Missouri CDL Requirements Guide

This page summarizes what Missouri 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 Missouri'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.

• Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination)

Official Missouri CDL Manual

Missouri Commercial Driver License Manual (Modernized; revised 8/27/2025) — published by the state. FLO LLC links to the state's own document; it does not copy or host it.

READ MISSOURI CDL MANUAL

Opens the official PDF in a new tab. If it does not open, use the state's manual page: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — manual page.

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) requirements

• Federal rule: a CLP is valid for no more than one year, and its holder may drive a commercial motor vehicle on public roads only when accompanied by a CDL holder with the proper class and endorsements (49 CFR 383.25).
• Confirm Missouri's current procedure on the official Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) page linked below.

Sources: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

CDL eligibility and age requirements

• Be at least 18; be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or meet state and federal provisions for a nonresident CDL; meet Missouri identity, lawful status, Social Security number and residence (domicile) verification requirements.
• Meet Missouri minimum vision standards (§ 302.175 RSMo): at least 20/40 in either eye or both, with or without glasses.
• 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: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers

Interstate versus intrastate driving

• 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)).
• Confirm Missouri's current procedure on the official Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) page linked below.

Sources: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Identity and residency documentation

• Confirm Missouri's current procedure on the official Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) page linked below.

Sources: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL 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 Missouri's current procedure on the official Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) page linked below.

Sources: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Medical certification and self-certification

• Self-certify your non-excepted or excepted transportation category and, if applicable, submit a valid medical examiner certificate. Applicants who will operate in non-excepted interstate or intrastate commerce must obtain a DOT Medical Examiner's Certificate before the CLP is issued.
• 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: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Knowledge examinations required

• CDL written knowledge testing may be completed at any Missouri State Highway Patrol Driver Examination Station. Then bring your completed knowledge test and verification documents to any Missouri contract license office to obtain the CLP.
• Class A applicants take the General Knowledge and Combination Vehicles knowledge tests, plus Air Brakes for an air-brake vehicle (Missouri 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: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.135 — Passing knowledge and skills tests

Steps to obtain the CLP

• 1. Study the official Missouri 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 the Missouri Department of Revenue.
• 4. Receive your CLP.

Sources: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL page

CLP holding period

• CLP holders must hold the permit for a minimum of 14 days before being eligible to take 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: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements

• Before your CDL or endorsement skills test you must complete ELDT from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry; the examiner verifies completion electronically before testing.
• 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: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL 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: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Skills examination procedures

• You must have an appointment for the skills test; CDL skills testing is available by appointment only at Missouri State Highway Patrol locations.
• The skills test has three parts taken in order — vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control and on-road driving. The Missouri manual's basic control section describes the Modernized exercises: Forward Stop, Straight-Line Backing, Forward Offset Tracking and Reverse Offset Backing.

Sources: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL page

Licensing office and scheduling resources

• Use the official Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) pages linked below to find offices, schedule tests and confirm current procedures.

Sources: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL page · Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — Permit page · Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — FAQ page · Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — MSHP 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 the Missouri Department of Revenue or an authorized tester.
• 4. Obtain your Class A CDL from the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Sources: Missouri Department of Revenue, with Missouri State Highway Patrol (driver examination) — CDL page