Division of Driver Licensing - Commercial Drivers License Information

On October 26, 1986, United States Congress passed the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act. This law requires each state to meet the same minimum standards for commercial driver licensing. The standards require commercial motor vehicle drivers to get a Commercial Driver's License (CDL).

For any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is more than 10,000 pounds.

Any vehicle with two or more axles and a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, pulling a vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less;

A single vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) if the GVWR is 26,001 pounds or more.

Any vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds transporting hazardous materials for which placarding is required;

A single vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) if the GVWR is less than 26,001 pounds.

** Please note that if driving a commercial motor vehicle between 10,001 - 26,000 pounds, you are required to carry a medical examination certificate, even though you are not required to carry a CDL license.

How to apply
Effective May 18, 2009, a CDL permit/license can not be issued until the applicant has provided a copy of the CDL application to the Division of Driver Licensing and DDL has posted the application to the driver’s record. This process could take up to 48 hours. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the Division of Driver Licensing a copy of the 10 Year History Application prior to the issuance of the CDL permit/license. To assure the process is completed within the 48 hour window the applicant may want to submit the application to DDL prior to going to the circuit court clerk’s office for testing.

Under 49 CFR 384.206, a driver applying for an original, renewal, upgrade/add-on or transfer CDL must provide a list of all states where the driver has held a license to operate any type motor vehicle in the last ten (10) years. The Ten (10) Year History Survey Request must be initiated prior to a CDL permit/license being issued. This is a one time process. If the driver has already provided the information and has not transferred out of state since completing the process, he/she will not be required to submit the information again. Per 49 CFR 383.73 (g) if a driver fails to disclose any state in which a license was issued, that driver will be subject to a minimum suspension of sixty (60) days for falsifying an application.

In an attempt to make the new process user friendly, the Division of Driver Licensing has made the CDL application accessible from the DDL website: http://transportation.ky.gov/drlic. The driver will select the “Forms and Applications” option on the left and then click on TC 94-32. The form can be completed on line and printed out. The driver will then have three options for submitting the application to the Division of Driver Licensing: 1) print, scan and email the application to KYTC.CDL@KY.GOV: 2) mail to; Division of Driver Licensing, 200 Mero St, Frankfort, KY 40622; 3) fax it to the CDL Section at 502-564-3250. An applicant can bring the application to the Division of Driver Licensing’s One Stop Shop but, it will still require 48 hours to process. A supply of the CDL applications is available from our Administrative Support Section at 502-564-0278 ext 5104.

All applicants will be required to successfully pass a knowledge test either in written or oral form, and a vision test. A CDL instruction permit will then be issued that is valid for six (6) months. You may schedule a road skills test with Kentucky State Police 10 days after the permit has been issued. A permit may only be renewed once in the two (2) year period. If you do not successfully pass the road skills test by the expiration of your CDL instruction permit renewal, you will need to reapply. All fees and written tests will be required prior to a new permit being issued.

At the time of issuance of a CDL permit requiring a skills test, a driver who has held a Kentucky operator license or permit for 30 days or longer will pay a skills testing fee of fifty dollars ($50) in addition to the eleven dollar ($11) CDL permit fee.

At the time of issuance of a CDL permit requiring a skill test to a driver who has held a Kentucky operator license or permit for less than 30 days, a skill testing fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) in addition to the $11 CDL will be collected.

What's on the Knowledge Test?
The Kentucky State Police will give the knowledge test at the local exam stations. Please check with your local Circuit Court Clerk regarding the days and times the examiner will be available.

What does the road test cover?
Drivers will be required to take this test in the class of vehicle they intend to drive. The test includes a pre-trip inspection, off-road maneuvering, and on-road driving test. The applicant will be required to furnish a vehicle for testing.

Division of Driver Licensing