New Hampshire Trucking Schools
Truck driving careers in New Hampshire can vary quite significantly. You will need to explore the many different industries and learn what the opportunities are in various parts of the state.
Truck driving is a very lucrative but demanding occupation. Physical stamina, keen awareness and calm reserve are necessary to be successful. There are also legal and educational requirements that must be met before you can get behind the wheel. Each state has different requirements to obtain a CDL, Commercial Driver’s License.
In New Hampshire, there are three distinct categories of trucks that require a CDL to drive:
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- Class A – A trailer that weighs at least 10,000 lbs. The combination of cab and trailer weighs at least 26,002 lbs.
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- Class B – A single vehicle that weighs at least 26,002 lbs. A cab with trailer that weighs at least 26,002 lbs with the trailer weighing less than 10,000 lbs.
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- Class C – A vehicle that weighs less than 26,001 lbs. It transports 16 or more passengers or carries hazardous materials.
In New Hampshire, the requirements to obtain a CDL are:
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- Applicants need a valid NH driver’s license, a medical certificate and must be a minimum of 18 years old.
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- Applicants must relinquish all and any other CDL licenses issued in other states.
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- Aplicants must provide three official documents with name, address, date of birth. Social Security card, Driver’s license and birth certificate are valid examples.
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- For transporting across state line, the driver must be a minimum of 21 years old. This requirement is because transporting cargo across state lines is not regulated by the individual states but by the USDOT, U.S. Dept. of Transportation.
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- Applicants must pass a general knowledge exam
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- Applicants must pass a skills test consisting of a typical pre-trip vehicle inspection, a fundamental vehicle control test and an on-the-road driving test.
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- To qualify for the testing and licensing, applicants must test with the same class vehicle for which the applicant will be driving professionally.
In addition to those standards, endorsements are required for applicants wanting to drive vehicles with certain characteristics. Those endorsements include:
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- Trucks with Air Brakes
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- Double or Triple Trailers
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- School Buses
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- Tanker Trucks
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- Transporting Passengers
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- Hauling Hazardous Materials
One of the newer requirements is a background check by the TSA, the Transportation Security Administration, before drivers can obtain a HAZMAT, hazardous materials, endorsement.
There are a number of truck driving schools in New Hampshire that will provide the required education and on-the-road training.
New Hampshire has a large, active trucking industry that supports an extensive community of truck drivers and available positions. An eager, qualified trucker can earn a good living driving the New Hampshire roads.
New Hampshire Community Tech College
2020 Riverside Dr.
Berlin, NH 03570
