Hey guys, I'm curious how to handle getting your CDL outside of your home state. Because of my financial situation, I'll most likely be choosing from a list of out-of-state schools that qualify for FAFSA or Pell Grant. Will it be necessary for me to register for a drivers license in that state before they will issue me a CDL, or do schools have a way around this, or what?
Most of the schools deal with this on a daily basis. I attended a school in Indiana I live out of state. Call the school you want to attend and ask them what documents you will need to get your permits with.
K thanks man. Perhaps I should just go ahead and take the written permit test in my home state anyway, just in case.
The permits transfer just fine from most states - Illinois is one exception. You'll get the CDL issued in the state where the school is at, and you have 30 days to transfer it back to your state of residence. Don't bother with the hazmat test... it will not transfer from any state - you'll just have to retake it when you get to your state of residence.
Ah, good thing you told me about the haz-mat, because I was wanting to take it as well. So how does the haz-mat work...do you have to get it for whatever state your employers terminal is at? For instance, if I went to work for a company based on Texas, do I have to get my Texas haz-mat?
Glad you mentioned Texas. Not only do you have to take the test in Texas - where your CDL is from, you have to get your hazmat background check done in Texas. They don't share... unlike the several other states. Also, every time you renew your license, you'll have to retake just the hazmat test.
