Missouri CDL Information

A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is one of the first steps to a great-paying career as a commercial truck driver. However, in order to drive a commercial vehicle (CMV) in Missouri, you must first obtain a Missouri CDL. Drivers Legal Plan, the Nation’s Leading CDL Defense Law Firm, has summarized many of the steps and requirements for obtaining your CDL in Missouri.

Please note that your state and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regularly update these CDL requirements. Please visit the Missouri Department of Revenue website and the FMCSA website for the most authoritative and up-to-date information regarding CDL requirements and processes.

Note: There are new Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse requirements effective November 2024. According to the FMCSA website, the Clearinghouse is a secure online database that gives employers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs), and State law enforcement personnel real-time information about commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders’ drug and alcohol program violations. Visit the Missouri Department of Revenue website for more information.

Missouri is among the states that are part of the national system of classifying, testing, and licensing commercial vehicle drivers according to the standards established by the Federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. There are a number of requirements for drivers wishing to obtain their commercial driver’s license (CDL) in the state of Missouri, the first of which is that you must first earn a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) by passing the written knowledge test and driving with your permit with a licensed commercial driver for at least 14 days. The written knowledge test may be taken at any Missouri State Highway Patrol Driver Examination Station. (Tests are only administered in English, and no translators are allowed.)

As of February 7, 2022, the Missouri Department of Revenue requires all new CDL applicants and some applicants for CDL upgrades to complete an approved Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) program and be listed in the federal Training Provider Registry before completing the required skills test. Details of this requirement can be found at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website. The ELDT requirement is not retroactive and does not apply to drivers who obtained their CDL before February 7, 2022. For those applying for a new CDL, you can find a list of registered training providers here.

The Missouri Department of Revenue issues approximately 20,000 new CDLs every year in classes A, B, and C. The 2022 ELDT requirements apply to the following applicants and classes:

Who Is Required to Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)?

• A first-time Class A or Class B CDL applicant
• A first-time Class C CDL applicant with a passenger, school bus, or hazardous materials endorsement
• A driver seeking an upgrade of a current CDL
• An applicant seeking a hazardous materials (H), passenger (P), or school bus (S) endorsement for the first time

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.