New Jersey CDL Requirements: What You Need to Prepare?

You are going to ace your commercial driving career in New Jersey, and a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is now what you have to obtain. If so, the next thing you have to find out is New Jersey CDL requirements since understanding these information are prerequisite for anything further steps. The good news is you are now in the right place! In this blog post, we will demonstrate a whole picture of what you need to prepare for a CDL in New Jersey!

Now keep reading and find out useful information!

What are the New Jersey (NJ) CDL requirements?

Meeting all the New Jersey CDL requirements is crucial to start your journey in getting a CDL. Typically, all you need to be qualified for a CDL in New Jersey include: Proof of identity or US residency, a CDL Holder Self-Certification, a Medical Examiner’s Certificate (if necessary), and importantly passing CDL Knowledge and skills test.

Now let’s discover the details for comprehensive preparation!

new jersey cdl requirements
New Jersey CDL requirements

Age

Similar to other states’ requirements, in New Jersey you must be at least 18 years old to drive intrastate (drive within New Jersey only).

To drive outside of New Jersey or to apply for the Hazardous Materials (H endorsement) or Passenger (P endorsement), you must be 21 years old.

For more information on age requirements, drop by here.

Proof of identity/residency/date of birth

Obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License in New Jersey also requires you to prove your identity or your residency in New Jersey. And to verify it, the New Jersey MVC uses the “6 Points of ID” system in which each document provided with be counted as different points, from one to four.

To be qualified, all the documents you provide must be counted equal at 6 points, and each category like the Primary or the Secondary needs at least one document to be submitted.

Self-Certification

Additionally, a Self-Certification is also required if you apply for a Commercial Driver’s License in New Jersey. Specifically, this certificate is to declare the type of commercial driving you intend to perform which should be classified into one of four types:

  • Non-excepted Interstate
  • Excepted Interstate
  • Non-excepted Intrastate
  • Excepted Intrastate

These four types will determine whether you need a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC) or. With Excepted Interstate and Excepted Intrastate, you do not need a MEC while it will be required with Non-excepted Interstate/Intrastate.

Medical Examiner Certificate (MEC)

In case your type of commercial driving is Non-excepted Intrastate or Non-excepted Interstate, a Medical Examiner Certificate (MEC) is what you need to provide. Since driving a commercial vehicle is a challenging task, ensuring that you are physically fit for the duty is of extreme importance.

In order to get a MEC, you need to pass a Department of Transportation physical which is operated by many medical centers. However, you must undergo comprehensive examination by medical professionals certified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

DOT physical is a comprehensive physical examination in which your health will be assessed in an extensive way to ensure that you are totally fit for commercial driving tasks. Specifically, this test includes two main parts. In the first part, the examiner will investigate your previous health condition to decide whether you need further examination in the second part. Next, you will be exhaustively examined from your vision ability to your blood pressure.

Vision

According to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commision, CDL applicants must meet minimum 20/40 vision in each eye with or without correction and at least a 70-degree field of vision in horizontal meridian.

In addition, CDL applicants are expected to be able to clearly recognize red, green, and amber colors in order to ensure safety on the road.

Hearing

To meet DOT physical hearing requirements in New Jersey, applicants must perceive a forced whisper from at least 5 feet away, with or without the use of a hearing aid. This is to ensure that drivers can hear essential sounds like emergency signals, to safely operate commercial vehicles.

Blood Pressure

To pass the DOT physical, CDL applicant’s blood pressure must be at least 140 systolic and 90 diastolic which is considered in normal blood pressure stage. Here is the breakdown of blood pressure stage:

  • Normal Blood Pressure: your blood pressure is considered to be at normal level if it is below 140/90 mmHg, and applicants with blood pressure in this range can receive certification for up to two years.
  • Stage 1 Hypertension: Your blood pressure is between 140/90 mmHg and 159/99 mmHg. At this level, drivers can be certified for one year.
  • Stage 2 Hypertension: Hypertension in stage 2 is between 160/100 mmHg and 179/109 mmHg. Drivers may receive a temporary three-month certification to allow them time to lower their blood pressure through lifestyle changes or medication.
  • Stage 3 Hypertension: Your blood pressure is at or above 180/110 mmHg which is considered severe hypertension. At this level, drivers can not be certified until their blood pressure is brought down and controlled (usually below 140/90 mmHg).

Entry-Level Driver Training

Since 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires that all the CDL applicants must pass the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) if they:

  • Get class A or class B CDL for the first time
  • Upgrading class B to class A CDL
  • Obtaining School bus (S), Passenger (P), and Hazardous Materials (H) endorsement for the first time.

Accordingly, the ELDT includes training on theory and practical skills, ensuring drivers meet safety and operational standards. It is worth noting that the ELDT must be completed through a registered training provider listed in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Training Provider Registry.

CDL Knowledge and Skills test

The last New Jersey CDL requirements mentioned in our post is the CDL test in which a Knowledge test and a Skills test are included. These two tests are made not only to test CDL applicants’ knowledge in driving commercial vehicles, but also to examine their practical experience in operating them.

Now let’s see what will appear in each test!

Knowledge Test

In order to obtain the Commercial Learner’s Permit, a knowledge test is what you must pass. Specifically, the Knowledge Test is where your knowledge in vehicle operation, driving safety, and other related topics will be tested. What includes are:

  • General Knowledge test: This test consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, and you need at least 40 correct answers to be noted as passing.
  • Air Brakes (if applicable): If your vehicle you plan to operate is equipped with an air brakes system, the Air Brakes test is mandatory to you. To pass, you need to answer 20/25 questions.
  • Combination Vehicle (if applicable): similar to the Air Brakes, if your vehicle is a combination type, you have to take the Combination Vehicle test. 16 out of 20 questions need to be answered correctly if you do not want to take this again.

Once you pass the CDL Knowledge test, a Commercial Learner’s Permit will be handed to you which will qualify you to take the very last test – CDL Skills test.

Taking the New Jersey CDL practice test today!

Skills Test

Is Knowledge Test enough to get a Commercial Driver’s License? Unfortunately not yet, with a CLP in hand only your knowledge in theory terms are assessed. In order to get a CDL, knowledge is not enough, you also have to prove your practical experience in operating commercial vehicles which is tested in the CDL Skills test. This test includes:

  • Pre-trip inspection
  • Basic vehicle control
  • On-road driving

Once the CDL Skills Test is done, now it is time for you to get the reward: a New Jersey Commercial Driver’s License. Start and ace your driving career!

FAQs

1. What is required for your cdl permit in New Jersey​?

To get a CDL permit in New Jersey, you must be at least 18 years old (to drive intrastate), pass a DOT physical, and take a knowledge test. You also need to provide identification documents for the 6 Points of ID verification.

2. When is a cdl license required in New Jersey​?

According to the New Jersey CDL Manual, you must have a CDL license to operate:

  • Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more.
  • A combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the GVWR of the vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • A vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver).
  • Any size vehicle which requires hazardous material placards or is carrying material listed as a select agent or toxin.

Final thoughts

Long story short, what you need to be qualified for New Jersey Commercial Driver’s License are: at least 18 years old, proof of identity/residency, Self-Certification, Medical Examiner Certificate, passing the Entry-level Driver Training, CDL Knowledge and Skills Test. Now that you have met all the New Jersey CDL requirements, let’s kickstart your driving journey in New Jersey!


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