A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is required in North Dakota to operate commercial motor vehicles over 26,000 lbs GVWR, buses carrying 16 or more passengers, or vehicles placarded for hazardous materials. North Dakota CDL fees start at $15 for a 6-year license. Three CDL classes are available: Class A for tractor-trailer combinations, Class B for single large vehicles, and Class C for passenger and HazMat vehicles. First-time applicants must complete Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) through an FMCSA-registered provider before taking the skills test. All interstate CDL holders must maintain a valid DOT Medical Certificate. Test your knowledge with the North Dakota CDL knowledge test, then pass the skills test — pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, and road driving — to earn your license.
Any combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001 lbs or more, provided the GVWR of the towed vehicle exceeds 10,000 lbs.
Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a GVWR not exceeding 10,000 lbs.
Any single vehicle or combination not covered by Class A or B, designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or required to be placarded for hazardous materials.
TSA background check and fingerprinting required. Valid 5 years. Essential for Bakken oil field chemical transport — North Dakota's Williston Basin is one of the largest oil-producing regions in North America.
Required for liquid or gas bulk tank operations. Critical for crude oil tankers, produced water haulers, and fuel tankers serving Bakken oil patch workers in remote Williams, McKenzie, and Mountrail counties.
Required for buses carrying 16 or more passengers including the driver.
Requires P endorsement. Background check required in North Dakota. Rural school routes can be long and conditions severe in winter.
Required for pulling double or triple trailers. Class A CDL required. Used on flat eastern ND grain corridors.
Combination of H and N endorsements; TSA background check applies. The most in-demand endorsement combination in the Bakken oil patch — Williston, Watford City, and Tioga are key hiring areas.
Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) is required by federal regulation (49 CFR Part 380, effective Feb 7, 2022) for first-time Class A or B CDL applicants, and for adding H, P, or S endorsements. Training must be completed through an FMCSA-registered provider listed in the Training Provider Registry (TPR) at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov.
Find a registered ELDT provider in North Dakota →Interstate CDL holders must hold a valid DOT Medical Examiner's Certificate (MEC) issued by an FMCSA-certified medical examiner. The MEC is valid for up to 24 months (shorter for drivers with certain conditions). Submit the MEC copy to the North Dakota DOT Driver License Division and self-certify as 'non-excepted interstate'.
Find an FMCSA-certified medical examiner →Apply at a North Dakota DOT driver licensing office with proof of identity, North Dakota residency, and Social Security Number. Pass the required knowledge tests, complete ELDT through an FMCSA-registered provider, then schedule and pass the skills test. The CDL original fee is $15 — the lowest in the US.
North Dakota CDLs are valid for 6 years. Your DOT Medical Certificate is separate — most interstate drivers must renew it every 24 months or as required by your medical examiner. The combination of $15 fee and 6-year validity makes North Dakota the most affordable CDL renewal structure in the US.
The Bakken Williston Basin offers high-paying truck driving positions for crude oil transport (Class A, N endorsement), produced water hauling, frac sand delivery, chemical tankers (H and N), vacuum truck work, and heavy equipment transport. Oil field carriers in the Williston, Watford City, and Tioga areas regularly pay significantly above national average trucking wages due to remoteness and demand.
North Dakota winters are among the most extreme in the continental US. Temperatures can reach -40°F and ground blizzards can reduce visibility to near zero with little warning. CDL holders should carry emergency kits, understand diesel anti-gel procedures, know how to manage air brake freeze-up, and always check NDDOT road conditions before departing. Some roads close during blizzard conditions by state emergency order.
Spring weight restrictions in North Dakota typically begin in February and can run through April or into May depending on frost depth and thaw conditions. NDDOT posts road-specific restriction dates and lifting dates at dot.nd.gov. County roads can remain restricted significantly longer than state routes. Always verify current status before routing off the Interstate system in spring.
Browse commercial trucks for sale from dealers in North Dakota on TruckRadar.
North Dakota CDL fees of $15 are the lowest in the United States. The 6-year renewal cycle provides long validity at minimal cost. Fees subject to change — verify current amounts at dot.nd.gov. DOT Medical Certificate renewed separately per FMCSA requirements. Oil field carrier bonuses and wages are among the highest in the US trucking market.
Disclaimer
The information on this page is compiled from publicly available government sources and is provided for general informational purposes only. TruckRadar is an independent search engine — we are not affiliated with any government agency and this content does not constitute legal or compliance advice. Regulations change frequently; always verify current requirements directly with the official source before making compliance decisions.
Official source: North Dakota ND Official DMVLast reviewed: April 8, 2026