Commercial Driver Education

If you caught the OTR bug and are itching to see America from behind the wheel of a mammoth freight truck, you will need to apply for a commercial driver's license (CDL). Doing this requires you to meet a few qualifications.

CDL Requirements

• You must be 21 years old to drive across state lines, or 18 years old if you don't mind sticking around New Mexico for a while (because that is the only place you can drive until you turn 21).

• You should be fit to drive; hence, you will need to provide the results of a physical.

• You need to have a valid driver's license and not have a checkered driving past.

These are just the basics to get you in the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) office door and begin the process. Then comes the hard part: testing and more testing. It takes epic levels of responsibility not only to handle an 18-wheeler or escort passengers, but also to haul cargo at high speeds for thousands of miles at a time.

That is why the federal government instituted the rigorous standards that drivers must meet in order to have the privilege of holding a commercial license.

CDL Training

Obtaining a CDL in New Mexico requires a good deal of study and plenty of actual on-road training. But considering that the license is the key to unlocking a wealth of job opportunities and financial stability, it is worth the time and effort.

A few community colleges, including the Santa Fe, San Juan, and Mesalands community colleges, offer courses designed for those seeking a CDL.

The classes run various lengths, from a week to three weeks, and feature intensive study of the CDL manual and thorough preparation for the general knowledge test and the array of endorsement exams.

Numerous trucking or tech schools and companies are also authorized by the state to provide testing for a CDL. Choosing this route might put a dent in the wallet, but the programs generally are all-inclusive.

Thus, not only will you undergo comprehensive training, but you will also take all of the tests at the same location. Some trucking schools even go so far as to provide the Department of Transportation (DOT) physical as part of the fee.

Plus, many of these companies will either hire you outright upon the completion of training and the acquiring of a CDL, or else they have job placement services.

Where to Take the Test

All of the knowledge and endorsement tests (the written tests) are administered either by the instruction school you choose or at an MVD office.

The three-part driving skills test, for the most part, is also handled at the schools. These facilities generally provide the vehicles for any license class you are tested for.

But if you are not enrolled in a class, then what do you do? There are varying regions dividing the state, and within each of these regions are a host of people qualified to administer the CDL exam.

It is best to contact your local MVD office to obtain a list of those on the current testing roster. In most cases, when you go this route you will need to rent your own vehicle.