Minnesota CDL License Requirements

To become a truck driver in Minnesota, you must first obtain a Minnesota commercial driver’s license (CDL). There are typically three types of CDL licenses that can vary slightly from state to state. Minnesota classifies commercial vehicles using the following criteria:

• Class A: Truck or vehicle combination weighing over 26,001 pounds that is towing a vehicle over 10,000 pounds
• Class B: Truck or bus that weighs more than 26,001 pounds
• Class C: Vehicles requiring a hazardous materials placard, or ones that carry over 16 people (including the driver) but weigh less than 26,001 pounds

According to Minnesota CDL requirements, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Minnesota driver’s license and obtain a medical certificate. Transportation of cargo across state lines is regulated by the federal government and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). USDOT requires all drivers who transport materials across state lines to be at least 21 years old. Applicants must then pass both a written knowledge exam and an on-road driving test. For the driving test, you must use a vehicle in the same class for which you are trying to obtain a CDL license--for example, if you wish to obtain a Class A CDL, you must test in a Class A vehicle.

Additional knowledge and skills tests may be required depending on the endorsements you need. For example, endorsements are needed to drive a truck with air brakes, a tanker or a school bus. They are also needed to transport passengers or to haul hazardous materials. To transport hazardous materials (also referred to as a Hazmat endorsement), a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) background check is required. Minnesota truck driving schools will provide you with the training and on-road driving experience needed to pass the CDL exams.

Resources for Minnesota CDL Requirements

Visit the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Division website for more information.