After years of complaints, the Illinois Secretary of State is planning to permanently stop the testing out-of-state drivers with a valid CDL who are moving into Illinois.
 
Until just recently, out-of-state CDL drivers were required to take all Illinois CDL tests (written, driving, and skills) to receive their Illinois CDL.  Despite the CDL being a federally mandated and regulated license, Illinois has made it more difficult for CDL drivers to work in Illinois. No other state in the nation has required drivers to do this.
 
Earlier this year, the SOS CDL office began automatically issuing licenses for out-of-state CDL holders from January to the end of March. Drivers were able to enter the driver service facilities, and with their current CDL driver’s license and proof of residency, receive their Illinois CDL without any additional testing. The SOS’s new proposed rule would make this process a permanent change for all out-of-state CDL holders moving to Illinois. IFCA will support this rule change when it becomes available to the Illinois J-CAR legislators to ensure this change happens.