CDL Restriction Codes
A restriction is the opposite of an endorsement: it is something taken away. Most are applied automatically by the vehicle you happen to test in, which means drivers regularly leave the licensing office with a limit they did not intend and did not notice.
| Code | Restriction | How it comes off |
|---|---|---|
| E | No manual transmission | Retake the skills test in the right vehicle |
| L | No full air brakes | Pass a knowledge test |
| Z | No full air brakes (air over hydraulic) | Retake the skills test in the right vehicle |
| O | No tractor-trailer | Retake the skills test in the right vehicle |
| M | No Class A passenger vehicle | Retake the skills test in the right vehicle |
| N | No Class A or B passenger vehicle | Retake the skills test in the right vehicle |
| K | Intrastate only | Paperwork at the licensing office |
| V | Medical variance | Paperwork at the licensing office |
The one you can remove by studying
Only the L restriction comes off with a knowledge test. Pass the air brakes test and take your skills test in a vehicle with full air brakes, and it is gone. Every other restriction here needs either a skills retest in a different vehicle or a trip to the counter.
The expensive mistake
Testing in an automatic transmission gets you an E restriction; testing in a combination coupled with a pintle hook instead of a fifth wheel gets you O. Both are common, both are invisible until an employer turns you down, and both need a full skills retest to remove. Decide what you will be driving before you book the test, not after.
More CDL guides
See every CDL knowledge test and guide →
Frequently asked questions
What does an L restriction mean on a CDL?
You may not drive a commercial vehicle with full air brakes. It is applied when you do not pass the air brakes knowledge test, or test in a vehicle without them. It is the only restriction a knowledge test alone can remove.
How do I remove the E restriction from my CDL?
Retake the skills test in a vehicle with a manual transmission. There is no written test that removes it — the restriction records what you demonstrated, not what you know.
What is the difference between the L and Z restrictions?
L means you did not pass the air brakes knowledge test. Z means you passed it but took the skills test in a vehicle with an air-over-hydraulic braking system rather than full air brakes.
