South Dakota · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
South Dakota CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, South Dakota CDLs are issued by the Department of Public Safety's Driver Licensing Program under the federal FMCSA framework. Applicants need a valid SD driver license, a $43 application fee ($20 per endorsement test), a commercial learner's permit held at least 14 days, and a skills test taken through a state-approved third-party tester ($150 plus tax). The CDL is valid five years (expires on the licensee's birthday in the fifth year after issuance) and renews for $43 ($63 with hazmat endorsement).
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in South Dakota?
South Dakota licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Minimum age: 18 for CLP/CDL (intrastate only for ages 18-20); 21 for interstate commerce. Fee schedule read from the live DPS knowledge base (updated July 2026): CDL $43, CLP $43, endorsements $20 each, note the older Motor Carrier Handbook page still shows pre-increase figures ($33/$15/$90 skills test), superseded by the current $43/$20/$150 amounts. No testing required to transfer a valid out-of-state CDL except the hazmat knowledge test. Skills tests are third-party only in SD. Online renewal available (card processing fee $2.00 or 2.95%, whichever is greater). Federal layer: ELDT since Feb 7, 2022 for new Class A/B and first-time S/P/H endorsements; DOT medical certificate; endorsements H (TSA check ~$85-86 extra), N, T, P, S, X. Restrictions include K (intrastate only) and W (seasonal CDL, a SD-specific option for farm-related service industries).
What licenses does South Dakota issue?
The South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing Program issues the credentials below for this trade. Boards often list further classes for specialties and business licenses; these are the ones this page covers.
Hours are what each class asks for on its own terms. Where a senior class shows fewer than a journeyman, the board is counting time served after the earlier license rather than from the start; the prerequisite column says which.
| License | On-the-job hours | Classroom hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A CDL | not published | not published | Yes |
| Class B CDL | not published | not published | Yes |
| Class C CDL | not published | not published | Yes |
| Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) | not published | not published | Yes |
Source: South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing Program (sdlegislature.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does South Dakota require?
CDL knowledge tests (general + endorsements). Administered by SD Driver Licensing exam stations.
CDL driving skills test (pre-trip, basic control, road). Administered by State-approved third-party testers (must schedule at least 2 business days ahead).
How much does a South Dakota CDL truck driver license cost?
Getting a journeyman CDL truck driver license in South Dakota costs $106 in board fees, before any training. That is the application fee, the exam fee and the initial license fee charged once, with renewal charged separately below. No board publishes this total, so it is added up here from the schedule it does publish.
- Application fee$43
- Exam fee$20
- Initial license fee$43
- Renewal fee (recurring)$63
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 5 years (expires on licensee's birthday in the fifth year following issuance, SDCL 32-12A-30)
Continuing education: None. DOT medical certificate must be kept current (generally 2-year cycle); as of 2026 SD requires most intrastate CDL holders to file a federal medical certificate (deadline extended to Aug 29, 2026). Hazmat endorsement requires TSA background check and knowledge retest.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
Not applicable, CDL is exam-based, not apprenticeship-based. Federal ELDT from an FMCSA-registered provider is required for first-time Class A/B and S/P/H endorsements but is performance-based with no state hour minimums; SD states it has no state-specific CDL training requirements.
How does South Dakota compare to neighboring states?
Requirements stop at the state line, which matters if you live near one or expect to move. Here is what the neighboring states ask of the same trade.
| State | Journeyman hours | Licensing model |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | not published | Statewide |
| Iowa | not published | Statewide |
| Minnesota | not published | Statewide |
| Montana | not published | Statewide |
| Nebraska | not published | Statewide |
| North Dakota | not published | Statewide |
| Wyoming | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- SD DPS Driver License/ID Card Fees (KB0043708)
- SD DPS South Dakota Commercial Driver License (CDL) Information (KB0043680)
- SD Truck Info - Motor Carrier Handbook Ch. 8, CDL Qualifications
- SD Truck Info - Motor Carrier Handbook Ch. 8, CDL Classifications, Endorsements, Restrictions & Exemptions
- SDCL Chapter 32-12A (Commercial Driver Licensing)
Last verified July 2026. Found an error? Report it and it will be corrected and logged on the corrections page.
Other states with published requirements for this trade: Tennessee, Texas, Utah.
Price the whole path with the license cost estimator, or weigh earning against paying for school with the apprenticeship comparison. Back to CDL truck drivers overview.
Licensing requirements change between our verification sweeps. This page is informational only, so confirm current requirements with South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing Program before making decisions. Not legal advice.