CDL & Hazardous Material Endorsements

Department Driver's License

Parent Page Treasurer's Office - Driver's License

Internal Department No content items.

Federal regulations require you to bring proof of citizenship or lawful presence to renew your Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Find out more about what documentation will assist in proving citizenship or lawful presence by visiting the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) website.

CDL Written Tests

The Driver's License Office provides CDL written tests on Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Many of the tests are time consuming. Applicants are encouraged to come into the office as early in the day as possible because the Driver's License Office is busiest at the end of the day and there may not be sufficient time to complete the test.

Adding CDL Endorsements to Iowa Driver's Licenses

Hardin County can add the CDL endorsement to your Iowa Driver's License if you've passed the CDL written test and completed a CDL skills drive test at another location. CDL endorsements expire on the expiration date with no 60-day grace period.

CDL Manuals

Copies of the Iowa Commercial Driver's License Manual are available in the Hardin County Treasurer's Office or available on the Iowa DOT website.

CDL Drive Skills Test

The Iowa CDL drive skills test is available at the following locations in the area:

Ames 515-296-2393
Ankeny 515-244-8725
Fort Dodge 515-573-5141
Marshalltown641-752-5668
Mason City641-423-8391
Waterloo319-235-0902

Please check with each location for testing days and times. You must bring your current driver's license with you for any testing or driver's license changes.

Hazardous Material Endorsement

Applicants are required to provide either a certified birth certificate or valid U.S. Passport when adding the hazardous materials endorsement to your driver's license. You do not, however, need your certified birth certificate or valid U.S. Passport to take the test.

For more information on hazardous material endorsements, visit the Iowa DOT website

Quick Links

View All Links

FAQs

Who needs to certify their commercial driver’s license (CDL) and how do I certify?

Federal regulations require all CDL holders and applicants to certify how they operate their commercial motor vehicle whenever they renew, upgrade, or obtain a CDL for the first time.

A CDL holder must certify to one of four categories that apply to the type of driving they do. To learn which category applies to you, visit the

Iowa Department of Transportation website.

How can I change my certification?

To change your certification category, please visit a driver’s license issuance site to complete a new certification form.

Drivers that certify to intrastate driving are required to have a restriction placed on their license (“K” restriction). