A person can get a West Virginia Driver’s License if they are least 18 years old and have 2 years driving experience. Federal Motor Carrier rules state they must also meet medical qualifications and carry proof in the form of a DOT medical card.All drivers must have the long form physical, except for city, county, state, and federal employees, which require an eye examination on the DLAB-II form. Applicants must show written proof of employment with the city, county, state or federal governments with the DLAB-II and CDL application.
Applications and study manuals for West Virginia CDL license training are available at any Department of Motor Vehicle Exam Center, DMV Regional Office, or on the Department of Transportation website.
Applying for a CDL
1. Visit the WV licensing page for necessary documents for all first time, duplicate, and renewal applicants.
2. Complete the front and back of the Application for CDL and/or Endorsements.
3. Submit a current DOT medical certificate or DLAB-II.
4. West Virginia CDL license cost: CDL testing fee is $25 plus driver’s license fees. The CDL testing fee is for general knowledge, air brakes and combination. Endorsement fees are $10 each.
5. Send the application, current DOT medical or DLAB-II and required fees to DMV, PO Box 17010, Charleston WV 25317. Or take them to the Driver Services window at 5707 MacCorkle Ave, SE in Kanawha City, WV outside the Kanawha City Regional Office.
6. After getting the application and fees, a test card will be mailed to the applicant, including a list of CDL testing sites.
7. After successful testing, a CDL permit is issued. The permit is good for 6 months and can be renewed once. When the applicant is ready for the road test, they contact one of the third party examiners listed on the front of the CDL manual for an appointment. The cost of the road test is $90 and is paid at the time of the test. The applicant must provide the vehicle in which the test is done and it must represent the class of license the applicant seeking.
8. After passing the skills test, the applicant should submit the “passed” form to one of the DMV offices or the Driver Exam Center. The applicant will then get a CDL.
Adding an endorsement
Applicants must complete the front and back of the Application for CDL and/or Endorsements and pay the fees:
1. Required fees are $10 for each endorsement and $5.00 for the duplicate license.
2. To add air brakes or combination after an applicant has been issued a commercial driver’s license, which will require a road skills test, the fee is: Air Brakes/Combination $25 + Duplicate Fee $5 = Total Fee will be $30.
3. If a person already has a CDL license and they are only updating or adding a passenger endorsement and must take the road test, the state only updates the system. It does not change the license expiration date.
For a Hazardous Material Endorsement, a driver must have a background check by the Transportation Security Administration. They need to contact Integrated Biometrics Technologies Help Desk at 1-877-429-7746, or visit their website at www.hazprints.com to pay the $89.25 fee to start the process. After contacting IBT, schedule an appointment for fingerprinting. The locations are listed on their website.
Once applicants receive their approval letter stating they have passed the background check, they can return to the DMV office to test for HAZMAT.
Knowledge test
The knowledge test must be passed with at least an 80% score. The applicant tests for the endorsements listed on the test card at the same time. At a later date, they can get a test card for other endorsements. If they fail any portion of the knowledge examination, they must wait 7 days before retesting. They may test 3 times on the original fees.
Road test
The road test is given by a third party. The road test will not be given until an applicant passes all other test parts and has a CDL permit for the type of vehicle they are testing in. Each section of the road test (pre-trip, basic control and road test) must be passed.
CDL Schools
John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center
CDL Program
80 Rockefeller Circle
New Cumberland, WV 26047
Phone: (304) 564-3337
Fax: (304) 564-4058
Contact and program information: http://www.jdrcc.org/cdl/