I have a regular California driver’s license and want to drive a truck. Where do I start?

I have a regular California license. Should I enroll in truck school or get a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) first?

You can take permit prep before you have a CLP. Some Class A driving courses require it at enrollment. If your course requires a permit, check what to bring to the DMV.

Check my CLP steps (in Chinese) →

Where do two California truck-driving programs start?

Merced College’s truck-driving program puts both courses in sequence. TRK-769 prepares students for the CLP knowledge test; TRK-770 puts them behind the wheel. The first step for a prospective student is to attend an orientation. The college requires applicants to be at least 18, have held a driver’s license for at least a year, and have a valid California license. The orientation and classes are in English.

Shasta College offers permit prep and driver training as separate courses. You can take CONS-140A without a permit: you study the commercial driver’s handbook for the knowledge test, with no driving. For its Class A behind-the-wheel course, a valid California CLP is one of the requirements for enrollment. If a school asks you to come back with a permit, ask which course they mean.

If you want Shasta’s driving course and only have a regular license, check your CLP steps and documents (in Chinese). No sign-in is needed.

When do I actually need the permit?

A school can prepare you for the test. The DMV issues the permit. Even with a California Class C license, you still need to meet the eligibility requirements, provide identification and any required medical paperwork, and pass the applicable knowledge tests. The California DMV’s CLP application instructions list what to bring. A school’s acceptance doesn’t establish that you qualify for a permit.

Once you have your CLP, you can practice on public roads in a truck that requires a CDL only with a qualified driver seated beside you. That driver needs a valid California CDL of the right class and any endorsements required for the truck. Before taking the skills test for your first Class A CDL, you must complete the applicable entry-level driver training and hold your CLP for at least 14 days. Those 14 days start when the DMV first issues your permit, not when you pay tuition or attend your first class. Federal rule on CLP supervision and the waiting period (PDF)

Two questions to ask before you enroll

1. Does this course help me prepare for the California CLP knowledge test?

2. Do I need my CLP to enroll, or only before I start driving?

Still comparing schools? If you just want to see where the medical exam, permit, training and skills test fit, read the California CDL process overview (in Chinese). You can read it without answering any questions.

This guide draws on the two colleges’ enrollment information, California DMV guidance and federal rules checked on November 2, 2026. Courses and licensing requirements can change. Confirm course requirements with the school before enrolling and your eligibility with the DMV before applying. The school decides admission and the DMV decides licensing.

Merced College. “Truck Driving.” Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

Shasta College. “Truck Driving.” Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

California Department of Motor Vehicles. “Commercial Driver’s Licenses.” Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

U.S. Government Publishing Office. “49 CFR § 383.25. Commercial learner’s permit (CLP).” Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

Chinese Trucking Association of California. “司机入行规划 / Driver Entry Planner.” Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.