What is the Commercial Driver's License Law?
New federal standards for testing and licensing heavy truck and bus operators are now law in Kentucky. These minimum standards will guarantee the fitness of commercial motor vehicle operators by requiring demonstrated ability to drive heavy vehicles before a license is issued. A new license, called the Commercial Driver License (CDL), has replaced what was known as a chauffeur license for many Kentucky drivers. The CDL laws and standards cover drivers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Mexico and Canada. Motor Carriers will be held responsible if their drivers operate a commercial motor vehicle without a valid CDL.

• CDL skills testing sites
• CDL Manual
• CDL Application - Form TC94-32. Please read all instructions.
• Hazardous Materials Endorsement Application

Who Needs a License?

Class A 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.

Class B CDL -

• Any straight truck with two or more axles and a GVWR of 26,0001 pounds or more;
• 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.

Class C CDL

• 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.

Skill Test Fees for CDL Permits
Effective September 5, 2006 the new skill test fees for CDL permits, as mandated by House Bill 707, was implemented. HB 707 directs that the skill test fees collected will be placed in the Kentucky State Police CDL skill testing trust fund, and will be used by the State Police to contract with and train civilian CDL skills examiners and to improve the logistics of the CDL skills testing process. It applies only to original CDL permits and will not be levied against duplicate or renewal permits.

• 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.
  

The knowledge test consists of 50 questions covering a broad range of subjects, including vehicle operations under all kinds of conditions, cargo handling, and vehicle inspection.

Additional knowledge must be shown in the following areas:

• Applicants for Class A license - 20 questions on combination vehicles.
• Applicants driving vehicles with air brakes - 25 questions on air brakes.

Endorsements are required for the following vehicles:

• Double/triple trailer - 20 questions
• Tanker - 20 questions
• Passenger transport - 20 questions
• Hazardous materials hauling - 30 questions

For each test, 80 percent of the questions must be answered correctly to pass. Failure to show basic knowledge of an air brake system will result in a license restriction limiting the driver to operating a vehicle without an air brake system. Applicants may take the basic knowledge test indefinitely without paying retest fees. However, if the applicant fails, the applicant must wait 24 hours prior to re-testing. Skills tests can be taken indefinitely as long as the CDL instruction permit is valid. The combination, airbrake, and endorsement tests require a $5 re-test fee for each time taken after the initial failure.

Re-Testing
Applicants must re-test for the hazardous materials endorsement at renewal of the CDL. If transferring into Kentucky and it has been two (2) years since the last test, an applicant must re-test in order to keep a hazardous material endorsement. If a CDL driver surrenders his commercial driving privileges, he has a year to return to the clerk's office and be re-issued the CDL without re-testing. If the CDL is ever expired for one (1) year or more, the written tests must be taken prior to a new license being issued. An application fee will be charged. If applying for a CDL reinstatement, and the commercial privilege has been suspended for one (1) year or more, all tests are required.

After the CDL permit is issued, applicants must wait 10 days before contacting Kentucky State Police for a skills test appointment. If you passed the written test for air brakes, you will need to skills test in an air brake vehicle, otherwise, you will receive a K restriction. A class C applicant will only be required to take the on-road test portion of the skills testing.

Pre-trip Inspection
Purpose: To see if you know the vehicle is safe to drive.

Test Procedure: You may be asked to do a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle or to explain to the examiner what you would inspect and why. The examiner will mark on a scoring form each time that you correctly inspect or explain.

A manual explaining what you need to inspect is available through the Kentucky State Police or the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Division of Drivers Licensing.

Setup: The test setup consists of various exercises marked out by lines, traffic cones, or something similar. The exercises may include moving the vehicle forward, backward, and turning maneuvers.

The examiner will explain to you how each exercise is to be done. You will be scored on how well you stay within the exercise boundaries and how many pull-ups you make.

Road Test
Purpose: To evaluate your ability to drive safely in a variety of on-the-road situations.

Test Procedures: The test drive is taken over a route specified by the examiner. It may include left and right turns, intersections, railway crossings, curves, up and down grades, rural or semi-rural roads, city and multi-lane streets, and expressway driving.

You will drive over the test route following instructions given by the examiner. The examiner will score specific tasks such as turns, merging into traffic, lane changes, and speed control, at specific places along the route. The examiner will also score whether you correctly do tasks such as signaling, searching for hazards, controlling speed, and lane positioning.

What does the CDL cost?

• CDL application - $24
• CDL instruction permit - $11
• Original CDL - up to $40 (prorated fees according to current operator's expiration)
• Renewal CDL - $47
• Transfer CDL - $60; with motorcycle - $70. Transfer CDL instruction permit - $11

Upgrades in class

• Class B or C to A - application, permit and license fees, for a total of $47
• Class C to B - application, permit and license fees, for a total of $47

Add endorsements/drop restrictions

$5 for tanker, doubles/triples, and hazardous materials. The new license will cost $12, for a total of $17.

The following license actions will require an application fee, CDL instruction permit fee, and a new license fee, for a total of $47:

• Add passenger endorsement;
• Drop K restriction;
• Drop L restriction;
• Drop O restriction; and
• Drop J restriction.

Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999

Wants and Warrants check for all CDL drivers
Beginning May 31, 2005, all applicants for a CDL (original and renewal) will be required to undergo a "hot file" check conducted by Kentucky State Police. more...

Kentucky Security Threat Assessment
Kentucky drivers need to apply for the Kentucky Security Threat Assessment at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of their license by completing the Hazardous Materials Endorsement Application - PDF format. More information and phone numbers available on this page.

Hazmat Threat Assessment Program
The USA PATRIOT Act requires all drivers who transport hazardous materials to undergo a security threat assessment. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has developed a program to implement this requirement, which will become fully operational by January 31, 2005.
More...

Hazmat Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Hazmat Threat Assessment Program.

Continued...

Division of Motor Carriers Home Page
Division of Driver Licensing Home Page