Minnesota CDL Requirements

How to get a CDL in Minnesota through DVS, including fees, testing, and training options.

CDL Classes and Eligibility

Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) issues CDLs in three classes. Class A covers combination vehicles over 26,001 lbs towing over 10,000 lbs. Class B covers single vehicles over 26,001 lbs. Class C covers hazmat or passenger vehicles. Applicants must be 18 for intrastate or 21 for interstate. Minnesota requires a valid Minnesota driver license, Social Security card, proof of Minnesota residency, and US citizenship/legal presence. ELDT requirements apply. Minnesota has approximately 35 FMCSA-registered ELDT providers, concentrated in the Twin Cities metro, Duluth, Rochester, and St. Cloud areas.

Testing and Fees

The Minnesota CDL costs $48 for a 5-year license. The CLP costs $18.25 and is valid for 180 days. Knowledge tests are $7 per attempt at DVS exam stations. Skills tests are available through state-administered sites and third-party testers at $150-$350. Minnesota has multiple DVS exam stations offering CDL testing across the state, including the Twin Cities, Duluth, Mankato, and Moorhead. Knowledge tests are available in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Somali — reflecting Minnesota's diverse immigrant population. The state allows three skills test attempts before requiring additional training.

Training and Endorsements

Minnesota CDL training options include Dakota County Technical College (Rosemount), Alexandria Technical and Community College, and Minnesota State College Southeast (Winona) at $2,500-$5,000. Private schools charge $4,000-$7,500. Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) provides WIOA training funds. Endorsements follow federal standards. Most in-demand: T (Double/Triple, for Twin Cities distribution hub), H (Hazmat), and N (Tank, for agricultural chemical and fuel transport). The Twin Cities is a major logistics hub — Target, Best Buy, UnitedHealth Group, and Cargill headquarters drive massive freight volume. Schneider, XPO, and Old Dominion have major Twin Cities terminals.

FAQs — Minnesota CDL Requirements

The Minnesota CDL is $48 for 5 years. CLP is $18.25. Knowledge tests are $7. Third-party skills testing runs $150-$350. CDL school costs $2,500-$5,000 at technical colleges. DEED provides WIOA training funds for eligible applicants.

Yes. Minnesota uniquely offers CDL knowledge tests in Hmong and Somali in addition to English and Spanish — reflecting the state's large East African and Southeast Asian immigrant communities. This helps serve Minnesota's diverse trucking workforce.

Double/Triple (T) for the massive Twin Cities distribution hub — Target, Best Buy, and major 3PLs have huge operations there. Tank (N) for agricultural chemical and fuel distribution. Hazmat (H) for chemical transport. The Twin Cities logistics market makes all endorsements valuable.