Freight Logistics Operation – FLO LLC

Minnesota CDL Requirements Guide

State of Minnesota

Free public guide. No account, payment or sign-in is needed to read it.

FLO LLC course enrollment for Minnesota is not open yet. This guide is information only; it does not open enrollment or training in Minnesota, and it does not mean FLO LLC is approved, licensed or endorsed by any Minnesota agency.

This page summarizes what Minnesota requires of Class A Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) and Commercial Driver's License (CDL) applicants, with links to the official government sources. Requirements come from Minnesota's licensing agencies and federal regulations; FLO LLC's own training standards appear separately below. Sources were checked on 2026-10-13. Where anything here differs from the agency, the agency controls.

Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS)

Official Minnesota CDL Manual

Minnesota Commercial Driver's License Manual (Minnesota requirements with the AAMVA Modernized CDL manual) — published by the state. FLO LLC links to the state's own document; it does not copy or host it.

Opens the official PDF in a new tab. If it does not open, use the state's manual page: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — manual page.

Theory first, then behind-the-wheel within one year

Minnesota DVS: ELDT theory may be taken at any time; behind-the-wheel training cannot begin before the CLP and must be completed within a year of the theory training.

Source: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS)

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) requirements

You must get a CLP before you can get a CDL. Be at least 18 (or at least 21 to drive commercially outside Minnesota), show U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency, and show proof of Minnesota residency. You cannot operate a commercial vehicle with passengers or transport hazardous materials with a CLP.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

CDL eligibility and age requirements

At least 18 (21 to drive commercially outside Minnesota).
Federal rule: a driver must be at least 21 years old to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)).

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers

Interstate versus intrastate driving

Drivers with a K (intrastate) restriction must pass their skills test in Minnesota.
Federal rule: a driver must be at least 21 years old to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)).
Every CLP and CDL applicant must self-certify one of four types of commercial driving — non-excepted interstate, excepted interstate, non-excepted intrastate, or excepted intrastate — and non-excepted drivers must provide a current medical examiner's certificate (49 CFR 383.71(b)(1)).

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Identity and residency documentation

Confirm Minnesota's current procedure on the official Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) page linked below.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page

Legal-presence requirements

Federal rule: CLP and CDL applicants must prove U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency, or qualify under the federal non-domiciled rules (49 CFR 383.71).
Confirm Minnesota's current procedure on the official Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) page linked below.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Medical certification and self-certification

Every CLP and CDL applicant must self-certify one of four types of commercial driving — non-excepted interstate, excepted interstate, non-excepted intrastate, or excepted intrastate — and non-excepted drivers must provide a current medical examiner's certificate (49 CFR 383.71(b)(1)).
Confirm Minnesota's current procedure on the official Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) page linked below.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Knowledge examinations required

Pass the written test, which covers the Minnesota commercial driver's manual; additional written tests are required to add endorsements and avoid restrictions.
Class A applicants take the General Knowledge and Combination Vehicles knowledge tests, plus Air Brakes for an air-brake vehicle (Minnesota manual, Section 1.1). Endorsements require their own tests.
Federal standard: at least 80% correct is required to pass each knowledge test (49 CFR 383.135).

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.135 — Passing knowledge and skills tests

Steps to obtain the CLP

1. Study the official Minnesota CDL manual (link above).
2. Gather the identity, residency, Social Security and legal-presence documents the agency lists, and complete your self-certification (and medical examination if you are non-excepted).
3. Pass the required knowledge tests with Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services.
4. Receive your CLP.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page

CLP holding period

Hold the CLP for at least 14 calendar days before the skills test.
Federal rule: a CLP holder may not take the CDL skills test during the first 14 days after the CLP is first issued (49 CFR 383.25(e)).

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements

You can take the classroom (theory) part of ELDT at any time, but you cannot take the behind-the-wheel portion before you get your CLP, and behind-the-wheel training must be completed within a year of the classroom (theory) training.
Federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) applies to anyone obtaining a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading to Class A or B, or obtaining a first school bus, passenger or hazardous materials endorsement (49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F).
ELDT has two parts — theory (classroom/online) and behind-the-wheel (range and public road) — and both must be completed with providers listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, which reports your completion electronically before you may take the skills test.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Behind-the-wheel training requirements

ELDT behind-the-wheel training must be taken from a behind-the-wheel provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, on a range and on public roads, in a vehicle of the class you are training for. The instructor decides when you are proficient; federal rules set no minimum number of hours (49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F, Appendix A).
FLO LLC's online course is ELDT THEORY only. It does not provide behind-the-wheel training.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Skills examination procedures

Schedule the CDL road test online through DPS and pass it.
The skills test has three parts taken in order — vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control and on-road driving. The Minnesota manual's basic control section describes the Modernized exercises: Forward Stop, Straight-Line Backing, Forward Offset Tracking and Reverse Offset Backing.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — Classa page · Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page

Licensing office and scheduling resources

Use the official Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) pages linked below to find offices, schedule tests and confirm current procedures.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page · Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — Classa page · Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — APPT page

Steps to receive your Class A CDL

1. Hold your CLP for at least the required holding period (federal minimum 14 days).
2. Complete ELDT theory (for example, FLO LLC's online course) and ELDT behind-the-wheel training with providers on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
3. Pass the three-part skills test with Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services or an authorized tester.
4. Obtain your Class A CDL from Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) — CLP page

Three different kinds of tests

FLO LLC practice tests: Study tools inside this portal. They prepare you for your state's knowledge tests; they are not state tests.
FLO LLC ELDT theory assessments: The module and final assessments that complete FLO's ELDT theory course (85% FLO standard).
Official state CDL examinations: The knowledge and skills tests given only by your state licensing agency or its authorized testers.

FLO LLC enrollment status

FLO LLC course enrollment is not open for Minnesota yet, so accounts and course payments are not accepted for this state. Use this guide and the official Minnesota sources above to prepare.