Not everyone who drives a heavy truck in Wisconsin needs a full Wisconsin CDL. Farmers, farm service workers, snowplow back-up drivers and people driving certain recreational vehicles may fall under exemptions or a restricted license. The trick is knowing which bucket you are in before you drive, because the penalties for guessing wrong land on both the driver and the employer. This guide sorts it out.
Which of these describes you?
You farm and haul your own supplies
A Wisconsin farmer who is exempt from the CDL may haul hazmat farm supplies within 150 miles of the farm. The exemption is tied to farm work and distance, so it does not turn into a general permit to haul for anyone, anywhere.
You work for a farm service business
This is where the Wisconsin Farm Service CDL comes in. Wisconsin's Farm Service CDL, shown as F, is limited to farm service work with a Class B or Class C vehicle. It is available to someone employed by a farm service industry for 210 days or less each calendar year. Applicants use form BDS201. If your seasonal job fits this description, ask the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) about the F license before you try to assemble a full CDL.
You are a back-up snowplow driver
A back-up snowplow driver is CDL-exempt when employed by a local government with a population of 3,000 or fewer.
You drive a motorhome
Recreational vehicles of 45 feet or less used non-commercially are exempt from the CDL. If you use a vehicle commercially, the exemption does not apply.
What if you need a full Wisconsin CDL?
Anything outside those exemptions needs a standard CDL. You must be at least 18 for a commercial learner's permit (CLP), and a Wisconsin instruction permit for commercial vehicles is valid for 180 days. If you are under 21, the permit does not authorize interstate commerce. A CLP holder without a qualified instructor must be accompanied by a licensed person who is at least 21. You must hold the CLP for 14 days before the CDL skills test, and you need 80 percent or more on each knowledge test.
Wisconsin skills tests are taken with an approved third-party tester, so schedule early. Expect a minimum two-day wait for appointments.
What are Wisconsin's four tiers of operation?
Every Wisconsin CDL holder certifies the type of driving they do. Farm and farm service drivers should know where they fit before they renew.
- Tier 1: non-excepted interstate.
- Tier 2: excepted interstate.
- Tier 3: non-excepted intrastate.
- Tier 4: excepted intrastate.
You complete form MV3230 in person at a DMV Service Center when you renew, upgrade or get a new CDL. A duplicate license is needed each time your tier changes. Drivers under 21 may not choose Tier 1 or Tier 2, because those are interstate tiers.
What are the penalties for driving without the right license?
For a first offense, operating a commercial motor vehicle without a CDL carries a fine of $200 to $600 or up to six months in jail, plus three points. Employers face a separate and much larger penalty of $2,500 to $10,000. Farm owners and managers should read that last number twice. The employer who hands over the keys is responsible for knowing whether the driver holds the right license or fits an exemption.
Wisconsin CDL exemption mistakes to avoid
- Assuming any farm job counts. Exemptions depend on who you work for and what you haul.
- Forgetting the 150-mile limit on hauling farm hazmat supplies.
- Using a Farm Service CDL for a trip outside farm service work.
- Counting on the RV exemption for a vehicle used for business.
- Not updating your tier certification when your driving changes.
Wisconsin CDL FAQ
What is the Wisconsin Farm Service CDL?
It is a restricted CDL, shown as F, that is limited to farm service work with a Class B or Class C vehicle. Applicants use form BDS201.
How many days a year can I use a Farm Service CDL in Wisconsin?
It is available to someone employed by a farm service industry for 210 days or less each calendar year.
Do I need a CDL to drive a motorhome in Wisconsin?
Recreational vehicles of 45 feet or less used non-commercially are exempt from the CDL.
What score do you need on the Wisconsin CDL knowledge test?
You need 80 percent or more on each knowledge test.
What is the penalty for driving a commercial vehicle in Wisconsin without a CDL?
A first offense carries a fine of $200 to $600 or up to six months in jail, plus three points. Employers can face $2,500 to $10,000.
Exemptions have conditions that can change, so confirm which license applies to you with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles, before you drive.