When ready to apply for your first CDL, come to a local Secretary of State branch office to:
Show proof of Social Security number (Social Security card, payroll check stub, W-2 Form).
If you are applying for a hazardous materials endorsement, you must present proof of the following:
Federal Security ThreatAssessment
U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident
Complete an application which includes a statement certifying that you meet medical and driver qualifications.
If you have had any change in your physical condition since your last driver license renewal which may affect your ability to drive, you may need a special form from the branch office for your physician to fill out before you can apply for your license.
Meet driver record eligibility requirements as determined by Secretary of State branch office personnel.
Pass the required knowledge and vision tests. You must pass all required knowledge tests to obtain a CDL Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP). This allows you to practice driving under supervision of a driver who has a CDL for the type of vehicle you wish to drive. A CDL TIP is also required for taking the CDL skills tests.
Pay your CDL fees.
Schedule yourCDL skills test.
You must take the skills tests through an approved third party tester. Third party testers are public and private agencies authorized by the state to conduct CDL skills tests. Once you have passed your CDL skills tests, you must return to the Secretary of State branch office to:
Pay a correction fee to add CDL privileges to your license.
You must be age 21 to drive a commercial motor vehicle across state lines (interstate). You may drive a commercial motor vehicle in Michigan (intrastate) at age 18. To transport hazardous materials in a quantity that requires the vehicle be marked or placarded, you must be age 21 or older, present proof ofU.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residenceand present aFederal Security Threat Assessment.
Before you can obtain an original CDL, you must qualify for the license based on your driving record. Any of the following will disqualify you from obtaining a CDL:
Inability to make the necessary certificationscontained on the CDL Certification Form, BFS-103 (Appendix Aof the Michigan Commercial Driver License Manual).
Having a license from more than one state.
A current suspension, revocation, denial, or cancellation of your license.
Conviction of any six-point violation in the 24 months immediately preceding application.
Conviction for operating a commercial motor vehicle while impaired in the 24 months immediately preceding application.
A suspension or revocation in the 36 months immediately preceding application.
Suspensions for Failure to Appear in Court (FAC), Failure to Comply with a Judgment (FCJ), failure to appear for re-examination, financial responsibility, non-sufficient funds checks, and asuspension or revocation for a temporary medical conditiondo notdisqualify an applicant for a CDL.
Unless exempt, you need to comply with federal or state medical/physical requirements before receiving a CDL. When applying for your CDL, you will sign a statement that says all necessary medical/physical requirements have been met. Before taking any CDL skills tests, you must provide a valid medical examiner's card or medical waiver card to your examiner which allows you to operate your commercial motor vehicle. Ask your employer about these medical/physical requirements.
How Can I Get Additional Information on Medical/Physical Requirements?
For information on:
Intrastate(in Michigan) medical/physical requirements and state commercial vehicle rules and regulations, contact:
Michigan Trucking Association
1131 Centennial Way
Lansing, MI 48917
(517) 321-1951
www.mitrucking.org
Interstate(across state lines) medical/physical requirements and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, contact:
Note:The FMCSA (Michigan Division) does not distribute medical forms or rulebooks. Forms are available on the FMCSA website listed above.
School busmedical/physical requirements, contact:
Michigan Department of Education
Office of School Support Services
P.O. Box 30008
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Telephone: (517)373-6388
www.michigan.gov/mde
Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is
Any Michigan resident who intends to operate the following commercial vehicles is required to have a commercial driver license:
Single Vehicles- Having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)* of 26,001 pounds or more.
Combination Vehicles -Towing a trailer or other vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more when the grosscombination weight rating (GCWR)** is 26,001 pounds or more.
Vehicles:
Designed to transport 16 or more people (including the driver)
Carrying hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the recommended maximum total weight of the vehicle and load as designated by the vehicle manufacturer. The GVWR label is usually found on the driver side door post of the power unit and on the front left side of the trailer. The GVWR should not be confused with the elected gross vehicle weight (GVW) which is declared by the vehicle owner for registration purposes.
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a combination vehicle. In the absence of a label, the GCWR can be calculated by adding the GVWR of the power unit to the GVWR of the vehicle(s) or trailer(s) being towed.
The followingpeople do not need a CDL:
Active Duty Military(including National Guard): With military licenses operating military vehicles.
Police Officers and Firefighters: Meeting approved training standards and operating authorized emergency vehicles.
Farmers: Operating vehicles within a 150 mile radius of their farm.
An F-endorsement is needed by farmers operating combination vehicles whose towing vehicle has a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more. A knowledge test, but no skills test, is required to obtain the F-endorsement.
However, farmers who carry hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding while operating combination vehicles whose towing vehicle has a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, or a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, need a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement.
Individuals: Operating motor homes or other vehicles used exclusively to transport personal possessions or family members, for non-business purposes.
A commercial driver license is needed if you are operating a vehicle:
With a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more
Towing a trailer or other vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more
Designed to transport 16 or more people (including the driver)
Carrying hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding.
When ready to apply for your first CDL, come to a local Secretary of State branch office to:
Show proof of Social Security number (Social Security card, payroll check stub, W-2 Form).
