ELDT365 › Class A CDL Theory › Can a company pay for an employee's ELDT, and does it need its own registration?

Can a company pay for an employee's ELDT, and does it need its own registration?

Yes, a company can pay for an employee's ELDT. The federal rules set training standards and do not say who has to pay. A company that only pays a registered provider does not need its own Training Provider Registry registration, because the provider delivers the training and files it. A company that delivers any part of ELDT itself, such as behind-the-wheel in its own trucks, must register as a provider even if it only trains its own employees. ELDT365 theory is $20 per driver, and you can pay by card, seat codes or invoice.

Updated October 2026 · ELDT365, listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Paying for training vs providing it

Using a registered provider: you pay, the provider teaches, the provider files the completion with the FMCSA. You have nothing to register and nothing to file.

Becoming a provider: you teach, so you register on the Training Provider Registry, self-certify that you meet the federal rules, and file every completion yourself by midnight of the second business day.

What becoming a provider involves

Register the company, then register each training location.
Follow the federal curriculum for every course you teach.
Use instructors who meet the federal qualifications.
Use training vehicles of the same group and type as the skills test.
Give the theory assessment (80 percent to pass) or document behind-the-wheel proficiency.
Keep training records for three years.

Registration itself is free. The cost is the time to run it right. Providers that do not comply can be removed from the registry, and FMCSA removed nearly 3,000 providers in December 2025.

Class A CDL Theory Online, English and Spanish, filed to the FMCSA registry the moment you finish. $20 Start now See the course

The common split

Many carriers and agencies register only for behind-the-wheel, because they already own the trucks and have experienced drivers to train on them. They buy theory from an online provider instead of building and maintaining a theory course. Theory and behind-the-wheel can come from separate registered providers, and each one files its own part. More on that in theory vs behind-the-wheel.

Check the provider before you pay

When the company is paying, the company carries the risk of a provider that files late or gets removed. Look the provider up at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov the day you buy and make sure it is listed for the exact course. Our six-step checklist: how to check an ELDT provider.

How companies pay ELDT365

Create a fleet account and pick how you pay: a card on file charged $20 per course as you enroll drivers, prepaid seat codes that never expire, or an invoice for your purchase order. You see each driver's progress and filing status in one dashboard. Details on our fleets page.

Questions drivers ask

Do our trainers have to register individually?

No. Instructors hired by a registered provider do not register. The company registers as the provider and makes sure its instructors meet the qualifications.

Does registering on the TPR cost anything?

No. FMCSA charges no fee for initial or continuing registration.

If a driver leaves after we pay, does the training go with them?

Yes. The completion is filed under the driver's license in the national registry and does not expire. With ELDT365 seat codes, a seat that was never used stays with your company for the next hire.

Can we pay for theory only and do behind-the-wheel ourselves?

Yes. That is allowed as long as both your company and the theory provider are on the registry. Each one files its own part.

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What is Class A ELDT?How to get a Class A CDL How much does a Class A CDL cost?Do I need ELDT? Class A CDL Theory →

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