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Commercial Driver Licensing

Commercial driver license (CDL) written tests are given at any driver exam station. The driver exam station schedule lists which stations provide commercial drive tests for Class A, B and C licenses. Some driver exam stations require appointments; for these stations you can schedule your CDL written test through online appointment scheduling. All CDL drive test appointments must be made by contacting the MVD Customer Service Center at (866) 450-8034.

Information on regular, non-commercial class D licenses, learner's permits and motorcycle endorsements is available on the Driver Licensing page.

Manual

Commercial drivers need to be familiar with the Montana Commercial Driver License Manual.

New and Out-of-State Applicants

Commercial driver license (CDL) applicants who do not have a regular, class D Montana driver license or who are transferring an out-of-state license must provide:

Commercial driver license (CDL) applicants who do have a regular, class D Montana driver license must provide:

Types and Classes of Commercial Licenses

Type 1 Certification allows a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce, and costs $10 per year, plus the 50-cent fee for mailing the license renewal reminder.

Type 2 Certification allows a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle in intrastate (only within the state of Montana) commerce, and costs $8.50 per year, plus the 50-cent fee for mailing the license renewal reminder.

Class A License allows the holder to operate any combination of vehicles, including:

Class B License allows the holder to operate:

Class C License allows the holder to operate:

Commercial License Fees

Fees for Intrastate Commercial Driver Licenses
Customer Age (years) Driver Licensing Fee Total Fee with a Motorcycle Endorsement Length of CDL (years)
18 $26.00 $27.50 3
19 $17.50 $18.50 2
20 $9.00 $9.50 1
21-70 $43.00 $45.50 5
71 $34.50 $38.50 4
72 $26.00 $27.50 3
73 $17.50 $18.50 2
74 $9.00 $9.50 1
75 & older $34.50 $38.50 4

Fees for Interstate Commercial Driver Licenses
Customer Age (years) Driver Licensing Fee Total Fee with a Motorcycle Endorsement Length of CDL (years)
21-70 $50.50 $53.00 5
71 $40.50 $42.50 4
72 $30.50 $32.00 3
73 $20.50 $21.50 2
74 $10.50 $11.00 1
75 & older $40.50 $42.50 4

Commercial License Endorsements

Special endorsements are required before a person with a CDL may transport passengers and certain types of cargo in a commercial motor vehicle. The following endorsements are required under Montana law and federal motor carrier safety regulations:

Hazardous Materials Endorsement

Security Background Check Required

The Department of Justice may not renew, upgrade or transfer a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement until it receives notice from the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that the driver has passed a security background check.

For first-time applicants for a commercial driver license with a hazardous materials endorsement, the security background check process has been in effect since January 30, 2005.

Commercial drivers who renew a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement, or who want to add a hazardous materials endorsement to an existing CDL, must:

Transportation Security Administration Agent

In Montana, the new security check procedures are not performed in a driver exam station. Instead, after a driver has completed the application or renewal process at a driver exam station, he or she must complete the additional TSA HAZPRINT security application online at www.hazprints.com or by telephone through the TSA agent's Driver Service Center at (877) 429-7746 toll free.

After the TSA HAZPRINT application has been completed, a driver must go to the office of an agent hired by the TSA to have his or her fingerprints taken. The TSA agent operates three offices in Montana:

EMSI
1302 Ave D
Billings

EMSI
505 West Park
Butte

Teton County Sheriff Department
26 First Street SE
Choteau

Drivers are required to provide two forms of acceptable identification to the TSA agent as part of the fingerprint collection process.

For additional information about the security background check process, including fees, the agent's hours of operation, sites operated by TSA agents in other states and the list of acceptable identification documents, drivers may contact the TSA agent at:

Phone: (866) 289-9673
Web: www.hazprints.com

Fee – The fee for the fingerprint and separate security background check application process is $94. The driver can pay the fee by credit card when completing the online or phone application process. Payment may also be made by money order, payable to Integrated Biometric Technology, LLC, when the driver's fingerprints are taken at the TSA agent's office.

Transferring Out-of-State CDLs with Hazmat Endorsement

Effective May 31, 2005, a commercial driver who wishes to transfer his or her license to Montana must also complete the security background check unless, at the time of transfer, the driver provides information that he or she met the security background check requirements in another state and that state verifies that fact when contacted by the department. However, if the security background check expires within two years, a new certification is required.

School Bus "S" Endorsement

A person who drives a school bus, or who transports pre-primary, primary or secondary school students for school-related activity trips in a commercial motor vehicle other than a school bus, must have a CDL with the new, school bus "S" endorsement.

The S endorsement applies to the operation of any commercial vehicle or school bus that carries 16 passengers or more, including the driver, and is used to transport pre-primary, primary or secondary students from:

A bus used as a common carrier is not considered to be a school bus.

To qualify for an S endorsement, school bus drivers must pass a written and driving test. Drivers must first take the written test. Once you pass the written test, you can schedule your driving test at any driver exam station.

Renewals

Renewal by Mail

If you live in a county that does not provide driver license services - Garfield, Golden Valley, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Madison, Petroleum, Prairie, Treasure and Wibaux - you may apply for a renewal of a commercial driver license (CDL) through the mail. To keep your driving privilege valid, the renewal may be completed six months before your license expires. The license can still be renewed three months after its expiration, but your driving privilege is not valid until the renewal is processed.

You cannot renew your CDL through the mail if you have a hazardous materials endorsement. To keep this endorsement, you must follow the procedures in the Hazardous Materials Endorsement section.

Renewals completed by mail are valid for five years. Your next renewal must be completed at a driver exam station.

How to Renew a Commercial License by Mail

  1. Complete and enclose:
  2. Enclose a money order or a photocopy of your pre-paid county receipt (which may be purchased at a county treasurer's office or a driver exam station) for:
    • $50.50 for a type 1 CDL renewal or
    • $43.00 for a type 2 renewal
    • an additional $2.50 if you have a motorcycle endorsement and would like to retain it
  3. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want the receipt mailed back to you. The receipt acts as a temporary driver license. Your new commercial driver license will be mailed in four to six weeks.
  4. Mail the completed packet to:

    Motor Vehicle Division
    Montana Department of Justice
    303 N. Roberts
    P.O. Box 201430
    Helena, MT 59620-1430