Kentucky
CDL Learner Permit Training
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You must obtain and maintain your CDL in your state of residence. This is normally the state where your regular driver\'s license was issued. If you plan on moving soon, you may want to choose your new state of residence.
Kentucky CDL Requirements | DMV Locations Fees | Forms | FAQs | FREE CDL INFO
Find official Kentucky CDL test requirements to get your KY CDL - FREE information - FAST and EFFICIENT.
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Classes of Kentucky CDL and Required Tests
Texas CDL Endorsements
Kentucky CDL Info | Kentucky CDL Requirements
Applying for a Kentucky CDL
Effective January 30, 2012, Federal Motor Carrier's Safety Regulation 49 CFR 383.71 requires all CDL holders/applicants to have a valid DOT medical card on file with the Division of Driver Licensing in order to obtain/retain a valid CDL license/permit. Effective May 21, 2014 all CDL holders must be medically certified by a Certified Medical Examiner on the National Registry for Certified Medical Examiners. CDL holders/applicants must provide a legible copy of both front and back of the medical card. Also, prior to the issuance of an original, renewal or upgrade CDL/CLP all CDL holders/applicants must self certify as to what type driving they are operating in or expect to operate in by completing TC 94-169, Commercial Driver License Self Certification form. The above information must be forwarded to the Division of Driver Licensing and posted to the driver's CDLIS record prior to applying for issuance of a CDL/ CLP at the circuit court clerk's office.
Also, 49 CFR 384.206 mandates new CDL applicants, renewals, upgrades and CDL transfers to complete a commercial driver license application 10 year history survey. Drivers/applicants must provide a list of all states in which they held a license to operate any type vehicle in the previous 10 years. Failure to disclose the required information subjects the applicant to a possible 60 (sixty) day suspension for falsifying an application.
If you are not a U.S. citizen/permanent resident, you are not eligible to apply for a commercial learner permit or commercial license.
The Commercial Driver Licensing application and the Self Certification form are
accessible from the DDL website. A CDL holder/applicant must forward the required
information to the Division of Driver Licensing using one of three methods available.
The information may be mailed to Division of Driver Licensing, 200 Mero St., Frankfort,
KY 40622, or faxed to 502-564-3250 or scanned and emailed to KYTC.CDL@KY.gov.
All Kentucky CDL holders/applicants will receive written notification when the
information has posted to their CDLIS record. Once the driver/applicant has received
written notification of their approval they can proceed to the circuit court clerk's
office to begin/complete the issuance process.
A supply of the Kentucky CDL applications and Self Certification forms may be
obtained from the Administrative Support Branch at 502-564-1257.
All applicants will be required to successfully pass a knowledge test either in
written or oral form, and a vision test. A Kentucky CDL instruction permit will
then be issued that is valid for six (6) months. After the Kentucky CDL permit
is issued, applicants must wait 14 days before the test is administered. Applicants
must call Kentucky State Police to schedule a skill test appointment. A permit
may only be renewed once in the two (2) year period. If you do not successfully
pass the road skills test by the expiration of your Kentucky CDL instruction permit
renewal, you will need to reapply. All fees and written/vision tests will be required
prior to a new permit being issued.
Kentucky Written Skill Test Fees for Kentucky CDL Permits
If applying for a Kentucky Class B or C with P & S endorsements only, the application
fee will be $9 and there will be no skill test fee required. For all others, the
application fee will be $24. Effective September 5, 2006 the new skill test fees
for Kentucky CDL permits, as mandated by House Bill 707, was implemented. HB 707
directs that the skill test fees collected will be placed in the Kentucky State
Police CDL skill testing trust fund, and will be used by the State Police to contract
with and train civilian Kentucky CDL skills examiners and to improve the logistics
of the Kentucky CDL skills testing process. It applies only to original Kentucky
CDL permits and will not be levied against duplicate or renewal permits.
Purpose: To see if you know the vehicle is safe to drive. Test Procedure: You may be asked to do a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle or to explain to the examiner what you would inspect and why. The examiner will mark on a scoring form each time that you correctly inspect or explain. A manual explaining what you need to inspect is available through the Kentucky State Police or the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Division of Drivers Licensing website. Kentucky CDL Basic Control Skills Test Purpose: To evaluate your basic skills in controlling the vehicle. Setup: The test setup consists of various exercises marked out by lines, traffic cones, or something similar. The exercises may include moving the vehicle forward, backward, and turning maneuvers. The examiner will explain to you how each exercise is to be done. You will be scored on how well you stay within the exercise boundaries and how many pull-ups you make. Kentucky CDL Road Test Purpose: To evaluate your ability to drive safely in a variety of on-the-road situations. Test Procedures: The test drive is taken over a route specified by the examiner. It may include left and right turns, intersections, railway crossings, curves, up and down grades, rural or semi-rural roads, city and multi-lane streets, and expressway driving. You will drive over the test route following instructions given by the examiner. The examiner will score specific tasks such as turns, merging into traffic, lane changes, and speed control, at specific places along the route. The examiner will also score whether you correctly do tasks such as signaling, searching for hazards, controlling speed, and lane positioning. What does the Kentucky CDL cost?
You will need to pass the Kentucky Knowledge Tests that are required for the class of license, restriction, and endorsements you wish to possess. A general knowledge test for the Class A or Class B and C license must be successfully completed by all CDL applicants. The information needed to pass these tests is contained in the FREE Kentucky CDL Handbook. Please read and study this manual carefully.
