New Hampshire CDL Requirements

The New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles issues CDLs in three classes following federal standards. Applicants must be 18 for intrastate or 21 for interstate. ELDT requirements apply. New Hampshire has approximately 10 FMCSA-registered ELDT providers, primarily in the Manchester/Nashua area and Concord. The state's small size means many applicants also consider training options in neighboring Massachusetts and Maine.

The New Hampshire CDL costs $60 for a 5-year license. The CLP costs $18 and is valid for 180 days. Knowledge tests are administered at DMV offices in Concord, Manchester, and other locations. Skills tests are available through state examiners and third-party testers at $200-$400. New Hampshire has limited CDL testing locations relative to its small geography. Wait times can be 2-4 weeks for state-administered tests. Knowledge tests are available in English and Spanish. The state allows three skills test attempts before additional training is required.

New Hampshire CDL training includes NHTI-Concord's Community College and private schools at $3,000-$7,000. New England Tractor Trailer Training School (NETTTS) operates in the region. New Hampshire Employment Security provides WIOA funds. Endorsements follow federal standards. Most in-demand: N (Tank, for heating oil delivery — critical in New Hampshire winters), H (Hazmat), and P (Passenger, for tour bus operations in the White Mountains). Heating oil delivery is a major CDL employment category October-April, and N-endorsed drivers command premium seasonal wages.