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Illinois CDL License Requirements

To start your truck driving career in Illinois, you must first earn an Illinois commercial driver’s license (CDL). There are typically three types of CDL licenses that can vary slightly from state to state. The State of Illinois classifies commercial vehicles using the following criteria:

Class A: Combination vehicle weighing over 26,001 pounds with the trailer weighing over 10,000 pounds
Class B: Single or combination vehicle weighing over 26,001 pounds and a trailer weighing less than 10,000 pounds
Class C: Vehicles weighing 26,000 pounds or less, carrying hazardous materials or transporting 16 or more passengers

According to Illinois CDL requirements, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Illinois driver’s license and obtain a medical certificate. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) regulates interstate transportation of cargo. If you wish to transport materials across state lines, you must be at least 21 years old. All CDL applicants then need to pass a general knowledge exam and a skills test, which includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection, a basic control test and an on-road driving exam. The driving test must be taken in a vehicle that matches the class of CDL license you are trying to obtain.

Additional qualifications in the form of endorsements are also needed to drive a truck with air brakes, a tanker truck or a school bus. Endorsements are also needed to transport hazardous materials (Hazmat) or to transport passengers. A background check by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required for the Hazmat endorsement. A truck driving school in Illinois will provide the education and on-road training needed to pass the CDL requirements.

Resources for Illinois CDL Requirements

Visit the Illinois Secretive of State Cyber Drive Illinois website for more information

Directory of Illinois Truck Driving Schools

Aurora: Waubonsee Community College
Address: 2060 Ogden Ave Aurora, Illinois 60504
Phone: 630-585-7900

Belvidere: Spirit CDL TRAINING Corporation
Address: 1202 Ipsen Road Belvidere, Illinois 61008
Phone: 815-332-7000

Bensenville: Star Truck Driving School
Address: 710 Larson Ln Bensenville, Illinois 60106
Phone: 630-238-0330

Bloomington: Truck Driver Institute
Address: 1601 General Electric Rd Bloomington, Illinois 61704
Phone: 800-272-7364

Bradley: Premier CDL Training Services LLC
Address: 231 E Broadway Bradley, Illinois 60915
Phone: 815-932-0211

Canton: Spoon River College Truck Driver Training
Address: 23235 N County 22 Canton, Illinois 61520
Phone: 309-647-4645

Centralia: Kaskaskia College Truck Driver Training
Address: 27210 College Rd Centralia, Illinois 62801
Phone: 618-545-3000

Channahon: Truck Driver Institute
Address: 23815 W Bluff Rd Channahon, Illinois 60410
Phone: 800-360-7364

Chicago: Alamo Truck Driving School
Address: 5264 W 47th St Chicago, Illinois 60638
Phone: 708-793-5511

Chicago: Blue Horizon Truck Driving School
Address: 5926 S Pulaski Chicago, Illinois 60629
Phone: 773-735-1199

Chicago: Mega Driving School Inc
Address: 6105 W Belmont Ave Chicago, Illinois 60634
Phone: 773-804-0500

Chicago: Mid City Truck Driving Academy
Address: 6740 W Belmont Ave Chicago, Illinois 60634
Phone: 773-725-3000

Chicago: Olive-Harvey College
Address: 10001 S Woodlawn Chicago, Illinois 60628
Phone: 773-291-6667

Chicago: Progressive Truck School
Address: 5538 W Belmont Ave Chicago, Illinois 60641
Phone: 733-736-6700

Chicago Heights: Prairie State College Truck Driver Training
Address: 202 S Halsted Chicago Heights, Illinois 60411
Phone: 708-709-7811

Cicero: Progressive Truck School
Address: 3475 S Cicero Ave Cicero, Illinois 60804
Phone: 773-736-6700

Cicero: Star Truck Driving School
Address: 3435 S Cicero Ave Cicero, Illinois 60650
Phone: 708-222-0123

Collinsville: Rend Lake College Truck Driver Training Program
Address: 9510 Collinsville Rd Collinsville, Illinois 62234
Phone: 618-437-5321

Danville: Danville Area Community College
Address: 2000 E Main St Danville, Illinois 61832
Phone: 217-443-3222

Decatur: Richard Community College Truck Driver Training
Address: One College Park Decatur, Illinois 62521
Phone: 217-875-7211

East Mattoon: Lake Land College Truck Driver Training
Address: 305 Richmond Ave East Mattoon, Illinois 61938
Phone: 217-235-1282

Elgin: Elgin Community College Truck Driver Trg
Address: 1700 Spartan Dr Elgin, Illinois 60123
Phone: 847-697-1000

