Considering CDL school? Learn 10 legal, medical, financial, and personal reasons people may delay or decide against becoming a commercial driver.
A commercial driver’s license can lead to careers in trucking, construction, utilities, towing, agriculture, equipment hauling, public transportation, and many other industries.
Yet many people who express interest in CDL school never enroll or discover that they must resolve an eligibility issue before moving forward.
Sometimes the obstacle is a DUI, suspended license, medical condition, or drug-testing violation. In other cases, the person is concerned about tuition, training time, passing the CDL test, or spending too much time away from home.
Importantly, many of these situations do not automatically prevent someone from earning a CDL forever. The answer may depend on the person’s driving history, the type of CDL job they want, Pennsylvania licensing requirements, federal regulations, and an individual employer’s hiring standards.
Here are 10 common reasons prospective drivers delay or decide not to pursue CDL training.
1. A DUI or Other Major Driving Offense Is on Their Record
One of the first questions prospective students ask is:
“Can I get a CDL if I have a DUI?”
The answer depends on when the offense occurred, whether the person held a CDL at the time, the vehicle involved, previous offenses, and whether the required suspension or disqualification period has been completed.
Federal regulations identify DUI, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, refusing a required alcohol test, leaving an accident scene, and using a vehicle to commit certain felonies as major offenses. These violations can result in a commercial driving disqualification. Some repeat offenses can lead to a lifetime disqualification.
Pennsylvania also considers participation in Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, commonly known as ARD, a conviction when imposing certain CDL sanctions. FMCSA’s driver-disqualification guidance and PennDOT’s disqualification fact sheet explain these consequences in greater detail.
Even after a person becomes legally eligible for a CDL, a trucking company or its insurance provider may apply stricter hiring standards. A previous DUI may therefore limit employment opportunities even when it no longer prevents licensing.
What to do: Obtain an updated motor vehicle record and confirm your licensing status with PennDOT before paying for training. Prospective students should also research the hiring standards of companies they may want to work for.
2. Their License Is Suspended or Their Driving Record Is Too Risky
A person generally needs a valid non-commercial driver’s license before applying for a commercial learner’s permit. An unresolved suspension, revocation, or disqualification can stop the process before training begins.
A record containing multiple serious violations can also make employment difficult.
Excessive speeding, reckless driving, improper lane changes, following too closely, texting while operating a commercial vehicle, and driving without the proper license or endorsement are examples of offenses that can result in CDL disqualification under certain circumstances.
Even if PennDOT permits someone to obtain a CDL, prospective employers will review the applicant’s driving history. FMCSA notes that a CDL applicant’s driving record is checked across all 50 states and the District of Columbia as part of the permit process.
What to do: Resolve outstanding suspensions, unpaid restoration fees, and licensing problems before enrolling. Do not assume that enough time has passed. Verify that your driving privileges have officially been restored.
3. They Cannot Meet DOT Drug and Alcohol Requirements
Commercial drivers operating vehicles that require a CDL are subject to federal drug and alcohol testing requirements. Testing may include:
- Pre-employment drug testing
- Random testing
- Post-accident testing
- Reasonable-suspicion testing
- Return-to-duty and follow-up testing
Marijuana remains prohibited for DOT-regulated, safety-sensitive transportation employees, even when a driver lives in a state where recreational or medical marijuana is legal. CBD products can also create risk because they may contain enough THC to produce a positive drug test.
A driver with a drug or alcohol violation may be placed in a “prohibited” status in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
Since November 18, 2024, state licensing agencies must remove commercial driving privileges from individuals in prohibited status until they complete the required return-to-duty process. We explain FMCSA Clearinghouse CDL downgrades here.
What to do: Understand the testing requirements before choosing this career. Anyone with an unresolved Clearinghouse violation must complete the applicable return-to-duty process before legally operating a commercial motor vehicle.
Read more: Can You Get a CDL with a DUI on record?
4. They Cannot Obtain a DOT Medical Certificate
Most non-excepted commercial drivers must pass a DOT physical and maintain a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate.
A medical condition does not always mean someone is permanently disqualified. However, certain conditions involving vision, hearing, seizures, cardiovascular health, blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory function, or medication use may require additional evaluation, documentation, treatment, or an exemption.
The final determination is made by a certified medical examiner and not by the CDL school, employer, or applicant. FMCSA also maintains exemption programs for certain vision, hearing, and seizure-related circumstances. Read more about DOT physical exam disqualifications.
What to do: If you have concerns about your health or medication, schedule a DOT physical before making a major financial commitment to training. Bring an accurate medication list and any relevant medical documentation.
5. They Are Not Old Enough for the Work They Want
Pennsylvania drivers may generally obtain a CDL and operate commercially within the state beginning at age 18. However, federal regulations require most commercial drivers to be at least 21 years old to operate in interstate commerce.
Interstate commerce can involve more than physically crossing a state line. The nature and origin of the cargo may also affect whether an operation is classified as interstate.
