Illinois to offer Spanish CDL exams to attract non-English speaking truck and school bus drivers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that CDL tests will now be offered in Spanish, in an effort to train more truck and bus drivers throughout the state.

Study guides for the exam will be translated into Spanish as well.

“Offering the CDL test in Spanish is one of the many steps our office is taking to ensure our services are as accessible and inclusive as possible,” Giannoulias said. “This change will help qualified individuals whose primary language is Spanish to become licensed drivers and will help us address school bus and truck driver shortages across the state while maintaining stringent testing standards.”

Illinois is now one of over 20 states that offer the CDL test in Spanish.

Giannoulias said the effort is meant to address a larger shortage of CDL drivers, including school bus drivers, and assist farmers who rely on temporary agricultural workers.

All CDL applicants must have U.S. citizenship, legal permanent residency status, or be a non-domiciled driver.

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