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Commercial Driver's License Overview

Commercial Driver's License Overview

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) requirements are stricter than any other Indiana driver's license and are based upon stringent Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. Individuals who hold an Indiana CDL are permitted to operate the following vehicles:

  • Commercial motor vehicles or combinations of vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings in excess of 26,000 pounds
  • Vehicles designed to transport 16 or more people, including the driver; and vehicles used to transport hazardous materials.

Effective May 2025 Medical Examiner’s Certificates (MEC) will be applied to the driver record electronically. MEC’s will no longer be accepted by the customer in any format. An approved medical examiner will submit the MEC electronically to the National Registry. This information will be sent directly to the state of record to update the driver’s license history.

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Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (DACH)

State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) are required to remove the commercial driving privileges or deny CLP/CDL transactions for any applicant that has a status of Prohibited on DACH until FMCSA updates their status on DACH to Not Prohibited. Indiana will begin querying DACH September 23, 2024. For additional information on DACH, please visit the Clearinghouse website.

Frequently Asked Questions About CDLs

Forms and Applications for CDLs