This article is useful for anyone who wants to get your CDL in Indiana, Iowa or Illinois. If you want to learn about earning a CDL at other states, we have put together a comprehensive guide on how to get a commercial driver’s license in every state of the country.
Indiana
To get a CDL you must:
- be at least 18 years old if you will be transporting property within state lines and 21 years old if you will be transporting people
- have held an Indiana driver’s license, chauffeur’s license, or public passenger chauffeur’s license for at least one year
- present documents of identification proving your identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and Indiana residency
- pass the appropriate knowledge test for the vehicle type that you plan to operate
Knowledge Tests Required
- Commercial vehicle drivers: General knowledge test
- School bus drivers: School bus endorsement test and passenger transport test
- All bus drivers: Passenger transport test
- Vehicle with air brakes: Air brakes test
- Combination of vehicles: Combination vehicle test
- Drivers transporting hazardous material: Hazardous material test
- Drivers transporting liquids in bulk: Tanker test
- Drivers pulling double or triple trailers: Doubles/triples test
You may receive only three CDL permits in two years, and a CDL learner’s permit is valid for six months. Those with a CDL learner’s permit may operate a commercial motor vehicle only when accompanied by a valid CDL holder who has the proper class and endorsement(s).
Iowa
To get a CDL you must:
- be 18 years old
- provide proof of full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and citizenship, permanent residency, or an I-94 document
- proof of Iowa residency
- pass a vision screening test
- obtain and hold a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) for at least 2 weeks prior to your application
- certify the vehicle type you plan to drive
Steps to Obtaining a CDL
1. Pass the knowledge test required for the commercial vehicle you want to operate
- General knowledge for any CDL
- Combination vehicle for Class A
- Air brake
- Passenger
- School bus
- Doubles/Triples
- Hazmat
- Tank
- Iowa operator (if applicable)
2. Obtain a CLP
3. Pass the required skills and driving test, which is comprised of 3 parts
- Pre-trip vehicle inspection, making sure your vehicle is safe to drive
- Skills test, which tests maneuvers around cones and backin maneuvers
- A driving test
Illinois
To get a CDL you must:
- be 18 years old
- hold a valid Ohio State diver’s license
- provide a valid Social Security card
- meet minimum medical standards as established by federal and state regulations
- pass the knowledge and skills tests
Testing
The knowledge test is a written test required for each class of vehicle you hope to drive, each endorsement, and removing an air brake restriction.
The skill test is a 90-minute driving test comprised of a pre-inspection and a road test. You will need to arrive with a vehicle appropriate to the class of license you seek.
Exemptions
The law exempts these categories from the CDL:
- A “Farm Truck”
- Fire Equipment
- Public Safety Vehicle
- Recreational Vehicle
- Commercial Motor Vehicle
- Vehicle Operated for Military Purpose
- Nonbusiness Commercial Motor Vehicle
- Vehicle Designed for Transporting Goods
