All CDL Hazmat endorsement holders must take the Hazmat written and vision tests with the Kentucky State Police to renew a Commercial license unless it has been less than two (2) years from the last test date.

The testing fee is $5.00.

The security threat assessment will be required every five (5) years based on the expiration date of your current threat assessment or TWIC information on your Kentucky driving record. You will be notified 60 days before the expiration date to begin the fingerprint-based criminal background check.

The Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) security threat assessment must be renewed every five (5) years. Approximately 60 days before the security threat assessment expires, the Division of Driver Licensing will mail a notification letter to current CDL Hazmat endorsement holders.

The notification will instruct the applicant to begin and complete the required fingerprint-based criminal background check before the expiration date to avoid any interruption to their endorsement.

To schedule an appointment or check the status of a Hazmat Driver Security Threat Assessment, applicants may contact the Kentucky State Police at 1 (888) 655-9655.

Applicants may also use a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card as proof of the required security threat assessment. To use a TWIC card, submit a copy of the front and back of the card to the CDL Section at kytc.twic@ky.gov (opens in a new tab). Once verified, the TWIC information will be added to the applicant’s Kentucky driving record. Please note: This email address is only used for submitting TWIC documentation.

All commercial drivers transferring to Kentucky with a Hazmat endorsement must take the written knowledge and vision tests with the Kentucky State Police. The testing fee is $5.00.

We will access your security threat assessment information from TSA, or you may provide us with your current TWIC document. After verification, this information will be added to your Kentucky driving record.

In the future, you will receive notice 60 days before your security threat assessment expires.

Per 601 KAR 11:040 (opens in a new tab) , a commercial driver may apply to the Transportation Cabinet for an intrastate medical waiver if they:

• Operate exclusively in intrastate commerce
• Have failed to meet the physical requirements of 49 CFR 391 Subpart E (opens in a new tab)

Reasons for obtaining a waiver may include the following conditions: Cardiovascular Conditions, Neurological Conditions, Musculoskeletal Conditions, Metabolic Conditions, Alcohol or Drug Dependence, Mental and Emotional Conditions, and Vision Conditions.

These forms can be requested electronically through your verified myDrive account (opens in a new tab) or by calling (502) 564-1257.

The Division of Driver Licensing will base its decision on granting the requested waiver on the information obtained from the medical report forms, the DOT physical, and the applicant's driving history.

After being granted a medical waiver, the driver must submit periodic medical updates. The proper forms will be generated by the computer and automatically mailed to the driver. If the Division of Driver Licensing does not receive the updated information within 45 days, the Intrastate Medical Waiver, along with the driver's commercial driving privileges, will be downgraded and remain downgraded until the information is received.

The Military Skills Test Waiver allows qualified service members and veterans to use their military driving experience in place of the CDL driving skills test.

This waiver does not cover the knowledge written test or any endorsement testing.

The Even Exchange Program allows qualified service members and veterans with certain military jobs to apply for a waiver of the knowledge test required for a commercial learner's permit (CLP) or commercial driver's license (CDL).

When used with the Military Skills Test Waiver, this allows a driver to exchange a military license for a CDL.

This restriction applies to farm retail outlets, farm retail suppliers, agri-chemical businesses, custom harvesters, and livestock feeders. The restricted CDL is valid for 60, 120, or 180 days within any 12-month period from the date of issuance. It is only valid within 150 miles of the farm being serviced.

It does not apply to any Class A vehicles transporting fertilizer, any organic substance, fuel, gasoline, pesticides, or propane. Only a Class B is available.

Eligibility

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Must have held a Kentucky License for at least 1 year

How to Apply

• Have a certified Medical Examiner (opens in a new tab) complete your Medical Examiner’s Certificate and upload it to the FMCSA National Registry.
• You and your employer need to complete the Farm-Related Services / Restricted CDL Application Form TC94-17 (opens in a new tab) .
• Take the completed application to a Regional office (opens in a new tab) to complete a self-certification form and pass a vision screening.

Below is a list of violations that could result in the loss of commercial driving privileges for periods ranging from 24 hours to life.

