cost at ELDT HQ: $20 per course, one-time. No subscription, no contract, no upsells.
- Time: Self-paced — most students finish theory in a single day.
- Proof: Certificate on completion + your record filed with the federal Training Provider Registry.
What Is ELDT Training?
Entry-Level Driver Training is the baseline training standard the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) set for new commercial drivers. Before February 2022, CDL training requirements varied wildly by state. Now there's one federal standard: before you take a Class A or Class B CDL skills test — or the Hazmat endorsement knowledge test — you must complete training from a provider listed on the federal Training Provider Registry (TPR).
The training has two components. Theory covers the knowledge curriculum defined in 49 CFR Part 380 — safe operating procedures, vehicle systems, hours of service, and more. The FMCSA allows theory to be delivered entirely online, which is exactly what ELDT HQ does for $20. Behind-the-wheel (BTW) training happens in person on a range and road with a registered provider. The Hazmat endorsement is the exception — it requires theory only.
There's no federal minimum number of training hours for theory. You must cover every required topic and score at least 80% on the assessment — which is why a self-paced online ELDT course can be finished in a day instead of weeks of scheduled classes.
Who Needs ELDT Training?
If you're doing any of the following for the first time, federal law requires ELDT before your test.
| You're getting… | Theory required | Behind-the-wheel | Your course |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-time Class A CDL | Yes — Appendix A | Yes | Class A ELDT Theory → |
| First-time Class B CDL | Yes — Appendix B | Yes | Class B ELDT Theory → |
| Class B → Class A upgrade | Yes — shorter upgrade curriculum | Yes | B to A Upgrade → |
| Hazmat (H) endorsement | Yes — Appendix E | No — classroom only | Hazmat Endorsement → |
| Passenger (P) endorsement | Yes — Appendix C | Yes | Passenger Endorsement → |
| School Bus (S) endorsement | Yes — Appendix D | Yes | School Bus Endorsement → |
Not required: drivers licensed before February 7, 2022 (ELDT is not retroactive), and the Tanker (N) endorsement — though ELDT HQ offers a $20 prep course for its knowledge test.
Online ELDT Training vs. Classroom
The theory curriculum is federally standardized — every registered provider teaches the same required topics from the same federal appendices. What differs is how you take it and what you pay:
- Schedule: Online ELDT is self-paced and available 24/7 on any device. Classroom theory runs on fixed dates — miss a session and you wait for the next cohort.
- Speed: Most ELDT HQ students finish theory in a single day. Classroom programs typically stretch the same material across days or weeks.
- Price: ELDT HQ charges $20 one-time. Standalone online competitors commonly charge $99–$150; schools bundle theory into multi-thousand-dollar tuition.
- Validity: Identical. Both routes report your completion to the same federal Training Provider Registry, and your state DMV sees the same record.
The math is simple: same curriculum, same registry record, a fraction of the price, on your schedule. That's why online ELDT training has become the default for theory — and why we built ELDT HQ to be the best value in it.
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ELDT Training Courses — All $20
Every FMCSA ELDT theory course, one flat price. Pick yours and finish today.
MOST POPULARClass A ELDT Theory
The full FMCSA-required theory curriculum for your Class A CDL. 100% online, self-paced, finish in a day.
- All FMCSA theory topics covered
- Certificate on completion
- Lifetime access · any device
- One-time payment · no subscription
Class B ELDT Theory
The full FMCSA-required theory curriculum for your Class B CDL. 100% online, self-paced, finish in a day.
- All FMCSA theory topics covered
- Certificate on completion
- Lifetime access · any device
- One-time payment · no subscription
ENDORSEMENTHazmat (H) Endorsement
Required theory training for the Hazmat endorsement. Get certified to haul hazardous materials.
- FMCSA Hazmat theory curriculum
- Certificate on completion
- Lifetime access · any device
- One-time payment · no subscription
ENDORSEMENTPassenger (P) Endorsement
Required theory training for the Passenger endorsement. Get certified to transport passengers.
- FMCSA Passenger theory curriculum
- Certificate on completion
- Lifetime access · any device
- One-time payment · no subscription
ENDORSEMENTSchool Bus (S) Endorsement
Required theory training for the School Bus endorsement. Get certified to drive a school bus.
- FMCSA School Bus theory curriculum
- Certificate on completion
- Lifetime access · any device
- One-time payment · no subscription
TEST PREPTanker (N) Prep
Prep for the Tanker (N) endorsement knowledge test. Not required under ELDT — test prep only.
- All 6 tank-vehicle knowledge areas
- Assessment · 80% to pass
- Lifetime access · any device
- One-time payment · no subscription
Get Certified in 3 Easy Steps
No classroom. No waiting. Complete your FMCSA-required theory training online and get your certificate — most students finish in a day.
