Missouri CDL Information
Missouri is among the states who 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:
- A first-time Class A or Class B CDL applicant
- A Class C CDL first-time 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.