CDL Day Returns to State Fairgrounds in Columbia

September 14, 2023

On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will host CDL Day at the State Fairgrounds, located at 1200 Rosewood Drive in Columbia.

This is the agency’s day dedicated to commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), to include walk-in testing services for both commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) and CDLs. Limited services will be available for motor carrier customers.

The event will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Events such as CDL Day are a way for SCDMV to help South Carolina keep up with growing demands,” said Kevin Shwedo, Executive Director of the SCDMV. “We are glad to be able to offer this opportunity to do something to support the needs of commercial drivers and the trucking industry. 

“They play a vital part in keeping the state’s economy moving,” Shwedo said.

Customers looking to obtain a CLP will be able to apply for and take the required knowledge exam on site. 

Customers will also be able to apply for and take the skills test for a CDL if the applicant completes the pre-trip inspection and meets all other CDL requirements.

Any applicant who has held a commercial learners permit for 14 days and wishes to obtain a CDL must: successfully complete Entry Level Driver Training, have a medical card or exemption letter, Social Security verification, and a completed eye exam.

The applicant also must have all necessary vehicle and trailer registrations, vehicle inspections, and valid DOT cards available. 

To have a license issued on site, the applicant must successfully complete the pre-trip, basic skills and road portions of the test, to include Entry Level Driver Training if applicable. ELDT will not be provided by the agency, however. 

Those wishing to take a skills test will have to provide their own vehicle; the SCDMV will not have vehicles to use.

Examiners will be conducting the legacy CDL test, not the modernized test that has been rolled out at two branch offices so far.

SCDMV staff will answer questions from motor carrier customers regarding the completion of International Registration Plan (IRP) and International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) applications.

“This event offers a major opportunity for those joining the trucking industry to take their next steps,” said Courtney Saxon, Director of Branch Services. “Our staff members are glad to be able to help them become the industry’s new generation of skilled personnel.”

The entrance on Rosewood Drive will serve as the check-in location. From the check-in location, customers who are applying for a CLP will be directed to the testing area to complete a knowledge test. Motor carrier customers looking to renew an IRP application, pay a tax return, or update other information will also be directed to the correct location.

Customers applying for a CDL will be directed to the pre-trip inspection area and will receive further directions to the CDL skills test area after the pre-trip has been completed.
For questions about the event, email CDLFair@scdmv.net.