What can help me prepare for my CDL exams?

Driving a commercial motor vehicle is substantially more difficult than operating your personal car or truck. Therefore, a written exam and a driving skills test will be required before you can obtain your Missouri CDL.

To prepare for testing, you'll want to review a copy of the Missouri Commercial Driver License Manual. This helpful guide discusses topics such as conducting a vehicle inspection, driving under adverse weather conditions, anticipating hazards, and transporting cargo or passengers.

I don't have a job yet. What are my options for truck driver training?

To further prepare you for your CDL exams, you may want to continue your education. Many Missouri residents also choose to enroll in a commercial driver education program before completing their CDL tests. Although most local community colleges offer CDL training, the programs are not affiliated with the Missouri Department of Revenue. You will be responsible for conducting your own research into coursework, fees, starting dates, and other program details.

I want to further my career and have new doors opened for me. How can I add endorsements to my Missouri commercial driver's license once I have it?

While most Missouri residents choose to complete the requirements for a Class A, B, or C CDL, you may wish to add additional endorsements to your license. These endorsements can often open up additional job opportunities for new commercial drivers.

Many jobs for commercial drivers require a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement. To receive this endorsement, you'll need to request a fingerprint and background check and complete an additional written exam.

If you wish to operate a school bus, you'll need to add a school bus endorsement to your Missouri CDL. This endorsement requires the completion of an additional written exam and driving skills test.

How can I protect my commercial driving privileges?

Because operating a commercial motor vehicle requires a great amount of responsibility, the Missouri Department of Revenue may suspend your CDL if you exhibit any of the following unsafe behaviors:

• Accumulating too many points on your driving record for careless driving, speeding, or other traffic related offenses

• Driving any motor vehicle while legally intoxicated

• Refusing to take a drug or alcohol test upon the request of a law enforcement officer

• Driving with no valid insurance policy

• Using a commercial motor vehicle to commit a felony

• Failing to stop at the scene of an accident

• Falsifying statements on your CDL application

As driving records follow CDL drivers from state to state, offenses committed while not in Missouri will still be used to determine if your license will be suspended.

To learn more about maintaining a valid CDL, you can download the Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators and the Law pamphlet.

What is the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA) and why should I know about it?

The Federal Motor Career Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA) outlines rules that commercial drivers must follow to maintain a valid CDL. This legislation was passed to ensure higher training standards for commercial drivers and reduce the number of accidents involving commercial motor vehicles.

To learn more about how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety improvement Act affects your Missouri CDL, please review the guide posted on the Missouri Department of Revenue's Web site.

Who is allowed to conduct roadside inspections for commercial drivers?

The random roadside inspections that evaluate compliance with commercial motor vehicle weight and size limit laws must be conducted by law enforcement officers that have been approved by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, commercial vehicle enforcement officers, or members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

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