How ELDT works
Five steps from permit to skills test
- 1
Hold a CLP
Get your commercial learner's permit from your state before behind-the-wheel training on public roads.
- 2
Complete theory
Learn every theory unit. The provider's assessment requires an overall score of at least 80 percent.
- 3
Train behind the wheel
Practice range skills and public-road driving. Your instructor evaluates and documents proficiency; there is no federal hour minimum.
- 4
Provider reports
A registered provider sends your completion to FMCSA's Training Provider Registry by midnight of the second business day.
- 5
Take the state test
Your state confirms the record before the skills test, or before the knowledge test for the hazardous materials endorsement.
Curriculum map
Every unit, and where to study it
Theory
Classroom or online instruction. The provider's theory assessment requires an overall score of at least 80 percent.
Every theory unit has a short check with an explanation for each answer. Use it after the linked lesson, then try the 50-question mixed review. These are study checks, not the provider's ELDT assessment.
18 of 30 theory units have a dedicated on-site lesson
- Dedicated lesson18
- Related lesson9
- Practice only2
- Lesson planned1
Basic Operation
7 units- A1.1.1Related lesson
Orientation
What a CDL and ELDT require, how federal and state safety rules fit together, and what professional driving asks of you.
- License classes, endorsements, and who needs ELDT
- How federal safety regulations apply to drivers
- Safety culture and professional conduct
- A1.1.2Related lesson
Control Systems and Dashboard
Find, read, and use the controls, gauges, and warning indicators in the cab, including engine start, warm-up, and shutdown.
- Primary and secondary vehicle controls
- Gauges and warning lights that need action
- Safe engine start, warm-up, and shutdown
- A1.1.3Dedicated lesson
Pre-Trip, Enroute, and Post-Trip Inspections
Inspect the vehicle before, during, and after a trip, and report defects so they are repaired before the vehicle runs again.
- A systematic inspection routine
- Enroute checks at stops
- Post-trip defect reporting
- A1.1.4Dedicated lesson
Basic Control
Start, steer, accelerate, turn, and stop a commercial vehicle smoothly while protecting the space around it.
- Smooth starts and controlled stops
- Steering and turning with a long wheelbase
- Straight backing in a controlled area
- A1.1.5Related lesson
Shifting and Operating Transmissions
Choose the right gear, shift manual or automated transmissions correctly, and downshift before hills and curves.
- Shift patterns and gear selection
- Downshifting before grades and curves
- Automated and automatic transmission use
- A1.1.6Dedicated lesson
Backing and Docking
Back safely with a plan: look before you move, use a helper, favor the driver's side, and dock without striking anything.
- Get out and look before backing
- Using a helper and agreed signals
- Docking and backing to the driver's side
- A1.1.7Dedicated lesson
Coupling and Uncoupling
Couple and uncouple a tractor and trailer in the correct order and confirm the connection before moving.
- Coupling steps and height checks
- Confirming the kingpin is locked
- Uncoupling and securing the trailer
Safe Operating Procedures
7 units- A1.2.1Dedicated lesson
Visual Search
Scan far ahead, to the sides, and in the mirrors so you see developing hazards in time to act.
- Looking far enough ahead
- Regular mirror checks
- Searching intersections and lane changes
- A1.2.2Dedicated lesson
Communication
Tell other road users what you plan to do and where you are, using signals, lights, horn, and position.
- Signaling early and clearly
- Communicating presence to others
- Warning devices when stopped
- A1.2.3Related lesson
Distracted Driving
Recognize visual, manual, and mental distractions and follow the federal limits on phone use while driving.
- Types of distraction
- Federal texting and hand-held phone limits
- Setting up the cab before you drive
- A1.2.4Dedicated lesson
Speed Management
Match speed to the road, traffic, weather, load, and sight distance so you can always stop in the space you can see.
- Speed and total stopping distance
- Curves, grades, and road surface
- Adjusting for weather and load
- A1.2.5Dedicated lesson
Space Management
Keep space ahead, behind, beside, above, and below the vehicle, including room to turn and clear overhead objects.
- Following distance
- Space to the sides and when turning
- Overhead and underneath clearance
- A1.2.6Related lesson
Night Operation
Drive safely at night by managing reduced visibility, glare, lighting, and the higher risk of fatigue.
- Headlight use and glare
- Checking lights before night trips
- Fatigue and reduced visibility
- A1.2.7Dedicated lesson
Extreme Driving Conditions
Prepare for and drive through snow, ice, rain, heat, wind, and mountain grades, or decide not to drive.
