Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) is the federal training requirement that applies to anyone applying for a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, anyone upgrading from Class B to Class A, and anyone applying for Hazardous Materials, Passenger, or School Bus endorsements for the first time.
What ELDT covers
ELDT consists of a theory portion (classroom or online) and a behind-the-wheel portion (range and public road). The theory portion includes thirty-one curricular topics ranging from basic operation to non-driving activities such as trip planning and post-crash procedures. There is no minimum hour requirement for theory training, but the curriculum must be completed in full and the trainee must score at least eighty percent on a final theory assessment.
The behind-the-wheel portion has no federal minimum hour requirement either, but the trainee must demonstrate proficiency on all federally required maneuvers. In practice, behind-the-wheel training runs forty to one hundred twenty hours depending on the trainee's prior experience.
Who can provide ELDT
Only training providers listed in the FMCSA Training Provider Registry can administer ELDT. The registry is searchable by state and by training type. Self-training, friend-training, and informal arrangements do not satisfy the ELDT requirement, regardless of the quality of the training itself.
What changes for the applicant
If you are a first-time CDL applicant in 2026, you cannot take the skills test until your training provider has registered your ELDT completion with the FMCSA and your state CDL licensing agency has received the record. Plan accordingly: training first, then skills test, with no shortcuts.
For drivers preparing for ELDT Entry-Level Driver Training: What You Need to Know, additional context — including federal manual excerpts, employer hiring practices, and DOT medical guidance — is widely available from industry resources. Continue reading on a recommended industry resource for further detail. Always cross-check anything you read with the current edition of your state CDL manual, since enforcement guidance is updated periodically.