Commercial Driver Education

Minnesota's commercial drivers must meet certain education and training requirements for a commercial driver's license, and additional tests for some endorsements, such as hazardous materials or school bus driver permissions.

Beyond the basic commercial license requirements, Minnesota requires additional knowledge tests, described in the state's Commercial Driver's Manual.

A commercial license holder in Minnesota who wishes to add endorsements or upgrade class, and needs practice, must first take all of the applicable knowledge tests required.

First-time commercial license applicants are issued a non-renewable, six-month permit. After the six-month period, new commercial drivers must retake knowledge tests for endorsements or upgrades. However, commercial drivers in Minnesota who have an unrestricted air brake CDL are not required to retake the air brake knowledge test after the six-month permit expires.

To learn how to drive a commercial vehicle, you may wish to enroll in driving school. The Minnesota DVS offers a list of driver training schools to help you choose.

After the required knowledge tests, commercial drivers in Minnesota may take the CDL skills tests, which consist of:

• Pre-trip inspection, if seeking school bus or air brake endorsement

• Basic control skills, required for all commercial drivers

• Road test, required for all commercial drivers

When taking commercial driver skills tests in Minnesota, you must provide your vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). If testing in a bus, you must show proof of number of passengers.

There are three classes of commercial licenses in Minnesota, and licenses are restricted based on the vehicle, truck, or van that is used during the test. For example, school bus endorsement requires testing in a school bus, air brake endorsement requires testing in a vehicle with air brakes.

Vehicles used in commercial driver testing in Minnesota must be equipped with passenger seats and doors. Driver and passenger seatbelts must work properly and vehicle interiors should be clean.

The three commercial license classes in Minnesota are as follows:

• Class A

• These are vehicles with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds, or more than 26,000 pounds combining trailer and truck/cab.

• Class B

• These are vehicles with a GVWR of more than 26,000 pounds as a single unit. This includes passenger vehicles, school buses, and the restricted Class B license.

• Class C

• These are vehicles with a GVWR of 26,000 pounds or less as a single unit, placarded for hazardous materials, for a hazardous materials endorsement. With a school bus endorsement, vehicles that carry 15 or fewer passengers.