Employer registration and certification: CDL

How to register as an employer

You must register with us before you can certify that a commercial driver who works for you has the skills and training necessary to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely.

You aren’t required to submit a course outline or curriculum for approval. That requirement only applies to private CDL career schools and public colleges offering CDL training.

To register as an employer:

  1. Complete the Commercial Driver Employer Registration. Be sure to:
    • Type the information. We cannot accept handwritten registrations.
    • Provide your Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number.
    • Include the names and signatures of all the individuals authorized to sign the employer certificate.
    • Sign and date the form. Forms submitted without a signature or date won’t be accepted.
  2. Submit the typed, completed form to us by:
    • Mail to:
      CDL Program
      Department of Licensing
      PO Box 9030
      Olympia, WA 98507-9030
    • Fax to 360-570-4915.
    • Email to cdlprogram@dol.wa.gov.

Getting an employer ID number

After we’ve reviewed and approved your registration form, we’ll mail you a letter with the unique employer ID number assigned to your company by the CDL Program. You must put this number on each Commercial Driver Employer Certification form you issue. You can’t certify an employee until you’ve been issued this unique employer ID number.

Changing authorized signers

Any time you add or delete an authorized signer, you must complete and submit a new Commercial Driver Employer Registration form as described above.

How to certify employees

After you’ve registered with us and received your unique employer ID number, you may certify that commercial drivers who work for you have the skills and training necessary to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely. Employees won’t need certification to take CDL knowledge or skills tests, but must present an original certificate when they are issued their CDLs.

To issue a certificate for a driver who works for you:

  1. Complete a Commercial Driver Training Employer Certification. Be sure to:
    • Type the information. We cannot accept handwritten certificates.
    • Place the unique employer ID number you were issued by the CDL Program in the “Employer ID number’ field at the top of the certificate.
    • Provide your Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number.
    • Indicate the class of vehicle the employee is certified to operate.
  2. Print the typed certification form on white paper, sign it, and give it to your employee. The employee will need the original certificate to present to a driver licensing office when he or she is issued a CDL. We can’t accept photocopied, faxed, emailed, or handwritten certificates from employees.

Questions?

If you have questions or need help filling out any of these forms, contact the CDL Program at 360-902-3619.

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