LouisianaLouisiana law sets commercial driving age and skills-test rules
Louisiana's law allows intrastate commercial driving from age 18, while interstate driving and hazardous materials endorsements require drivers to be at least 21.
What it does
People age 18 or older may hold a commercial driver license for driving within Louisiana. Interstate driving and hazardous materials endorsements require drivers to be at least 21.
Class A drivers tested in certain vehicle setups face limits on which tractor-trailers they may drive. They can remove a limit by passing a skills test in the matching setup.
Argument forAllowing intrastate commercial driving from age 18 may give younger adults a way to qualify for some driving jobs sooner.
Argument againstDrivers may need another skills test before driving some tractor-trailers, which could add time and effort for people seeking those jobs.
More detail
The law allows commercial driver licenses for intrastate driving starting at age 18. This applies to commercial driving within Louisiana; the text separately sets an age rule for interstate driving. Interstate commercial driving and hazardous materials endorsements require drivers to be at least 21. Federal minimum age rules for interstate carriers also apply.
The law restricts which tractor-trailers some Class A drivers may operate based on the vehicle used for their skills test. These restrictions apply to people taking a skills test for a Class A commercial driver license. Drivers tested without a tractor-trailer combination may operate one only after passing a skills test in that combination. Drivers tested with a connection other than a fifth wheel may operate a fifth-wheel tractor-trailer requiring a Class A license only after passing a test in a Class A vehicle with a fifth-wheel connection. A power unit under 26,001 pounds does not count as the tractor in a tractor-trailer combination for this rule.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 9Signed by the Governor Jeff Landry. Becomes Act No. 868.Became Law
- Jun 9Effective date: 08/01/2026.
- May 27Signed by the President of the Senate.
- May 27Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- May 26Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1291). Result: pass.Upper
- May 26Received from the Senate without amendments.Minor
- May 26Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- May 20Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 19Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 18Reported favorably.Minor
- Apr 28Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.Minor
- Apr 27Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#750). Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 27Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- Apr 23Scheduled for floor debate on 04/27/2026.
- Apr 22Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- Apr 21Reported favorably (10-0).Minor
- Mar 31Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.Minor
- Mar 30Read by title. Lies over under the rules.Introduced
Transportation