Elmwood Park: Bulldog Driving School
Address: 7711 W Belmont Elmwood Park, Illinois 60707
Phone: 708-456-0007

Freeport: Highland Community College Truck Driving Program
Address: 2998 W Pearl City Rd, Bldg R-155 Freeport, Illinois 61032
Phone: 815-599-3418

Galesburg: Uptown Driver Training
Address: 36 Park Plaza Galesburg, Illinois 61401
Phone: 309-343-3678

Granite City: Premier CDL Training Services LLC
Address: 5529 Dial Dr, Ste 4 Granite City, Illinois 62040
Phone: 618-797-1725

Harrisburg: Southeastern Illinois College Truck Driver Training
Address: 3575 College Rd Harrisburg, Illinois 62946
Phone: 618-252-5400

Hickory Hills: Star Truck Driving School
Address: 9610 S 76th Ave Hickory Hills, Illinois 60457
Phone: 708-233-0303

Ina: Rend Lake College Truck Driver Training Program
Address: RR 1 Ina, Illinois 62846
Phone: 618-437-5321

Joliet: Joliet Junior College
Address: 17840 W Laraway Rd Joliet, Illinois 60433
Phone: 815-727-0957

Kewanee: Black Hawk College Truck Driving Certificate
Address: 1501 State Hwy 78 Kewanee, Illinois 61443
Phone: 309-852-5671

Kewanee: Uptown Driver Training
Address: 229 S Main Kewanee, Illinois 61443
Phone: 309-343-3678

Lake in the Hills: Eagle Training Services Inc
Address: 9182 Pyott Rd Lake in the Hills, Illinois 60156
Phone: 847-854-3218

Lansing: Progressive Truck School
Address: 1945 Bernice Rd Lansing, Illinois 60438
Phone: 708-251-5932

Malta: Kishwaukee College
Address: 21193 Malta Rd Malta, Illinois 60150
Phone: 815-825-2086 x5840

Monmouth: Uptown Driver Training
Address: 1291 N 6th St Monmouth, Illinois 61462
Phone: 309-343-3678

Mt Carmel: Wabash Valley College
Address: 2200 College Dr Mt Carmel, Illinois 62863
Phone: 618-262-8641

Normal: Heartland Community College
Address: 1500 W Raab Rd Normal, Illinois 61761
Phone: 309-268-8440

Oglesby: Illinois Valley Community College
Address: 815 N Orlando Smith Ave Oglesby, Illinois 61348
Phone: 815-224-0266

Oswego: Star Truck Driving School
Address: 1250 US Hwy 34 Oswego, Illinois 60541
Phone: 603-236-7200

Park Ridge: Viking Driving School Inc
Address: 600 Busse Hwy Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
Phone: 847-698-7771

Peoria: Illinois Central College Truck Driver Training
Address: 115 SW Adams St Peoria, Illinois 61602
Phone: 309-694-8555

Prospect Heights: Harper College
Address: 1375 S Wolf Rd Prospect Heights, Illinois 60070
Phone: 847-758-2372

Quincy: John Wood Community College
Address: 4220 Kochs Ln Quincy, Illinois 62305
Phone: 217-224-5362

Rantoul: Parkland College Truck Driver Training
Address: 1008 S Perimeter Rd, #921 Rantoul, Illinois 61866
Phone: 217-353-2106

Rockford: Eagle Training Services Inc
Address: 2210 Harrison Ave Rockford, Illinois 61109
Phone: 815-229-2954

Rockford: Rock Valley College
Address: 3301 N Mulford Rd Rockford, Illinois 61114
Phone: 815-921-7821

South Holland: Star Truck Driving School
Address: 15800 S State St South Holland, Illinois 60473
Phone: 708-225-5884

Springfield: Lincoln Land Truck Driving School
Address: 5860 Shepherd Rd Springfield, Illinois 62794
Phone: 217-786-2565

Ullin: Shawnee Communtiy College Truck Driver Training
Address: 8364 Shawnee College Rd Ullin, Illinois 62992
Phone: 618-634-2242

Wauconda: ATS Truck Driving School
Address: 1205 Carl Ct, Ste 111 Wauconda, Illinois 60084
Phone: 847-526-1299

Waukegan: Kotra CDL Driving School
Address: 1616 Grand Ave, Ste 206 Waukegan, Illinois 60085
Phone: 847-360-1616

Woodstock: Mega Driving School Inc
Address: 1212 Seminary Ave, 2B Woodstock, Illinois 60098
Phone: 815-337-3100

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