Sign Up
Pick your course, create your account, and pay once. No subscriptions, no hidden fees — just $20 and you're in.
Complete the Theory
Work through the full FMCSA theory curriculum online, at your own pace, on any device. Start and stop whenever you want.
Get Your Certificate
Pass the final assessment and get your completion certificate — your next step toward your CDL.
Most students finish the same day
A $20 Course. A Career Behind It.
Trucking, transit, and delivery fleets are hiring in every state, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts median pay for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers above $54,000 a year — with specialized and endorsement-holding drivers earning more. ELDT is the federally required first step, and it's the cheapest step you'll take.
- $54K+
- BLS median pay, heavy & tractor-trailer drivers
- All 50
- States accept TPR-reported ELDT
- $20
- Your one-time cost to start
- 1 Day
- Most students finish the theory
ELDT & CDL Terms, Decoded
The acronyms you'll meet everywhere in this process — defined once, plainly.
- ELDT
- Entry-Level Driver Training — the federally required training for first-time CDL applicants and H/P/S endorsements.
- FMCSA
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — the DOT agency that wrote and enforces the ELDT rule.
- TPR
- Training Provider Registry — the federal database of ELDT providers and completions your state checks before your test.
- CDL
- Commercial Driver's License — Class A (combination vehicles) or Class B (single heavy vehicles) for most drivers.
- CLP
- Commercial Learner's Permit — earned via the state knowledge test; must be held 14+ days before the skills test.
- BTW
- Behind-the-Wheel — the in-person range and road portion of ELDT for Class A/B and the P/S endorsements.
- 49 CFR Part 380
- The federal regulation defining the ELDT curricula — Appendices A (Class A) through E (Hazmat).
- Endorsements (H · P · S · N)
- License add-ons: Hazmat, Passenger, School Bus (all require ELDT) and Tanker (knowledge test only, no ELDT).
- SDLA
- State Driver Licensing Agency — your state's DMV/BMV, which administers CLP and CDL tests and issues the license.
- DOT Physical
- The medical exam from an FMCSA-certified examiner that most CDL applicants must pass and keep current.
ELDT Training — Questions & Answers
ELDT (Entry-Level Driver Training) is the federally mandated training program for new commercial drivers, required by the FMCSA since February 7, 2022 under 49 CFR Part 380. It applies to anyone getting a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or adding a Hazmat (H), Passenger (P), or School Bus (S) endorsement.
Yes. The FMCSA allows the theory (knowledge) portion of ELDT training to be completed 100% online from a registered provider. ELDT HQ's online ELDT courses are fully self-paced — most students finish in a single day. Behind-the-wheel training (required for Class A/B and P/S endorsements) is completed separately in person.
ELDT theory training costs $20 at ELDT HQ — a one-time payment with no subscription. Many providers charge $99–$150 for the same federally standardized curriculum, and in-person CDL schools bundle it into tuition that can run $3,000–$8,000.
There is no federal minimum hour requirement for ELDT theory — you must cover every required topic and score at least 80% on the assessment. ELDT HQ's online course is self-paced, and most students complete their theory training in one day.
ELDT is not retroactive. If your CDL or endorsement was issued before February 7, 2022, you don't need it. Drivers who obtained a commercial learner's permit before that date and get their CDL before the CLP expires are also exempt, as are certain military, farm, and emergency vehicle drivers under existing CDL exceptions.
Theory is the knowledge portion — the FMCSA curriculum you can complete online at ELDT HQ for $20. Behind-the-wheel (BTW) is in-person range and road training with a registered provider, required for Class A, Class B, and the Passenger and School Bus endorsements. The Hazmat endorsement is theory-only: no BTW at all.
Check the FMCSA's Training Provider Registry (tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov). Every legitimate ELDT provider is listed there, and only completions reported through the registry count. Your state DMV checks the registry before allowing your CDL skills or knowledge test.
No. Your ELDT completion recorded in the Training Provider Registry does not expire under the federal rule. You can complete your $20 theory today and test whenever you're ready.
Yes — ELDT is a federal requirement that applies in all 50 states. Your completion is reported to the federal Training Provider Registry and is visible to every state licensing agency, so training with ELDT HQ counts no matter where you get your CDL.
Class A theory, Class B theory, the Class B-to-A upgrade theory, and the Hazmat (H), Passenger (P), and School Bus (S) endorsement courses — every one $20, 100% online, and FMCSA-compliant. There's also a Tanker (N) knowledge test prep course (the N endorsement itself doesn't require ELDT).
Get Your ELDT Certificate for $20
FMCSA-compliant · 100% online · finish in a day