Paid CDL Training For IL Resident

So, I've been a reader and occasional poster for a number of months. For a number of reasons, my timeline of starting into company-paid CDL training might be accelerating quite significantly. But I have a question for you good folks:

When I do my training through one of the major companies, I would take my CDL test through them/in that state, and then take the paperwork back to my home state of Illinois to get my CDL transferred to Illinois, correct? Is it different for the state of Illinois?

I'm thrown off because the Wilson Logistics website indicates that it is different for Illinois residents: "We will then route you back home with the appropriate paperwork to get your CDL transferred over to your state. If your residency is in IL, you will be routed back to IL to take your CDL exam." Wilson Logistics CDL Training Timeline

Yet, when I asked the Prime recruiter about this, she had no clue (and didn't seem very interested in the question, tbh). Yet you would think they recruit drivers from Illinois all the time. It doesn't matter much, except that I'm trying to plan what these next steps will look like and how I would take the CDL test back in Illinois since I would obviously need a truck to do that.

Thanks for any insights!

For most states its ok to test in the state you're attending school then having your scores transferred and receiving your CDL in your home state. Illinois is different. They require you to take the exam in Illinois in order to transfer your CDL even if you have 40 years of experience. I'm not sure how companies handle that but surely they've dealt with it hundreds of times.

Hopefully somebody with first hand knowledge will stop by.

So, I've been a reader and occasional poster for a number of months. For a number of reasons, my timeline of starting into company-paid CDL training might be accelerating quite significantly. But I have a question for you good folks:

When I do my training through one of the major companies, I would take my CDL test through them/in that state, and then take the paperwork back to my home state of Illinois to get my CDL transferred to Illinois, correct? Is it different for the state of Illinois?

I'm thrown off because the Wilson Logistics website indicates that it is different for Illinois residents: "We will then route you back home with the appropriate paperwork to get your CDL transferred over to your state. If your residency is in IL, you will be routed back to IL to take your CDL exam." Wilson Logistics CDL Training Timeline

Yet, when I asked the Prime recruiter about this, she had no clue (and didn't seem very interested in the question, tbh). Yet you would think they recruit drivers from Illinois all the time. It doesn't matter much, except that I'm trying to plan what these next steps will look like and how I would take the CDL test back in Illinois since I would obviously need a truck to do that.

Thanks for any insights!

Howdy, Matt!

Paging, Bobcat Bob !!!

I've heard from MANY, that IL has 'their own' itinerary, per se, about testing & CDL'ing.... just not sure what it is. Yeah, that sure is counterproductive/nonsensical. NY, CA, & WA have oddities, as well. Sorry! (Move to Ohio?!?!?, haha!)

Hopefully one of the IL compadres will show up & answer this; if not, I'll call my guy's home office (In Joliet/Lemont) tmrw, and see what I can find!

Glad to see you get the ball rolling, Matt!

~ Anne ~

For most states its ok to test in the state you're attending school then having your scores transferred and receiving your CDL in your home state. Illinois is different. They require you to take the exam in Illinois in order to transfer your CDL even if you have 40 years of experience. I'm not sure how companies handle that but surely they've dealt with it hundreds of times.

Hopefully somebody with first hand knowledge will stop by.

Yep, that's CRAZY, Rob !!!!

CyberDrive Illinois

Sheesh, redundant!

~ Anne ~

ps: We replied at the exact same time, haha! I miss your old avatar, the new one looks like a stock, rookie one...beautiful as it is!

With CFI you take your test in Missouri and go home to pick up your CDL.

Thanks for the replies so far, everyone. Illinois *is* different, and that confirms my suspicions that I can't just take my test at my company-sponsored driving school and then transfer it over to Illinois. They must have a way of handling it, as Rob says, but I'll have to come back to Illinois to take my CDL test. Just another step in the process.

I was thinking about ditching my apartment anyway and changing my residency to South Dakota for tax purposes, so maybe I should just do this before I go off to school (getting my SD drivers license before I go). Then it's one less step, and I'll have the South Dakota residency going for me. Illinois is a terrible state in terms of taxes and regulations anyway.

Thanks for the CyberDrive Illinois link, Anne. I had always thought of that in terms of an experienced CDL holder transferring their CDL to Illinois, not in terms of me having just passed my test out of state. But I guess it's the same situation, where I'd have to surrender the CDL and retest anyway.

Thanks for the replies so far, everyone. Illinois *is* different, and that confirms my suspicions that I can't just take my test at my company-sponsored driving school and then transfer it over to Illinois. They must have a way of handling it, as Rob says, but I'll have to come back to Illinois to take my CDL test. Just another step in the process.

I was thinking about ditching my apartment anyway and changing my residency to South Dakota for tax purposes, so maybe I should just do this before I go off to school (getting my SD drivers license before I go). Then it's one less step, and I'll have the South Dakota residency going for me. Illinois is a terrible state in terms of taxes and regulations anyway.

Thanks for the CyberDrive Illinois link, Anne. I had always thought of that in terms of an experienced CDL holder transferring their CDL to Illinois, not in terms of me having just passed my test out of state. But I guess it's the same situation, where I'd have to surrender the CDL and retest anyway.

You're welcome, Matt.

Indeed, it seems like this is an 'everybody' thing, in your state. Then again, being 'fresh' out of school, it wouldn't (shouldn't!) be too difficult to take the paper (computer) tests again, so soon thereafter. Pretty sure that's all that would need done.

Yeah, I had 'FUN' looking 'that' one up, haha! I enjoy doing research that somehow indirectly affects/effects usn's .. after all, FAB is, in fact... in IL. Tom didn't have those issues, however...his 'employer' has a main office in IL .. but we reside in Ohio (TGFT! haha!)

Glad I could help a skoche, lol... (Ohio is ONLY 2 states away, ya know!)

Wish you the best going forward; Wilson is an EXCELLENT choice; personally I'd pursue that avenue... fwiw!

We've got extra land, if you have an RV, haha!

Best to ya, Matt.....!

~ Anne & Tom ~

ps: SD?!?!?! Um.. NOOOOOOH! {{{{Brrr! Snowwwww! NOOOO!}}}} I'd do Vegas first, LoL!

Matt, I believe the way this is handled is your training company routes you and your trainer to Illinois so that you take the test in the truck you have been training in.

Matt, you may remember a guy named George. A family named Willis. A mini-van in flames in Wisconsin.

George Ryan and his merry band of misfits at IL-SOS, if I remember correctly, were the catalyst for many of the rather odd CDL rules that now exist in IL. That is what I was told a decade or more ago when I first started looking into retiring from one job and starting the driving job.

Yeah, Illinois is the only state that I know of that does not recognize tests from other states no matter how much experience you have. They will have to route you to a testing location in the state to take the test and I believe you have to wait 24 hours once you pass to bring your paper work to the DMV so you can actually get the license. Unless that part is different if you test at a DMV, my test was done at the school and we had to wait.