Commercial driver's license (CDL)

Definition

The license class a driver needs for a heavy truck, graded by vehicle and cargo.

Why It Matters

It is the constraint on every fleet trade, and it is slower to replace than a payroll line suggests: entry-level training from a federally registered provider now gates the skills test, so a driver is a matter of months instead of a week. In diligence the roster is the capacity statement, and the credential detail matters as much as the count: an endorsement for passengers, a school bus, or hazardous materials is a separate test and a separate pool of people.