Effective May 1, Illinois becomes the first state to require out-of-state CDL holders moving to Illinois to pass the written and road tests before they are issued an Illinois CDL.


"Since I took office I have continuously worked to implement CDL reforms that help make Illinois roadways among the safest in the nation," said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. "This new policy change further ensures that our state will not issue a CDL to any driver until he or she displays a thorough comprehension of the rules of the road as well as the physical ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely and responsibly."

This policy change comes after Secretary White's office worked closely with the U.S. Marshal's Office, U.S. Attorney's office and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to uncover testing irregularities involving the issuance of CDLs in other states. These efforts helped to uncover a pattern in certain states where drivers who spoke little to no English and had questionable driving skills nevertheless obtained a CDL from those states. Upon obtaining their CDL, these drivers could then move to another state and exchange the CDL from their former state for a CDL in their new state without having to take both the written and road tests.

This policy change has received praise from law enforcement and trucking industry representatives. "Anything we do to enhance traffic safety is a step in the right direction as far as law enforcement is concerned," said Commercial Vehicle Task Force member Lt. David Beasley of the Illinois State Police.

"We support this initiative as a means to promote better traffic safety," said Don Schaefer, Executive Vice President of the Mid-West Truckers Association.