If you are applying for a hazardous materials endorsement, you must present proof of the following:
Federal Security ThreatAssessment
U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident
Complete an application which includes a statement certifying that you meet medical and driver qualifications.
If you have had any change in your physical condition since your last driver license renewal which may affect your ability to drive, you may need a special form from the branch office for your physician to fill out before you can apply for your license.
Meet driver record eligibility requirements as determined by Secretary of State branch office personnel.
Pass the required knowledge and vision tests. You must pass all required knowledge tests to obtain a CDL Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP). This allows you to practice driving under supervision of a driver who has a CDL for the type of vehicle you wish to drive. A CDL TIP is also required for taking the CDL skills tests.
Pay your CDL fees.
Schedule yourCDL skills test.
You must take the skills tests through an approved third party tester. Third party testers are public and private agencies authorized by the state to conduct CDL skills tests. Once you have passed your CDL skills tests, you must return to the Secretary of State branch office to:
Pay a correction fee to add CDL privileges to your license.
You must be age 21 to drive a commercial motor vehicle across state lines (interstate). You may drive a commercial motor vehicle in Michigan (intrastate) at age 18. To transport hazardous materials in a quantity that requires the vehicle be marked or placarded, you must be age 21 or older, present proof ofU.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residenceand present aFederal Security Threat Assessment.
Before you can obtain an original CDL, you must qualify for the license based on your driving record. Any of the following will disqualify you from obtaining a CDL:
Inability to make the necessary certificationscontained on the CDL Certification Form, BFS-103 (Appendix Aof the Michigan Commercial Driver License Manual).
Having a license from more than one state.
A current suspension, revocation, denial, or cancellation of your license.
Conviction of any six-point violation in the 24 months immediately preceding application.
Conviction for operating a commercial motor vehicle while impaired in the 24 months immediately preceding application.
A suspension or revocation in the 36 months immediately preceding application.
Suspensions for Failure to Appear in Court (FAC), Failure to Comply with a Judgment (FCJ), failure to appear for re-examination, financial responsibility, non-sufficient funds checks, and asuspension or revocation for a temporary medical conditiondo notdisqualify an applicant for a CDL.
Unless exempt, you need to comply with federal or state medical/physical requirements before receiving a CDL. When applying for your CDL, you will sign a statement that says all necessary medical/physical requirements have been met. Before taking any CDL skills tests, you must provide a valid medical examiner's card or medical waiver card to your examiner which allows you to operate your commercial motor vehicle. Ask your employer about these medical/physical requirements.
How Can I Get Additional Information on Medical/Physical Requirements?
For information on:
Intrastate(in Michigan) medical/physical requirements and state commercial vehicle rules and regulations, contact:
Michigan Trucking Association
1131 Centennial Way
Lansing, MI 48917
(517) 321-1951
www.mitrucking.org
Interstate(across state lines) medical/physical requirements and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, contact:
Note:The FMCSA (Michigan Division) does not distribute medical forms or rulebooks. Forms are available on the FMCSA website listed above.
School busmedical/physical requirements, contact:
Michigan Department of Education
Office of School Support Services
P.O. Box 30008
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Telephone: (517)373-6388
www.michigan.gov/mde
Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is
Any Michigan resident who intends to operate the following commercial vehicles is required to have a commercial driver license:
Single Vehicles- Having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)* of 26,001 pounds or more.
Combination Vehicles -Towing a trailer or other vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more when the grosscombination weight rating (GCWR)** is 26,001 pounds or more.
Vehicles:
Designed to transport 16 or more people (including the driver)
Carrying hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the recommended maximum total weight of the vehicle and load as designated by the vehicle manufacturer. The GVWR label is usually found on the driver side door post of the power unit and on the front left side of the trailer. The GVWR should not be confused with the elected gross vehicle weight (GVW) which is declared by the vehicle owner for registration purposes.
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a combination vehicle. In the absence of a label, the GCWR can be calculated by adding the GVWR of the power unit to the GVWR of the vehicle(s) or trailer(s) being towed.
The followingpeople do not need a CDL:
Active Duty Military(including National Guard): With military licenses operating military vehicles.
Police Officers and Firefighters: Meeting approved training standards and operating authorized emergency vehicles.
Farmers: Operating vehicles within a 150 mile radius of their farm.
An F-endorsement is needed by farmers operating combination vehicles whose towing vehicle has a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more. A knowledge test, but no skills test, is required to obtain the F-endorsement.
However, farmers who carry hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding while operating combination vehicles whose towing vehicle has a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, or a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, need a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement.
Individuals: Operating motor homes or other vehicles used exclusively to transport personal possessions or family members, for non-business purposes.
A commercial driver license is needed if you are operating a vehicle:
With a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more
Towing a trailer or other vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more
Designed to transport 16 or more people (including the driver)
Carrying hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding.
The Department of State offers the commercial driver license in a standard and enhanced version. The enhanced CDL is an attractive alternative to the standard CDL because it allows you tore-enter the U.S.by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean without the need to show additional identity or citizenship documents at the border.
Drivers between the ages of 18 and 21 who are a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident can operate a commercial vehicle only in Michigan. You must be at least 21 to operate a commercial vehicle across state lines or to transport hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding.