State a CDL is issued from

You will need to get your learners permit first, before attending any school. This will be in the residence State of course. Get your CDL in that State, and like any other license...you have 10 days to transfer your license reflecting your "new" address. There is no "waiting time" or "possession time" in having your CDL and moving (relocating) to another State. There is a maximum time allowed to transfer your license to the new State. You will have to take the written portions of the test (DMV) when transferring...and each State has drive test requirements...just depends on what the State rules are.

 

States are different. Some say 90 days while others say 6 months. It's a very easy question to answer thou, just go to the DMV site of where you're moving to and see there. In Washington it says you have 30 days after you get a residency and one of the requiements for the start date is when you move there for work. Whatever you do do not let the time or license expire because if you do you'll be starting all over again on your CDL.

 

I read the same thing you did about having to hold your license for a minimum time in one state before you could transfer it to another state. The OP said that New York would not allow you to trade for their CDL until you had held your CDL in another state for six months. I don't know if this is correct and have never heard of such a thing. I was amazed by this rule.

Here is the thread: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/questions-from-new-drivers/150144-they-wont-let-me-transfer-my.html

None of the half dozen or so states I have been around have any such rules that I am aware of. I would say any rules like this that may exist are the exception and not the rule. They most likely have to do with some dreamed up false sense of security.

You should Google "WA DOT website" and find CDL requirements. Research the rules and/or call them and ask. I think you will find they don't have these rules but you should make sure.

If you plan to use a WA address and live in Fl you may encounter problems with local authorities, car tags, insurance and home time. I doubt a company that hires you out of WA will make a big effort to get you home in FL. If they don't hire out of FL they probably don't have much freight in/out of there.