A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is required in Oregon to operate commercial motor vehicles over 26,000 lbs GVWR, buses carrying 16 or more passengers, or vehicles placarded for hazardous materials. Oregon CDL fees start at $60 for a 8-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 Oregon 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. Important for chemical transport in the Willamette Valley agricultural sector and for fuel haulers serving remote eastern Oregon communities.
Required for liquid or gas bulk tank operations. Common for fuel tankers, milk haulers (Oregon is a significant dairy state), and winery supply chain tankers in the Willamette Valley.
Required for buses carrying 16 or more passengers including the driver.
Requires P endorsement. Background check required in Oregon. Remote school districts in eastern Oregon can have extreme weather and long routes.
Required for pulling double or triple trailers. Class A CDL required. I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge and eastern Oregon is a key doubles corridor.
Combination of H and N endorsements; TSA background check applies. Used by fuel and chemical tanker operators throughout Oregon.
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 Oregon →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 Oregon DMV and self-certify as 'non-excepted interstate'.
Find an FMCSA-certified medical examiner →Apply at an Oregon DMV office with proof of identity, Oregon 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 $60 with an 8-year validity period.
Oregon CDLs are valid for 8 years — one of the longer renewal cycles in the western US. Your DOT Medical Certificate is separate and most interstate drivers must renew it every 24 months or as required by your medical examiner.
Oregon charges a weight-mile tax (WMT) on commercial vehicles instead of traditional fuel taxes. Carriers must register with ODOT's Motor Carrier Transportation Division and pay based on vehicle weight and miles driven in Oregon. Out-of-state carriers can purchase trip permits online at oregon.gov/ODOT/MCT. Weigh stations enforce WMT compliance — operating without registration or a trip permit results in fines.
Yes. Oregon allows 105,500 lbs gross vehicle weight on designated state routes, and 48,000 lbs on tridem axle configurations — both above federal limits. This is significant for the logging and agriculture industries. The higher limits only apply on specific ODOT-designated routes. Always verify which routes qualify before operating over 80,000 lbs.
Oregon Revised Statute requires commercial vehicles to carry chains and install them when required on mountain passes. Chain requirements are posted by ODOT and enforced at chain-up areas. Common restricted passes include Siskiyou Summit on I-5, Santiam Pass on US-20, and passes on US-26 and OR-58. Requirements typically run October through May depending on elevation and conditions. Oregon weigh stations check chain compliance during restriction periods.
Browse commercial trucks for sale from dealers in Oregon on TruckRadar.
Oregon CDL fees are $60 with an 8-year renewal cycle — good long-term value. Fees subject to change — verify current amounts at oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV. Oregon charges a unique weight-mile tax (WMT) instead of fuel tax for CMVs — all carriers operating in Oregon must register and pay WMT. DOT Medical Certificate renewed separately per FMCSA requirements.
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: Oregon OR Official DMVLast reviewed: April 8, 2026