Drivers must also be at least 21 to transport placarded hazardous materials.
A driver between 18 and 20 may still find intrastate work in construction, landscaping, local delivery, towing, agriculture, or municipal operations, but the available jobs may be more limited.
What to do: Research local and intrastate CDL opportunities before enrolling. Younger applicants should understand which license restrictions will apply until they turn 21.
6. A Criminal Record Limits Certain Opportunities
A criminal conviction does not automatically prevent every person from obtaining a basic CDL. However, the type of offense can affect endorsements, facility access, employer hiring decisions, and insurance eligibility.
For example, drivers applying for a hazardous materials endorsement must complete a Transportation Security Administration security threat assessment and provide fingerprints. Certain criminal offenses can result in disqualification, although an appeal or waiver may be available in some situations.
Some employers, including companies serving ports, military facilities, schools, government locations, or high-security customers, may also impose additional background requirements.
What to do: Be honest about your history and research the requirements for the specific CDL job, endorsement, and employer you are considering.
7. They Cannot Afford CDL School or Stop Working During Training
CDL training is an investment.
Tuition, permit fees, the DOT physical, licensing costs, transportation, and time away from a current job can make enrollment difficult.
Some prospective students focus only on tuition and overlook their regular expenses while training, including housing, food, childcare, and transportation. Others accept employer-sponsored training without fully understanding the repayment agreement or employment commitment.
Possible funding options may include:
- Personal financing
- Workforce-development programs
- Veterans education benefits
- Employer-paid training
- Company contract training
- School payment arrangements
What to do: Ask for the total anticipated cost in writing and understand what is included. Compare payment options, financing terms, employer obligations, and potential out-of-pocket expenses before enrolling.
8. Their Work or Family Schedule Does Not Allow Time for Training
Some people want a CDL but cannot currently balance training with a full-time job, childcare, military responsibilities, or other obligations.
Entry-level drivers seeking a Class A or Class B CDL must complete applicable Entry-Level Driver Training through a provider listed on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry before taking the CDL skills test.
The process also includes obtaining a commercial learner’s permit and passing vehicle inspection, basic control, and road tests.
Training requires more than attending a few classes. Students need time to study, practice, retain inspection procedures, and build safe driving habits.
What to do: Ask the school about scheduling before assuming CDL training will not fit your life. Flexible or individualized instruction may make training more manageable.
9. They Are Intimidated by the Truck or CDL Test
Operating a tractor-trailer can feel overwhelming to someone who has never driven a commercial vehicle. Prospective students may worry about:
- Shifting a manual transmission
- Backing a trailer
- Driving in traffic
- Performing the vehicle inspection
- Remembering air-brake procedures
- Failing the CDL skills test
- Learning at a different pace than other students
These concerns cause some qualified people to give up before they ever sit behind the wheel.
Driving a truck is a learned skill. Students are not expected to arrive already knowing how to complete an offset backing maneuver or inspect an air-brake system. Quality instruction should break each skill into manageable steps and provide constructive practice.
What to do: Look for training that matches your learning style. One-on-one instruction and simulator practice can help students build confidence without feeling rushed by a large class.
10. The Trucking Lifestyle Does Not Match Their Expectations
Some people decide against a CDL because they assume every truck-driving job involves weeks away from home. Others enter training expecting immediate high earnings without considering entry-level experience requirements, long workdays, physical demands, changing schedules, or the responsibility that comes with operating a large vehicle.
A CDL can support many careers beyond over-the-road trucking, including:
- Local and regional delivery
- Dump truck operation
- Construction and excavation
- Equipment hauling
- Towing and recovery
- Utility work
- Refuse and recycling
- Concrete and aggregate hauling
- Bus and passenger transportation
- Municipal and public works employment
However, not every CDL job offers the same schedule, pay structure, equipment, or working conditions.
What to do: Decide what you want from the career before selecting a CDL class or training program. Talk with employers about home time, starting pay, physical duties, work schedules, experience requirements, and available equipment.
A Potential Obstacle Does Not Always Mean “No”
A DUI, medical condition, criminal record, previous drug-testing violation, or limited budget may affect a person’s path to a CDL, but it does not always close the door permanently.
The important step is to investigate potential barriers before investing in training.
Verify your licensing status, review your motor vehicle record, understand the DOT medical and drug-testing requirements, and research the hiring standards for the jobs you want.
CNS Driver Training Center provides individualized CDL training for students with different experience levels, career goals, and learning needs. Our team can explain the training process, available programs, scheduling options, and the skills you will need to prepare for your CDL test.
Thinking about CDL school but unsure whether you can move forward? Contact CNS Driver Training Center to discuss the training process and determine your next step.
Licensing eligibility and employment decisions depend on individual circumstances. CNS Driver Training Center cannot guarantee licensing approval or employment. Contact PennDOT or an appropriate professional for guidance regarding a specific suspension, conviction, medical condition, or legal matter.
