The steps
- Get a DOT medical card. A commercial driver must pass a physical with a medical examiner listed on FMCSA’s National Registry (49 CFR 391.41, 391.43); the certificate lasts up to 24 months.
- Pass the knowledge test and get a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). The CLP lets you practise with a qualified CDL holder beside you and is valid for no more than a year (49 CFR 383.25).
- Hold the CLP for at least 14 days before taking the skills test (383.25(e)).
- Complete entry-level driver training with a provider on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry, if this is your first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade, or a first passenger, school bus or HazMat endorsement (49 CFR 380.609). 68 registered providers have a training location in Wisconsin, 65 of them offering behind-the-wheel training.
- Take the skills test: vehicle inspection, basic control skills and an on-road test, in a vehicle of the class you want (49 CFR 383.113). Wisconsin names 141 places as CDL skills test sites.
- Age. Driving across state lines requires being at least 21 (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)); a state may license drivers from 18 for driving inside the state only.
Where to take the CDL test in Wisconsin
141 offices and test sites in Wisconsin are on the official lists, and 141 are named by the state as CDL skills test sites. The most are in Eau Claire (5), Milwaukee (5), Sun Prairie (4), Ashland (3), Green Bay (3), Chippewa Falls (3), Madison (3), Hudson (3), Medford (3), Menomonee Falls (3). See all CDL testing and DMV offices in Wisconsin, with a map and search by city or ZIP.
CDL schools in Wisconsin
68 training providers registered with FMCSA list a location in Wisconsin. The most are in Milwaukee (8), Kenosha (5), Little Chute (2), Seymour (2), Superior (2), Marinette (2), Sun Prairie (2), Oak Creek (2), West Allis (2), New Richmond (2). See all CDL schools in Wisconsin.
Adding HazMat
The hazardous materials endorsement needs a TSA security threat assessment with fingerprints (49 CFR 1572). 8 TSA enrollment centers in Wisconsin take HazMat applications. See the enrollment centers in Wisconsin.