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SC DMVCommercial Driving Schools
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Non-Commercial Driving Schools
Application Process for a Commercial Driving School
If you're interested in opening and operating a commercial driver training school to train drivers on operating vehicles that are at least 26,001 pounds, you must follow certain state and federal regulations to become a school. To start, you must complete an application and provide all of the following documents:
- List of all road training vehicles (listed on application) accompanied by current registration and if leased, a valid lease agreement (must meet the requirements under FMCSA 376.12);
- List of managers or owner-operators of the truck driver training school or branch office accompanied by certified national criminal background check for each;
- Proof of liability insurance;
- Surety Bond;
- Sample copies of all student contracts (must meet requirements under 90-113, 90-119, and 90-120);
- Sample of all catalogs;
- Check or money order of $50.00 for school license;
- List of all branch office locations and hours of operation;
- Copies of contracts if partnering with another entity (must meet or exceed all state and or federal regulations);
- List of courses offered by the school as defined under 90-108;
- For renewals, a drug and alcohol summary for the previous calendar year (FMCSA 382.403)
Mail the completed documents to:
SCDMV
Office of Inspector General
PO Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016-0015
Call the Office of Inspector General at 803-896-9606 if you have any questions.
Application to be a Commercial Driver Training Instructor
If you're interested in becoming a commercial driver training instructor, you must complete an application and provide all of the following documents, based on which type of instruction you plan to offer.
Behind-the-Wheel instructors must provide:
- Commercial Driver Instructor Permit Application (Form CDL/DI-34)
- Affidavit of Eligibility (Form AD-808A)
- Certified Nationwide Criminal Background check no more than 90-days old
- Valid Medical Certificate
- Proof of two years of driving experience
- $20 License Fee (per instructor)
Classroom Only instructors must provide:
- Commercial Driver Instructor Permit Application (Form CDL/DI-34)
- Affidavit of Eligibility (Form AD-808A)
- Certification on school letterhead annotating qualifications
- $20 License Fee (per instructor)
Mail the completed documents, along with a check or money order for the full amount to:
SCDMV
Office of Inspector General
PO Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016-0015
Finding Commercial Driver Training
Customers looking to be trained by a commercial driver training school can visit Truck Driver Training Schools for a complete list of SCDMV-licensed CDL training schools.
Customer who are looking to obtain a commercial driver's license after February 7, 2022 may need to complete an FMCSA approved Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) program to be eligible to take a CDL skills test.
Find out more about ELDT for commercial driver's licenses and permits. Any entity that is providing training must register with FMCSA's Training Provider Registry to be able to continue training potential commercial drivers.
SC Code Section 56-23-10