Commercial Driver Licensing

Commercial drivers need to be familiar with the Montana Commercial Driver License Manual. The driver exam station schedule lists which stations provide commercial skills testing for Class A, B and C licenses.

Information on regular, non-commercial class D licenses, learner's permits and motorcycle endorsements is available on the Driver Licensing page.

New and Out-of-State Applicants

Beginning in December 2005, commercial driver license (CDL) applicants who do not have a regular, class D Montana driver license or who are transferring an out-of-state CDL must provide documentation to prove that they meet the authorized presence requirements enacted by the 2005 Legislature.

Types and Classes of Commercial Licenses

Type 1 Certification allows a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce, and costs $10 per year, plus the 50-cent fee for mailing the license renewal reminder.

Type 2 Certification allows a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle in intrastate (only within the state of Montana) commerce, and costs $8.50 per year, plus the 50-cent fee for mailing the license renewal reminder.

Class A License allows the holder to operate any combination of vehicles, including:

• a vehicle exceeding 26,000 GVWR that is towing a trailer over 10,000 pounds
• articulated buses with a GCVWR exceeding 26,000 pounds
• any vehicle authorized to be driven under Class B, C or D

Class B License allows the holder to operate:

• a vehicle exceeding 26,000 GVWR that is towing a trailer under 10,000 pounds GVWR
• a school bus, or any bus or other vehicle hauling 16 or more passengers, including the driver
• all vehicles under Class C or D

Class C License allows the holder to operate:

• a single vehicle under 26,000 pounds
• a vehicle that hauls hazardous materials in an amount sufficient to require placarding under Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 391
• a school bus, or any vehicle that hauls 16 or more passengers, including the driver

Commercial License Endorsements

Special endorsements are required before a person with a CDL may transport passengers and certain types of cargo in a commercial motor vehicle. The following endorsements are required under Montana law and federal motor carrier safety regulations:

• Hazardous Materials – new security background check required
• School Bus – "S" endorsement required by October 1, 2006
• Tank Endorsement
• Passenger
• Double/Triple Trailer

Hazardous Materials Endorsement

Security Background Check Required

As of May 31, 2005, the Department of Justice may not renew, upgrade or transfer a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement until it receives notice from the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that the driver has passed a security background check.

For first-time applicants for a commercial driver license with a hazardous materials endorsement, the security background check process has been in effect since January 30, 2005.

Commercial drivers who renew a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement, or who want to add a hazardous materials endorsement to an existing CDL, must:

• pass a hazardous materials knowledge test
• have their fingerprints taken
• complete a separate TSA HAZPRINT security application required under federal law

Transportation Security Administration Agent

In Montana, the new security check procedures are not performed in a driver exam station. Instead, after a driver has completed the application or renewal process at a driver exam station, he or she must complete the additional TSA HAZPRINT security application online at www.hazprints.com or by telephone through the TSA agent's Driver Service Center at (877) 429-7746 toll free.

After the TSA HAZPRINT application has been completed, a driver must go to the office of an agent hired by the TSA to have his or her fingerprints taken. The TSA agent operates two offices in Montana:

Drivers are required to provide two forms of acceptable identification to the TSA agent as part of the fingerprint collection process.

For additional information about the security background check process, including the agent's hours of operation, sites operated by TSA agents in other states and the list of acceptable identification documents, drivers may contact the TSA agent at:

Fee – The fee for the fingerprint and separate security background check application process is $94. The driver can pay the fee by credit card when completing the online or phone application process. Payment may also be made by money order, payable to Integrated Biometric Technology, LLC, when the driver's fingerprints are taken at the TSA agent's office.

Transferring Out-of-State CDLs with Hazmat Endorsement

Effective May 31, 2005, a commercial driver who wishes to transfer his or her license to Montana must also complete the security background check unless, at the time of transfer, the driver provides information that he or she met the security background check requirements in another state and that state verifies that fact when contacted by the department.

School Bus "S" Endorsement

By October 1, 2006, a person who drives a school bus, or who transports pre-primary, primary or secondary school students for school-related activity trips in a commercial motor vehicle other than a school bus, must have a CDL with the new, school bus "S" endorsement.

The S endorsement will apply to operation of any commercial motor vehicle (CMV) used to transport pre-primary, primary or secondary students from:

• home to school
• school to home
• to and from school-sponsored events

A bus used as a common carrier is not considered to be a school bus.

After September 30, 2006, a CDL with a passenger "P" endorsement alone will no longer be valid for operation of a traditional yellow school bus or another CMV while transporting school students for activity trips.

To qualify for an S endorsement, bus drivers must pass a written and skills (driving) test. Drivers may take the written test and schedule their driving test at any driver exam station.

Skills Test Waiver

Prior to September 30, 2006, some drivers who apply for the S endorsement may qualify to have the skills test waived if the driver:

• has been regularly employed as a school bus driver
• has operated a school bus representative of the class of vehicle for which he or she seeks the endorsement
• provides evidence of employment as a school bus driver for the previous two-year period

The School Bus Endorsement Skills Test Waiver (Form 20-2100) must be completed by the applying driver and the driver's employer(s) for the two-year period preceding the application.

Drivers who do not qualify for the skills test waiver must schedule an appointment for a skills test through a local driver exam station.

Renewals

• You may renew your commercial driver license six months before your birthday. You have three months after your birthday to renew without testing but your driving privilege expires at midnight on your birthday.
• You must provide documentation of name changes.
• If you do not have the expiring license with you, you must provide proof of identity.

Renewal by Mail

If you live in a county that does not provide driver license services - Garfield, Golden Valley, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Madison, Petroleum, Prairie, Treasure and Wibaux - you may apply for a renewal of a commercial driver license (CDL) through the mail. To keep your driving privilege valid, the renewal may be completed six months before your license expires. The license can still be renewed three months after its expiration, but your driving privilege is not valid until the renewal is processed.

You cannot renew your CDL through the mail if you have a hazardous materials endorsement. To keep this endorsement, you must follow the procedures in the Hazardous Materials Endorsement section.

Renewals completed by mail are valid for five years. Your next renewal must be completed at a driver exam station.

How to Renew a Commercial License by Mail

1. Complete and enclose:
   • Form 1, Commercial Driver License Mail Renewal Application #21-1901(A)
   • a photocopy of your Department of Transportation medical card
   • Form 3, Report of Eye Examination Application #22-1801(B)
2. Enclose a money order or a photocopy of your pre-paid county receipt (which may be purchased at a county treasurer's office or a driver exam station) for:
   • $50.50 for a type 1 CDL renewal or
   • $43.00 for a type 2 renewal (which includes the 50-cent fee for mailing the license renewal reminder)
   • an additional $2.50 if you have a motorcycle endorsement and would like to retain it
3. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want the receipt mailed back to you. The receipt acts as a temporary driver license. Your new commercial driver license will be mailed in four to six weeks.
4. Mail the completed packet to:
   Motor Vehicle Division
   Montana Department of Justice
   303 N. Roberts
   P.O. Box 201430
   Helena, MT 59620-1430