It is mid-August outside Minot. A 16-year-old has spent the summer running a grain cart, and a custom cutting crew just offered a job hauling wheat to the elevator. Whether that is legal depends on three things: the vehicle, the distance, and the license. A North Dakota CDL is not always required for farm work, but the exemptions are narrower than most families think.
This guide explains how farm trucking works in North Dakota: the age rules, the 150-mile limit, custom harvesting, and the point where you need a regular commercial license.
Can you get a North Dakota CDL at 16 for custom harvesting?
Yes, in a limited form. North Dakota allows a driver as young as 16 to test for a CDL restricted to custom harvesting operations only. That restricted license is meant for seasonal crews that move combines, grain carts and trucks from farm to farm, and it does not open the door to general freight work.
Anyone under 18 also needs a sponsor, an adult who accepts financial liability, before a license is issued. Plan for that conversation with a parent or employer before you go to the Driver License Division of the North Dakota Department of Transportation.
North Dakota Class D farm exemption: ages, distance and weight
Farm trucks can be driven under a Class D license, with limits that rise with age. According to the state's CDL manual, all of this applies only within 150 miles of the farm and up to 50,000 pounds:
- Age 15: may drive a farm truck.
- Age 16: may tow a trailer with a two-, tandem- or triple-axle truck, but not doubles or triples.
- Age 18: may drive a truck-tractor.
The 150-mile limit is measured from the farm, not from your home. Check the distance before you accept a long haul.
Covered farm vehicles: when can you cross state lines?
North Dakota also recognizes covered farm vehicles. If the vehicle weighs 26,001 pounds or less, it may operate anywhere in the United States. A heavier covered farm vehicle is limited to travel within the state, or within 150 air miles when it crosses a state line. That difference matters for farms near the Minnesota border.
North Dakota truck size limits farm drivers should know
Farm drivers who stay outside the CDL system still have to follow the size and weight limits that all trucks follow. The CDL manual lists:
- Width: 8 feet 6 inches.
- Combination length: 75 feet, up to 110 feet on designated highways.
- Single axle: 20,000 pounds. Tandem axle group: 34,000 pounds, or 48,000 pounds for three or more axles.
- Farm implements: up to 15 feet 6 inches tall within a 60-mile radius, sunrise to sunset, but not on interstates.
Implements are where many farm drivers get into trouble. A tall, wide machine that is fine on a county road at noon may be illegal on an interstate or after dark.
When does a farm driver need a full North Dakota CDL?
You need a CDL once the work falls outside the exemptions. The work falls outside the exemptions when it goes beyond 150 miles of the farm, exceeds the weight limit, or is not farm work. A farm kid who turns 21 and wants to drive interstate freight also needs a CDL, because the interstate minimum age is 21.
To get one, expect the usual sequence: a learner's permit, a period of practice, then the skills test. Testing is in English, and applicants must be able to read, write and speak English. You get one knowledge test or permit attempt per day, and the CLP must be held at least 14 days before the road test.
Medical and self-certification for farm drivers
The North Dakota CDL application asks you to self-certify one of four categories covering interstate or intrastate driving, and excepted or non-excepted driving. Choose the category that matches your real work. Some farm work is excepted from the federal medical card rule, which is why the category you choose matters. The form is a legal statement, so do not guess.
Drivers who need a medical card should know the CDL manual lists conditions that can disqualify a driver, such as insulin-controlled diabetes, epilepsy, narcolepsy and vision worse than 20/40 in either eye. Check the manual for the current exceptions.
What age can you get a CDL in North Dakota?
A driver can test for a CDL restricted to custom harvesting at 16. For interstate commercial driving you must be 21.
How far can I drive a farm truck in North Dakota without a CDL?
The Class D farm exemption applies within 150 miles of the farm, up to 50,000 pounds, with age limits of 15, 16 and 18 depending on the vehicle.
Can a covered farm vehicle leave North Dakota?
A covered farm vehicle of 26,001 pounds or less may operate anywhere in the U.S. A heavier one is limited to the state, or 150 air miles if it crosses a state line.
How long must I hold a North Dakota CLP before the road test?
At least 14 days.
Do I need a sponsor if I am under 18?
Yes. Minors need a sponsor who accepts financial liability before a license is issued.
Exemptions are strict and can change, so confirm your situation with the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Driver License Division, before you put a young driver in a truck.