Montana CDL Pre-Trip, Skills, and Road Test Requirements
You must hold your Montana Commercial License Permit {CLP) for a minimum
of 14 days before testing.
The Montana CDL skills tests must be completed in the following order:
- Pre-trip vehicle inspection
- Basic vehicle control skills
- On-road driving
You must successfully complete each step before moving on to the next.
The test will be ended if a step is failed. You will be required to reschedule.
- Study section 11, 12, and 13 of the Montana Commercial
Driver License (CDL) Manual
- Those testing for a school bus endorsement must also study section 10
NOTE: The Montana CDL pre-trip vehicle inspection includes
the complete in-cab air brake test . The in-cab air brake test must be done
correctly; if failed, it will result in failure of the pre-trip vehicle inspection
and testing will be ended.
- Schedule an appointment
- Online at: https://dojmt.gov/driving/appointment-scheduling/
- By phone at 866 450-8034
- You must test in a vehicle representative of the license and type you are
applying for
- Montana CDL Class A drivers testing in vehicles with non-fifth wheel connections
(such as pintle hook) will receive a "no tractor trailer" restriction
- Those using automatic transmission vehicles will receive an "automatic
transmission only" restriction
- To be valid for air brakes, you must test in an air brake equipped vehicle
- When arriving for your Montana CDL test, you must present the following:
- Valid vehicle registration
- Valid vehicle registration for trailer (Class A only)
- Valid vehicle insurance card
- Your valid commercial license permit
- Your valid class D license
- If you cannot keep your appointment, you must cancel prior to the appointment.
Failure to do so will result in a $20 cancellation fee.
Your Montana CDL permit is valid for 180 days . If your permit is about to expire,
you may renew it one time before it expires . There is no cost to renew your Montanacommercial license permit. Montana CDL Pre-trip and/or skill tests passed during
the first 180 days are forfeited if the Montana CDL permit is renewed.
Please arrive 15 minutes early
and have your document s ready for verification.
Applicants arriving late or without all the required documentation may be required
to reschedule.
Montana CDL Written Knowledge Tests
You will need to pass the
Montana Knowledge
Tests that are required for the class of license, restriction, and
endorsements you wish to possess. A general knowledge test for the Class A or
Class B and C license must be successfully completed by all CDL applicants.
The information needed to pass these tests is contained in the
FREE
Montana CDL Handbook. Please read and study
this manual carefully.
- Class A - 70 Questions (50 GK + 20 Combination Vehicles) - Skills test required.
- Class B - 50 Questions - Skills test required.
- Class C - 50 Questions - Skills test required for bus, school bus and air
brakes vehicles.
- Passenger Endorsement - 20 questions - Skills test required in bus.
- School Bus Endorsement - 25 questions - Skills test required in school bus.
- Doubles/Triples Endorsement - 20 questions - No additional skills tests.
- Tank Vehicle Endorsement - 20 questions - No additional skills tests.
- Hazardous Materials Endorsement - 30 questions - No additional skills tests.
- Air Brake Restriction Removal - 25 questions - Additional skills test in vehicle with Air Brakes.
If you need help . . .
determining what Class of CDL you need based upon the type
of vehicle you will drive (A, B or C) or are not sure which CDL
Endorsements you need based upon the type of loads you will carry; use the
free CDL Selector Tool . . .
Montana
Go to CDL Selector Tool
Not sure which MT CDL Tests you need to pass? Use this tool to determine what Class of CDL and which CDL Endorsements you require.
Classes of Montana CDL and Required Tests
CDL Class |
Tests Required |
Possible Endorsements and Required Tests |
Class A
(Combination vehicle endorsement required) |
General Knowledge Written Exam
Combination Endorsement Written Exam
Road Exam |
|
Class B |
General Knowledge Written Exam
Road Exam |
|
Class C |
General Knowledge Written Exam
Road Exam
Note: If upgrading to a Class C from a Class D, no road test is required UNLESS the endorsement requires one. |
|
Montana CDL Endorsements
Exam |
Time Allowed (Minutes) |
# of Questions on Exam |
# of Correct Answers Needed to Pass |
General Knowledge |
60 |
50 |
40 |
Air Brakes |
25 |
25 |
20 |
HazMat |
30 |
30 |
24 |
Tank |
20 |
20 |
16 |
Passenger |
20 |
20 |
16 |
Doubles/Triples |
20 |
20 |
16 |
Combination Vehicles |
20 |
20 |
16 |
School Bus |
20 |
20 |
16 |
In addition to the Montana CDL (commercial driver's license) information found in our website covering the Montana CDL and in the free Montana CDL Handbook (which is quite boring and a bit confusing - and doesn't have a single multiple-choice question in it that is asked on the actual tests), the complete online
prep program will prepare you to easily pass your
Montana CDL written exams to get your Montana CDL permit. The skills test modules are invaluable to give you a head start before doing your
work, possibly saving you a lot of money. The Montana CDL test prep program includes the following features . . .