DOT certification is a must for vehicles of specific sizes and purposes. It’s a seal of quality, showing a driver has all the necessary skills and characteristics to drive a commercial vehicle in the United States. Some of the vehicles you need a DOT certification to drive include:
Trucks and semi-trucks
Delivery vehicles
Public transportation vehicles
In other words, you have to be DOT certified to have a commercial driver’s license. The DOT certification process is similar to that of the personal driver’s license process but with extra steps. It usually includes all of the following:
A series of written tests
A series of driving tests
A physical exam
A background test
An illicit substance test