You will need NY State Class D, Class E, or Non-CDL C Driver's License or a valid CDL license from another state.
Use DMV Form ID44 to transfer a Class D, E, and non-CDL C driver's license from another state to NY.

Get the manual online or at a local DMV.
Form MV-500C (and the manual's Section 1) describes classes, restrictions, and endorsements of CDLs.
Study the sections of the manual that apply to the type of CDL you need.
For truck driving studies, the most common ones are sections 2, 3, 5, and 6. For a permit, you need to pass the written test.
The test has three parts: general knowledge, air brakes, and combination! General knowledge is the most comprehensive part.
Please study for separate tests for specific endorsements such as Hazmat, Passenger, School Bus, etc. Ask us if you need any help!

Arrive at your local DMV office! Fill out the form MV44 and pay a $10 fee for the written test. When you pass, pay $5 to get permit shipped to you. For other special endorsements, this fee covers extra tests that you may take together with a written test.
After that, each new test is $5 in case you need other endorsements.
Please Note: report driver's licenses you had in other states for the last ten years.

Once you get the Commercial Learner's Permit, it is good for 1 year for permits received in 2023 and 6 months before that. For latter, it can be extended for additional 6 months.
There is a fee of $40.00 to take schedule CDL road test (skills test). You can pay the road test fee when the DMV office issues your commercial learner permit, or pay it online.
You must pay the fee before you can schedule your road test. The earlier, the better! You can also pay that fee to us as a part of registration process at our school. We will schedule road test on your behalf. It is more convenient way to do so.

Effective February 7, 2022: If you are applying for a CDL for the first time or adding a Hazmat, Passenger, or School Bus endorsement for the first time, you must complete entry-level driver training (ELDT) prior to taking a CDL road test. Hazmat ELDT is required before taking the Hazardous Materials knowledge test. The training provider must be registered on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry - FMCSA USDOT TPR. Go to the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) FAQ for more information about the ELDT requirement.
ELDT has three parts: Theory, Range (maneuvers) and Road.
Latter two are part of face-to-face instructional driving in our school.
Our ELDT fee is $200 and includes all three above. We will enroll you in the online theory classes and register with FMCSA TPR for all three items once your training will be complete.
In case you were taken ELDT theory elsewhere, ELDT registration fee is $100 and will cover Range and Road only. Online theory classes can be taken in parallel with driving lessons.

Driving Lessons and Commercial Driver's manual will prepare you for Class A Road (Skills) Test.
Our instructors will give you all the required knowledge including hints and tips about examiners at your road test location. The Road Test has three parts: Pre-Trip Inspection, The Basic Controls Test, and On-Road Driving Test.

• Pre-Trip Inspection includes detailed explanation of specific part of the vehicle, which inspector will assign to you. In most cases, it will be either front of the vehicle including engine compartment; side of the vehicle (driver and passenger); or trailer description. Once you finish with the part assigned to you, it will be necessary to describe coupling system for tractor-trailers and perform in-cab inspection. In-cab inspection will be concluded with air breaks test. This test will require careful attention. Any incorrect steps during air breaks test will deem the whole test as failure.
  Please Refer to Section 11 of the Driver's Manual
• Basic Control Skills Test includes Straight line backing, Offset back (left or right), and Parallel parking (driver side or conventional). Alley docking is not used. For the last two items, you can check your vehicle position twice. For straight-line backing only once.
  Please Refer to Section 12 of the Driver's Manual
• On-Road Driving Test includes Specific Driving Maneuvers
  (Starts, Stops, Turns, Intersections, Crossings, Curves, Lane changes, Expressway/City Driving, etc.)
  and Overall Performance and General Driving Behavior (Signals, Steering, Signs; Clutch, Gear, Break usages, etc.).
  Please Refer to Section 13 of the Driver's Manual

Manual vs Automatic Transmissions - manual Transmission drivers can operate trucks with both Manual and Automatic Transmissions. E Restriction in this case is removed from the license. In general, such drivers are more valuable and get paid better. Trucks with manual Transmission are cheaper and usually have the better fuel economy. That allows hiring companies to save more. Yet, automatic is easier to get trained in, hence they are more popular among students.

• Schedule Road Test at our school as early as possible. You can schedule it yourself online! but it should consult with our school to ensure trucks are available
  Please note that you can’t schedule an appointment for a date that is less than 14 days after receiving the permit.
  Please note that due to high demand wait lines can exceed a month. Our school will do our best to accommodate you much early than that.
• Reschedule the existing road test at least 3 days before your scheduled time or you will lose a $40 DMV Road Test fee according to DMV policy. Notify us immediately for any changes, so we can accommodate the best possible day for your next road test.
• Pass USDOT medical examination anytime before the road test for interstate driving, unless you are planning to have medical exemption A3. Once passed K Restriction will be removed from your new CDL and you will get USDOT Medical Examiner's Certificate. Please read more here You can choose any certified medical examiner from the National Registry.
  We recommend Dr. Leonid Toprover. Address: 207 Ocean Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11218. Phone: 1-718-633-3823. Once you have the record, email or mail it to Albany as soon as possible. Instructions will be provided by Medical Examiner.

• The night before the road test, prepare NYS Non-CDL Driver License and Commerical Learner's Permit - ensure they are both valid and not expired. Prepare comfortable shoes and clothing. Go to sleep early if possible. 30 min before bedtime, take a warm shower and drink any relaxing soothing tea, such as camomile tea.
• On the day of the exam, drink peppermint tea or any other relaxing soothing tea. You can take one with you in a thermos.
  Ensure you have NYS Non-CDL Driver's License and Commerical Learner's Permit. Leave and arrive at the exam early.
• During the exam, keep calm, relax and listen to the examiner's questions carefully. Answer and drive per your instructor's training and examiner's instructions.
• If you pass the Pre-Trip Inspection, your examiner invite you for Basic Control Skills Test.
  Otherwise, you will need to reschedule your road test for a $40 DMV fee.
• If you pass Basic Control Skills and On-Road Driving Tests, usually you will get an answer the same day later.
  Please call us and share the great news with your instructor - they want you to succeed and are happy to hear it.
  They also appreciate warm reviews that you can leave here.
  Otherwise, you will only need to reschedule the part of the test you didn't pass. In this case, you pay $40 DMV fee.
  If truck breaks during the test of if there is another force majeure, examiner will reschedule road test without a fee.