Prior experience and getting new CDL in NC

I went through truck driving school and started driving in Alaska in 2010-2011, moved back to the lower 48 and pulled a flatbed for the next few years OTR as a company driver. Predominantly hauled radioactive materials from nuclear sites and steel coils coils for US steel in the off seasons along with oil pipeline crap etc. Had every endorsement possible and twic, clean CSA and no accidents or tickets. Averaged 3k+ miles a week and have pulled doubles, tankers and occasional heavy with RGN. Let my CDL go in late 2013 and I'm interested in getting it back. Is there somewhere y'all would recommend that does the DMV skills and road test without having to go through a "school" or know of anywhere that would rent me a truck for the testing in Western NC near Boone? Thanks!

 

You’ll need to enroll in a school because you’re now required to have ELDT training. I know the regs say you don’t if you previously had a CDL but too much time has passed.

Sage Truck driving school in Rocky Mount ..if you’re reasonably close maybe can offer you an abbreviated course…Otherwise it’s about $5,300

 

@brian991219 knows the fine details on this very subject.

 

Paid CDL Training | TMC Offers Class A CDL Certification
TMC offers a Class-A CDL Certification Program for select applicants. Receive $500 per week during training. This precedes our flatbed & over-the-road training.
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TMC is big in North Carolina and has an excellent reputation.
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I would first go to your DMV and ask what you need to do to reinstate your CDL. Typically, and every state is different, you need to do everything over after 2 years..some states a lot less.

I don’t really trust AI generated information so it’s quite possible that you don’t have to do eldt requirement. I guess it would depend on if there’s still a record of you having one in the past. Try getting a lifetime driving record and see what’s on there.

 

That is the confusing part, everywhere I look it says it doesn't matter how long it has been....only that I would need to retake the written exam and obviously the skills test, haven't seen anywhere that says the school would be required.

 

I can look online and it still shows my class A and all endorsements, just says expired next to it. I'll be calling them Monday to find out but was just curious what the process will be like if I dont need to go to the school. I considered getting it back like 2 years ago and went to the DMV and took all of the written tests again and passed with flying colors and they gave me a permit. I couldn't get a medical appointment for almost 3 months and didn't know where to find a truck for the road test and said to hell with it lol.

 

Yah, I hate getting conflicting information, drives me insane.

I went directly to fmcsa to try and get some clarification..

In the screenshot I think the key word is “Valid” that’s what makes me believe you will be subjected to it..hopefully not because it seems like a useless pia.

 

From the FMCSA website, it also says even if the previously issued license has lapsed I would not be required to do ELDT as long as I was issued one and it was before 2022.