July 14, 2024 – Illinois residents applying for Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) can now take their written test in Spanish.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that Illinois residents applying for Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) can now take their written test in Spanish. A new initiative will be introduced to increase accessibility and address truck and school bus driver shortages.
“Offering the CDL test in Spanish is one of the many steps our office is taking to ensure our services are as accessible and inclusive as possible,” Giannoulias said. “This change will help qualified individuals whose primary language is Spanish to become licensed drivers and will help us address school bus and truck driver shortages across the state while maintaining stringent testing standards.”
Having a Spanish translation of the written test will assist with accessibility and is part of a larger effort to address a shortage of CDL drivers, including school bus drivers and agricultural producers who rely on temporary agricultural workers. The translation will make it easier for individuals who do not speak English as their primary language to understand the detailed technical information included on the test. All CDL applicants must have U.S. citizenship, legal permanent residency status, or be a non-domiciled driver.
To make an appointment, applicants can click HERE
