CDL Permit Rule Overview

The Department of Revenue implemented the legislative provisions of House Bill 103, passed by the 97th General Assembly on June 29, 2015. House Bill 103 contained the legislative authority for the Department to comply with the Federal Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Testing and Commercial Learner Permit (CLP) Standards— 49 CFR Parts 383, 384, and 385. Specifically, the Department implemented the following changes:

  • Federal regulations require the use of standard CDL and CLP restriction codes. This standardization required converting existing Missouri specific non-commercial restriction codes already in use and notifying applicable drivers of the change.  This affected approximately 1,200 CDL drivers and 5,388 non-CDL drivers.
    • The affected driver records were automatically updated with the modified restriction codes. At the time of the driver’s next license application these codes will be printed on their driver license.  Although not required, drivers were given the option to re-apply for an updated document at the time they receive their notification; if this choice is made, they were required to pay the applicable duplicate or renewal license fee.
  • Applicants for a CDL are required to hold a CLP for a minimum of 14 days prior to completing skills testing for a full CDL.
  • The CLP will be issued for a period of 360 days and is non-renewable. Upon expiration, the applicant must complete all required knowledge testing to obtain a new CLP.
  • An out-of-state CLP cannot be directly transferred to obtain a MO CLP. Applicants who are now Missouri residents must obtain a Missouri base license, retake applicable commercial knowledge tests and obtain a Missouri CLP.
  • Applicants attending a driver training program retaining their current state of domicile may retain the out-of-state license and CLP, complete skills testing in Missouri, and the CDL skills test results may be electronically transferred to the state of domicile.
  • Applicants must have or obtain a Missouri base driver license prior to issuance of a Missouri CLP. A new statement will appear on the face of the CLP indicating “Invalid unless accompanied by a valid MO Driver License.”
  • The Department must have the ability to receive and transmit commercial skills test results electronically from or to other jurisdictions.  The Department will use secure encrypted email to meet this requirement.
  • The “type of document label” (header language) on a commercial driver’s instruction permit document will change from “Commercial Instruction Permit” to “Commercial Learner’s Permit.”
  • The “type of document label” (header language) on a nonresident commercial driver license document will change from “Nonresident CDL” to “Nondomiciled CDL.”
  • The S-School Bus Endorsement is now allowed on a CLP; formerly a permit holder could only have the passenger endorsement for purposes of training in the empty school bus. 
  • License disqualification periods for commercial learner permit and commercial driver license violations will be in addition to any other previous periods of disqualification.
  • Federal regulation 49 CFR 383.73 requires at least two persons to process and verify CLP and CDL applications and supporting documents.
  • Federal regulation 49 CFR 383.73 requires CDL and CLP applicants to provide proof of citizenship or permanent residency as defined in 49 CFR 33.71 for the first time after implementation of the CDL permit rule, provided a notation is made on the driver’s record confirming the required verification was completed.  Once the Department completes this document re-verification for U.S. citizens applying for a commercial document and posts the verification date to the driver’s record, the applicant will not be required to show their lawful status verification document on subsequent transactions, unless required for REAL ID-compliant card issuance, or other requirements of law.