Commercial Driver License (CDL)

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Updated Non-domiciled CDL and CLP Regulations:

Effective December 12th, 2025, and until further notice, the Rhode Island DMV cannot issue any non-domiciled Commercial Driver Licenses. This includes new issuance, transfers, updates, duplicates, renewals, knowledge tests, and skills testing.

Commercial transactions are only done at the CDL Office at the Cranston DMV. 

Drivers are required to obtain and hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) if they operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce, and the vehicle fits one or more CMV types listed below. In accordance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) standards, Rhode Island issues CDLs and Commercial Learner’s Permits (CLPs) to drivers based on the following license classifications:

Group A (Combination Vehicle)

Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle(s) being towed is more than 10,000 pounds.

Group B (Heavy Straight Vehicle)

Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not more than 10,000 pounds GVWR.

Group C (Small Vehicle)

Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that meets neither the definition of Group A nor Group B, but is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is used in the transportation of materials found to be hazardous that require the motor vehicle to be placarded. This includes any quantity of chemical or biological material or agent posing a threat to national security, including toxins.