• It is against the law to operate a commercial vehicle with any amount of alcohol or controlled substance in the blood, breath, or urine. If a driver tests between 0.01% and 0.039% BAC, that driver shall be out of service for 24 hours. If a driver tests over 0.04% BAC, they will be disqualified for one year, regardless of whether they were operating a commercial or non-commercial vehicle.
• A second conviction carries a penalty of disqualification for life as a commercial driver. Penalties apply only to the driver's commercial driving privileges.
• Considered by FMCSA to be a controlled substance, CBD is extracted and separated from specific varieties of cannabis. Consuming high quantities of CBD oil will leave enough THC in your system to trigger a positive test result and cause impairment. FMCSA provides more information on how this relates to marijuana legalization in some states and to meeting qualification standards for operating a commercial vehicle.

Pursuant to KRS 281A.185 (opens in a new tab) , all moving convictions must be posted to the driving record if the driver is a CDL holder or the conviction occurred in a CMV. State Traffic School will prevent points from being assessed, but will not prevent the conviction from appearing on the record.

Drivers with a drug and alcohol program violation are prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions, including operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), for any DOT-regulated employer until the return-to-duty process is complete. Drivers with a “prohibited” status in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will lose or be denied their state-issued commercial driving privileges under new federal regulations.

Visit clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov (opens in a new tab) if you are currently prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) due to a drug and alcohol program violation.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has updated the rules for issuing Commercial Learner's Permits (CLPs) and Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) to certain non-U.S. citizens. These changes are designed to improve security, verify eligibility, and ensure that only qualified individuals receive or keep a commercial driving credential.

Under the new rules:

• Only certain non-U.S. citizens who are legally authorized to work in the United States may qualify for a non-domiciled CLP or CDL.
• Applicants who are not lawful permanent residents (green card holders) must provide:
  • A valid foreign passport, and
  • A valid Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record showing an eligible visa category (such as H-2A, H-2B, or E-2).
• These documents must be presented each time a CDL is issued, transferred, renewed, or upgraded.
• State licensing agencies must verify immigration documents through the federal SAVE system.
• Copies of application documents must be kept on file for at least two years.
• The expiration date of the CDL must match the expiration date of the applicant's authorized stay in the United States, or one year, whichever comes first.
• Applicants must appear in person for every CDL renewal.
• If a state learns that a driver is no longer eligible to hold a non-domiciled CDL, the credential must be downgraded or canceled.

These updates help ensure commercial driving credentials are issued only to individuals who continue to meet federal eligibility requirements.

Only certain non-U.S. citizens who are legally authorized to work in the United States may qualify for a non-domiciled CDL. This includes individuals with:

• H-2A visas (temporary agricultural workers)
• H-2B visas (temporary non-agricultural workers)
• E-2 visas (treaty investors)
• FAS countries (Micronesia – FSM, Palau – PAL, Marshall Islands – MIS/RMI)

Other immigration categories are not eligible under the current federal regulations.

E2 – H2A – H2B

• Unexpired passport
• Visa foil
• Current I-94 indicating E2 or H2 status
• Proof of Social Security number
• Proof of KY employment dated within 30 days
• Proof of residential KY address dated within one year

FAS countries (Micronesia – FSM, Palau – PAL, Marshall Islands – MIS/RMI)

• Passport
• Current I-94 indicating FSM, PAL, MIS/RMI status
• Proof of Social Security number
• Proof of residential KY address dated within one year

Once approved, the applicant will be limited to ONE year or the expiration of their status, whichever is shorter.

Yes. Federal regulations require non-domiciled CDL holders to complete all transactions in person.

A non-domiciled CDL is valid until:

• The expiration date shown on your immigration document, or
• One year,

whichever comes first.

If Kentucky receives information from a federal agency showing you are no longer eligible for a non-domiciled CDL, your commercial driving privileges may be removed or downgraded.

Kentucky must verify your immigration documents through the federal SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) system before issuing, renewing, transferring, or upgrading a non-domiciled CDL.

Yes, if you meet all federal eligibility requirements and provide the required immigration documents.

Only if you can provide the immigration documents required under the current federal regulations. Having a previously issued permit alone does not guarantee eligibility for a CDL.

In some cases, yes. A Form I-797A may be accepted if it shows:

• Your authorized period of stay, and
• An eligible visa category (H-2A, H-2B, or E-2)

Additional verification through the SAVE system is still required.