State of Illinois CDL Transfer?
 

Wow.

Don't know if I have this in the right section or not.

Just moved back to Illinois after 10 years in South Carolina. I have not driven comercially for a tad over three years, but the Illinois State CDL transfer requirements are unbelieveable. I seriously wanted to return to the road driving hoppers in the area, but in order to transfer a CDL, you must take the written tests, (not an issue) and a road test. The road test wouldn't be an issue if I had a truck. I've already went to a CDL mill once, not planning to do that again. Guess I should have researched this first. Anyone else dealt with this?

What in the heck is the deal?

As of Spring 2008, anyone seeking to transfer an out of state CDL to an IL CDL must, as you correctly stated, take the written and road test. Also in the works, if not already implimented is the requirement for all those who currently hold IL CDLs to take and pass a road test to RENEW their CDL if they have had a moving violation in the previous three years. I would imagine that there are companies out there who might allow you to rent a truck and trailer for the test, but I bet it will be at one hell of a premium. Good luck.

Thanks Musicman.
Even though I have not driven in a few years I have always maintained my CDL and DOT Physical. Don't want to give it up but may have no other options. I refuse to pay 3500 dollars to attend another CDL school, but I don't have the contacts in this area that would loan/rent a truck and trailer simply for the road test. Federal guidelines if I remember correctly say you have to transfer your CDL to your new state within 30 days of moving, the state website stated 10 days. I was always tought that no plan survives the first battle, but the friggin government red tape nearly makes this plan nul and void.

Regrouping and awaiting re-enforcements in Central Illinois.

I'm about 200 miles south of you, but still in Illinois and might be persuaded to let you test using my equipment. What might be an issue for you is that I won't be home for another week and a half. If I'd be willing to do it out of the kindness of my heart, (or maybe a steak dinner and $50) I bet you could get another small company in your area to allow you to use their equipment for a couple hundred bucks. There's lots of "mom & pop" one to ten truck operations based in your area. Get on the phone or drive over, ask to speak to the owner and offer him a couple hundred dollars to test in his or her truck.

Good luck.

Thanks Musicman. That's a heck of an offer for someone that knows nothing about me, my driving skills, or my integrity (other than I can whine like a truck driver). It would certainly be worth a 50 dollar steak dinner to me, however, I am not going to impose my poor planning and lack of research on someone else. Considering my limited recent experience, it might take me a little more than a minute to prepare for a driving test, depending on what type backing the examiner chooses for that particular day. While I'm sure I can get back on it like a bicycle, I'd hate to skin my knees, particularly on someone elses new bike.

I think I'm going to make a personal visit to a few of the farm coops in the area. It's a slow time of year and it will also allow me to see how the operation work around here.

I have a few friends in Marion. Retired BOP (and most go home at 4pm)

You may check to see if there is a driving school near you who will rent you a truck and trailer. Another option is to see if there is a Pensky or Ryder truck rental facility in your area. I don't know if they will rent trucks to individuals, but it is worth checking out.

GMAN,

I thought about that, but have not called yet. I presumed they would want insurance and liability at least. Not real sure how that works but it's worth checking out.

The schools should already have liability. When I have rented trucks from Penske in the past, I believe that I used my own insurance, but I thiink they would have insurance you could purchase through them if needed.

We're lucky having Star Trucks in Michigan. ( not sure if they are in any other state )
You can rent a tractor/trailer for $250, and they set up a date within 2 weeks with the state examiner. It takes two weeks in the area I live. Probably in Grand Rapids, you can get the examiner within a few days.

Ryder and Penske around here, will only rent class 8 to a Carrier or O/O, because of insurance.

I think this is the best option.
You can probably get a rig for around $300 for the road test.

The Illinois state web site says you are required to schedule your driving test online. So until I've located the equipment, I'm not going to attempt a schedule date. I'm not sure just how serious the feds and state are about requiring the change of residence for a cdl and I'm sure I'm not the first person to tackle this issue. Unless I'm driving for a carrier, and he happens to undergo a DOT audit, it may not matter that much anyway. I'm just kind of a stickler for doing things the way the guidlines require. Actually, it's probably a pretty good rule. Keep some of the "undersirables" out of a big truck, but this is Illinois and I'm sure those that evade the law have already found the loopholes.

My South Carolina license doesn't expire until 2015. I just renewed it in September.

If you drive for a carrier they will most likely require you to transfer your license to your new state once they find that you have relocated. To tell you the truth, the CDL is supposed to be a national drivers license so it should not make any difference which state that you currently have your license since requirements are supposed to be uniform. But, that isn't the way laws in most states read. You should just be able to hand them your old license and receive a new one. That is not the case with some states. I also think that we should be able to get a refund on any unused portion of a license when we turn it in to the new state. But, they didn't ask for my opinion and it would mean less tax revenue for the state.

:roll: I can see what Jimbo is up against.
I tried to see what it would take for me to transfer a Michigan CDL to Illinois.
They require you to take a road test, and you have to provide your own vehicle.
If you don't have your own, or a company provided rig, you have to find one to rent.

I asked the typical questions, and got the typical "conflict of interest" crap, and got shuffled around to several other depts. What a FUBAR state.

Well... I'd kill myself before I'd move to Illinois... LOL

There's the whole issue of State's rights that can get highly political. Your right GMAN, the CDL was designed to be uniform for all states.......but each state tries to get their own piece of the pie. I think after the (one of many) Illinois govenor got thrown in prison over CDL License issues, the written and road tests were added by the state of Illinois as a "corrective" action. More funding for the state, but their costs for enforcement and testing facilities had to increase to a point that it cannot be profitable.

I've read several posts on another forum where companies will not hire non-cdl holders from Illinois. Too much cost involved in getting the trainee back to Illinois for testing. For every action there is an equal and oposite reaction.

I'm really on the fence with this. I'm old enough (54) that re-starting another career at this age seems useless.......yet I'm too young not to. I enjoyed trucking when I did it and the only reason I quit was teen-agers at home that could not get their act together.

It's a catch 22 for me.

You should call the License Branch near you and see if Illinois and Wisconsin still has and uses reciprocity as it relates to the CDL licenses and skills tests. We used to train and test drivers from Illinois and they would simply take the CDL paperwork down to IL and IL would issue an Illinois CDL with that. I'd Give Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton WI a call. There may be a closer school to you, there will not be a better school near you. They do third party testing and they used to also tutor drivers on an hourly basis to wear the cobwebs off. They do the CDL testing there also. Worth a shot to give them a call. All of this is the result of the IL Governor getting caught selling CDL licenses using the third party testers and the state examiners.