Admission Policy for a CDL Applicant

In order to obtain CDL in Illinois following legal requirements must be met:

• You must be at least 18 years of age to drive a commercial motor vehicle within the state of Illinois.
• You must be at least 21 years of age to drive a commercial motor vehicle outside the state of Illinois, carry hazardous materials or passengers.
• To receive an Illinois driver’s license or ID card, you must provide a minimum of three (3) acceptable forms of identification. You must prove: name, date of birth, Illinois residency, social security number and signature.
• You cannot have more than one driver’s license, and your driving privileges cannot be suspended, revoked, cancelled or disqualified.
• You must be able to read, speak and write the English language well enough to converse with the general public, to understand the highway traffic signs and signals, to respond to official inquiries and make entries in reports and records.
• You must be able to pass written tests in English in order to obtain the Instruction Permit at the Secretary of State Office and pay a fee of $50.00 or $60.00 if you do not have valid DL.
• You must meet medical requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
• Ability to pass a DOT physical and DOT drug screen. The Department of Transportation will require you to take and successfully pass a physical test. In conjunction with the DOT physical, CDL students are required to be drug tested prior to beginning behind the wheel instruction. Students must also be enrolled in random drug screens throughout program.