A CDL must be obtained by the driver of any of the following vehicles:
Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): Value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a single vehicle or combination of vehicles, or the registered gross weight.
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating): Value specified by the manufacturer as the GVWR of the power unit plus the GVWR of the towed unit or units, or the combined registered weight of the power unit plus the towed unit(s).
Drivers Exempt from Obtaining a CDL:
Under state and federal law, certain drivers are not subject to the requirements of the CDL program. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has determined that these exemptions will not diminish the safe operation of commercial vehicles on the highways.
The following vehicle operators are not required to obtain a CDL:
Farm Equipment Operators - This exemption covers legitimate farm-to-market operations by farmers, not commercial grain haulers. CDLs are not required to operate vehicles:
Controlled and operated by a farmer, a member of the farmerʼs family or an employee;
Used to transport farm products, equipment or supplies to or from a farm (including nurseries and aquacultures);
Used within 150 air miles of the farm; and
Not used in the operations of a common or contract carrier; and
Used in nursery or agricultural operations.
NOTE: For the drivers of truck-tractor semitrailers, the farmer, his or her spouse and their children, parents on both sides, brothers and sisters on both sides and their spouses operating a truck-tractor semitrailer and meeting the above criteria also are exempted from the CDL Program. These drivers must be at least age 21, and the vehicle must have Farm plates. These drivers are still required to take the appropriate CDL written, skills and road tests to be licensed.
Firefighting Equipment Operators - Because most firefighting organizations have extensive initial training and re- training requirements for their equipment operators, Illinois waives CDL requirements for operators of firefighting equipment owned or operated by or for a government agency, when responding to or returning from an emergency.
Military Vehicle Operators - Operators of military vehicles for military purposes are exempt from obtaining a CDL.
Recreational Vehicle Operators - Recreational vehicle operators, when using the vehicle primarily for personal use, do not need a CDL.
