Kansas CDL Requirements
Please note that your state and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regularly update these CDL requirements. Please visit the Kansas Department of Revenue website and the FMCSA website for the most authoritative and up-to-date information regarding CDL requirements and processes.
To obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or commercial instruction permit (CIP) in Kansas, drivers must be at least 18 years of age, show the required identification (listed below), have a current Kansas driver’s license, show proof of residency (listed below), pass a background check, and show proof of a passing DOT physical by a licensed medical examiner, stating that the driver is healthy enough to operate a commercial vehicle.
Acceptable forms of identification include:
- State-certified birth certificate
- Valid and current U.S. passport
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad
- Certificate of citizenship
- Certificate of naturalization
- Valid permanent resident card
- Valid employment authorization document (EAD)
- Valid foreign passport with a U.S. visa
Acceptable Proof of Residency:
You must provide two documents containing your name and current physical address. These documents must be no more than 45 days old.
To be eligible to apply for a CDL in Kansas, you must first apply for a CIP, pass the written knowledge test, and drive with a CDL holder, who is physically present in the front seat of the vehicle and is licensed to drive the same type of commercial vehicle you are applying to drive, for at least 14 days. CIP holders are not eligible to take the CDL skills test until the 14-day period is complete.
Once you have taken and passed the CIP exam and have held your CIP for at least 14 days, you are eligible to take the CDL exam. The Kansas CDL exam covers three areas: pre-trip inspection, basic control skills, and a driving test. The driving test includes general knowledge, endorsement knowledge, and skills test portions, which must all be taken in successive order. Applicants must bring the type of vehicle they plan to drive to the exam for the driving test.
Remember, the most important thing to remember when you receive a ticket is that you should never just pay the ticket or the court fees without first talking to a legal representative who understands trucking laws. While you want to maintain a clean driving record, unforeseen violations can happen. When they do, you need expert legal protection. Drivers Legal Plan, the Nation's Leading CDL Defense Law Firm, is ready to defend your rights and your career.