- Winter preparation and traction
- Hot weather and high winds
- Mountain grades and brake use
Advanced Operating Practices
3 units- A1.3.1Dedicated lesson
Hazard Perception
Spot hazards early by reading the road and other road users, then plan how you will respond.
- Clues that signal a developing hazard
- Road users who need extra space
- Planning an escape path
- A1.3.2Related lesson
Skid Control, Jackknifing, and Other Emergencies
Prevent skids and jackknifes, and respond correctly to brake failure, tire failure, and other emergencies.
- Why skids happen and how to recover
- Emergency stopping and evasive steering
- Brake and tire failures
- A1.3.3Dedicated lesson
Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings
Cross railroad tracks safely, know which vehicles must stop, and avoid high-center and stalled-on-track situations.
- Crossing signs, signals, and markings
- Vehicles that must stop before crossing
- Never stopping or shifting on the tracks
Vehicle Systems and Reporting Malfunctions
3 units- A1.4.1Dedicated lesson
Identification and Diagnosis of Malfunctions
Recognize the signs of problems in brakes, steering, tires, engine, and electrical systems, and decide when to stop.
- Warning signs of system failure
- When a defect makes the vehicle unsafe
- Describing a problem accurately
- A1.4.2Dedicated lesson
Roadside Inspections
Know what happens at a roadside inspection, what inspectors check, and what an out-of-service order means.
- What inspectors review
- Documents to have ready
- Out-of-service orders
- A1.4.3Related lesson
Maintenance
Understand the driver's part in maintenance: routine checks, reporting defects, and not driving an unsafe vehicle.
- Routine driver checks
- Defect reports and repairs
- Leaving repairs to qualified people
Non-Driving Activities
10 units- A1.5.1Dedicated lesson
Handling and Documenting Cargo
Load, secure, and document cargo correctly, and recognize when a shipment involves hazardous materials.
- Weight distribution and securement
- Shipping papers and sealed loads
- Recognizing hazardous materials
- A1.5.2Practice only
Environmental Compliance Issues
Prevent and report spills, leaks, and other environmental harm, and follow rules on idling and waste.
- Preventing and reporting spills
- Idling and emissions limits
- Handling waste and cleanup
- A1.5.3Dedicated lesson
Hours of Service Requirements
Follow the hours-of-service limits and keep an accurate record of duty status.
- Driving and on-duty limits
- Required breaks and off-duty time
- Records of duty status and ELDs
- A1.5.4Dedicated lesson
Fatigue and Wellness Awareness
Recognize fatigue and manage sleep, diet, and health so you stay alert and fit to drive.
- Signs of fatigue
- Sleep and sleep disorders
- Healthy routines on the road
- A1.5.5Dedicated lesson
Post-Crash Procedures
Protect the scene after a crash, get help, exchange information, and complete the required reports and tests.
- Protecting the scene and warning traffic
- Helping the injured and calling for help
- Reporting and post-crash testing
- A1.5.6Related lesson
External Communications
Communicate professionally with enforcement officers, shippers, receivers, dispatch, and the public.
- Working with enforcement officers
- Shippers, receivers, and dispatch
- Professional conduct in public
- A1.5.7Lesson planned
Whistleblower and Coercion
Know your federal protections when you refuse to break safety rules, and how to report coercion.
- What coercion looks like
- Protected refusals and complaints
- Where to report
- A1.5.8Dedicated lesson
Trip Planning
Plan routes, clearances, permits, fuel, rest, and hours before the trip starts.
- Route and clearance restrictions
- Permits, weight, and size limits
- Planning fuel, rest, and hours
- A1.5.9Practice only
Drugs and Alcohol
Understand the drug and alcohol rules, testing, the federal Clearinghouse, and the consequences of a violation.
- Prohibited use and testing types
- The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
- Consequences and return to duty
- A1.5.10Related lesson
Medical Requirements
Meet the medical standards for commercial drivers and keep your medical certification current.
- The DOT physical and medical certificate
- Conditions that need review
- Keeping certification current
Other ELDT pathways
Class B and endorsements have their own curricula
Each pathway has its own federal appendix. Training for one does not complete another.
- Appendix B
Class B
Theory and behind-the-wheel training for straight trucks and buses. Coupling and uncoupling are not part of Class B.
General Knowledge practice - Appendix C
Passenger (P)
Theory plus behind-the-wheel training in a passenger vehicle, covering loading, emergencies, and passenger safety.
Passenger practice - Appendix D
School bus (S)
Theory plus behind-the-wheel training covering danger zones, loading and unloading, and railroad crossings.
School Bus practice - Appendix E
Hazardous materials (H)
Theory only, followed by the state knowledge test. No behind-the-wheel portion is required.
Hazardous Materials practice