Missouri ‘modernizes’ CDL services, testing

Missouri is one of the latest states to “modernize” its CDL testing.

In early October, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Department of Revenue announced the upcoming changes. The agencies said the testing modifications will include “a more streamlined pre-trip examination and more efficient basic skills course.”

Dennis Richardson, assistant director of the highway patrol’s Driver Vehicle Safety Division, said the new procedures were “designed to be more in line with what drivers do on a daily basis” and would place an emphasis on “critical safety items.”

Richardson said that while changes have been made to the pre-trip and basic skills portion of the CDL testing, the on-road test will not change.

The new testing standards are scheduled to take effect on Dec. 4 and will be utilized by CDL examiners at all MSHP examination sites, as well as all third-party testing sites across the state.

The MSHP added that federal guidelines require CDL applicants to pass the pre-trip and basic skills examinations using the same testing model. Due to this requirement, any applicant who passes the pre-trip test under the previous CDL testing procedure must pass the basic skills test using that same testing procedure to be eligible for the road test.

For drivers who will complete their skills test after the new standards take effect, a copy of the most recently revised Missouri CDL manual can be found online here.

When it comes to CDL testing, the term “modernize” has been tossed around multiple times over the past year or so.

In August 2022, Maryland made updates to its testing process following participation in a three-state pilot program implemented by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on March 1 of that year. New Hampshire and Virginia also participated in the program. LL