- At the time of issuance of a Kentucky CDL permit requiring a skills test, a driver who has held a Kentucky operator license for 30 days or longer will pay a skills testing fee of fifty dollars ($50) in addition to the eleven dollar ($11) CDL permit fee.
- At the time of issuance of a Kentucky CDL permit requiring a skill test to a driver who has held a Kentucky operator license for less than 30 days, a skill testing fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) in addition to the $11 Kentucky CDL will be collected.
- Applicants for Kentucky Class A license - 20 questions on combination vehicles.
- Applicants driving vehicles with air brakes - 25 questions on air brakes.
- Double/triple trailer - 20 questions
- Tanker - 20 questions
- Passenger transport - 20 questions
- Hazardous materials hauling - 30 questions
- School Bus - 20 questions
Purpose: To see if you know the vehicle is safe to drive. Test Procedure: You may be asked to do a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle or to explain to the examiner what you would inspect and why. The examiner will mark on a scoring form each time that you correctly inspect or explain. A manual explaining what you need to inspect is available through the Kentucky State Police or the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Division of Drivers Licensing website. Kentucky CDL Basic Control Skills Test Purpose: To evaluate your basic skills in controlling the vehicle. Setup: The test setup consists of various exercises marked out by lines, traffic cones, or something similar. The exercises may include moving the vehicle forward, backward, and turning maneuvers. The examiner will explain to you how each exercise is to be done. You will be scored on how well you stay within the exercise boundaries and how many pull-ups you make. Kentucky CDL Road Test Purpose: To evaluate your ability to drive safely in a variety of on-the-road situations. Test Procedures: The test drive is taken over a route specified by the examiner. It may include left and right turns, intersections, railway crossings, curves, up and down grades, rural or semi-rural roads, city and multi-lane streets, and expressway driving. You will drive over the test route following instructions given by the examiner. The examiner will score specific tasks such as turns, merging into traffic, lane changes, and speed control, at specific places along the route. The examiner will also score whether you correctly do tasks such as signaling, searching for hazards, controlling speed, and lane positioning. What does the Kentucky CDL cost?
- Kentucky CDL application - $24 (except Class B/C with P & S endorsements only - $9)
- Kentucky CDL instruction permit - $11
- Original Kentucky CDL - up to $40 (prorated fees according to current operator's expiration)
- Renewal Kentucky CDL - $47/Class B or C with P & S endorsements only - $32.00
- Transfer CDL - $60; with motorcycle - $70.
- Class B or C to A - application, permit and license fees, for a total of $47 plus skill test fee, if applicable.
Class C to B - application, permit and license fees, for a total of $47 plus skill test fee, if applicable.
- Add passenger endorsement;
- Drop K restriction;
- Drop O restriction; and
- Drop J restriction
- Add school bus endorsement
You will need to pass the Kentucky Knowledge Tests that are required for the class of license, restriction, and endorsements you wish to possess. A general knowledge test for the Class A or Class B and C license must be successfully completed by all CDL applicants. The information needed to pass these tests is contained in the FREE Kentucky CDL Handbook. Please read and study this manual carefully.
- Class A - 70 Questions (50 GK + 20 Combination Vehicles) - Skills test required.
- Class B - 50 Questions - Skills test required.
- Class C - 50 Questions - Skills test required for bus, school bus and air brakes vehicles..
- Passenger Endorsement - 20 questions - Skills test required in bus.
- School Bus Endorsement - 25 questions - Skills test required in school bus.
- Doubles/Triples Endorsement - 20 questions - No additional skills tests.
- Tank Vehicle Endorsement - 20 questions - No additional skills tests.
- Hazardous Materials Endorsement - 30 questions - No additional skills tests.
- Air Brake Restriction Removal - 25 questions - Additional skills test in vehicle with Air Brakes.
Quickly access the most complete and accurate Official Kentucky CDL Information
Access to official web pages maintained
by the State of Kentucky
by the State of Kentucky
- Kentucky CDL Information
- Kentucky CDL - Testing Sites
- Kentucky CDL - Application Form
- Kentucky CDL - Medical Self-Certification
- Kentucky CDL - Hazardous Materials Application
- Kentucky CDL - Medical Examination Report
- Kentucky Driver's License Issuance Locations
- Kentucky CDL - Safety and Laws
- Kentucky CDL - Applying for a CDL - Renewing a CDL - Reinstating after Suspension
- Kentucky CDL - Haz Mat Security Threat Assessment
- Kentucky CDL - Letter to First Time CDL Applicants
- Kentucky CDL - MILITARY CERTIFICATION FOR SKILLS TEST EXEMPTION
Access Official Federal CDL General Information
Access Official Federal CDL Medical Requirements Info
Access Official Federal CDL Hazardous Materials Info
CDL Class | Tests Required | Possible Endorsements and Required Tests | ||||||||||||||
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Class A (Combination vehicle endorsement required) |
General Knowledge Written Exam Combination Endorsement Written Exam Road Exam |
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Class B |
General Knowledge Written Exam Road Exam |
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Class C |
General Knowledge Written Exam Road Exam Note: If upgrading to a Class C from a Class D, no road test is required UNLESS the endorsement requires one. |
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Exam | Time Allowed (Minutes) | # of Questions on Exam | # of Correct Answers Needed to Pass |
---|---|---|---|
General Knowledge | 60 | 50 | 40 |
Air Brakes | 25 | 25 | 20 |
HazMat | 30 | 30 | 24 |
Tank | 20 | 20 | 16 |
Passenger | 20 | 20 | 16 |
Doubles/Triples | 20 | 20 | 16 |
Combination Vehicles | 20 | 20 | 16 |
School Bus | 20 | 20 | 16 |
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