• Commercial Driver Education in Idaho

    Get Free Commercial Auto Insurance Quotes from Multiple Providers

    Enter Your Zip Code:

    Read the Manuals

    Although the state does not require you to dedicate a set number of training hours of studying to obtain a CDL, it does require you to pass various written and skills exams. In order to pass, you must buckle down and study the Commercial Driver's License Manual as well as the Idaho Driver's Manual.

    You can download these, or you can pick up copies of both manuals at your county driver's license office.

    The material within the CDL manual is extensive (165 pages), and you should count on spending anywhere from eight to 12 hours studying to properly prepare for the written exams.

    Federal Regulations

    The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires you to have knowledge of the following:

    • Safe operations regulations
    • Commercial motor vehicle safety control systems
    • Safety vehicle control, which includes:
    • Control systems
    • Basic control
    • Shifting
    • Backing
    • Visual search
    • Communication
    • Speed management
    • Space management
    • Night operation
    • Extreme driving conditions
    • Hazard perceptions
    • Emergency maneuvers
    • Skid control and recovery
    • Relationship of cargo to vehicle control
    • Vehicle inspections
    • Hazardous materials knowledge
    • Air brake knowledge
    • Coupling and uncoupling
    • Vehicle inspection for combination vehicles

    The FMCSA also requires you to know the following skills for the driving portion of the test:

    • Basic vehicle control skills
    • Safe driving skills
    • Air brake skills
    • Pre-trip inspection skills

    The State of Idaho does not require you to obtain any sort of formal training prior to taking your skills test. Ask whether the third-party testing center that will administer your test offers any sort of additional CDL driver education programs.

    Some testing centers rent vehicles. Your county driver's license office can also provide you with a list of third-party skills testers.

    On test day, you will most likely spend two to three hours on the three-part skills test. And since you will be taking the test in the same class of vehicle that you will drive on the job, it is in your best interest to get in some behind-the-wheel time prior to the big day.

    Accomplish this by obtaining a CDL instruction permit. Valid for 180 days, the permit gives you the opportunity to practice driving the type of vehicle you will operate as long as a driver properly licensed to operate such a vehicle occupies the seat beside you.

    Your Opinion Matters To Us!

    Send Feedback
    DMV.org BBB Business Review

    Instant Driving Record

    Check for tickets, violations, and confirm your drivers license status with a instant self-check driving record.


We put a lot of effort into making our content helpful & accurate. Please let us know if you see something that isn't clear or correct; we are here to ease any frustrations you may have while navigating DMV topics. We are not a government agency, please reach out to your local DMV, insurance agent, or respective professional for further assistance on specific situations.

No one person could have built the company that DMV.org is today. Our success has been the product of strong teams, quality partners and continuous user feedback. Passionate about making the Web a better space? Jump on in.

  • Help Us With Our Mission
  • Got a Product/Service?

    We are committed to delivering high quality product and services to our users

    Tell Us More »
  • Got Talent?

    We need talented individuals and teams to help us on our mission.

    Join Our Team »
  • Got an Idea?

    We take feedback personally. Let us know how we can do better.

    Share Your Idea »

Looking for Commercial Driver Education in Another State?