Nebraska CDL Requirements

The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles issues CDLs in three classes. Class A covers combination vehicles over 26,001 lbs towing over 10,000 lbs. Class B covers single vehicles over 26,001 lbs. Class C covers hazmat or passenger vehicles. Applicants must be 18 for intrastate or 21 for interstate. Nebraska requires a valid Nebraska driver license, Social Security card, proof of Nebraska residency, and US citizenship/legal presence. ELDT requirements apply. Nebraska has approximately 15 FMCSA-registered ELDT providers in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, North Platte, and other cities.

The Nebraska CDL costs $48 for a 5-year license. The CLP costs $12 and is valid for 180 days. Knowledge tests are $5 per attempt at DMV locations. Skills tests are $50 at state-administered sites or $150-$300 at third-party testers. Nebraska DMV offers CDL testing at county treasurer offices and designated testing sites. Knowledge tests are available in English and Spanish. The state allows three skills test attempts before additional training is required. Omaha and Lincoln have the most testing availability. Rural locations may have limited scheduling.

Nebraska CDL training includes Central Community College (Grand Island, Hastings), Southeast Community College (Lincoln), and Metropolitan Community College (Omaha) at $2,000-$4,500. Private schools charge $3,500-$7,000. The Nebraska Department of Labor provides WIOA training funds. Endorsements follow federal standards. Most in-demand: T (Double/Triple, for I-80 corridor LTL and intermodal), N (Tank, for fuel and fertilizer distribution), and H (Hazmat, for agricultural chemical transport). Werner Enterprises (Omaha) is one of the largest carriers in the nation and offers company-sponsored CDL training from its Nebraska headquarters.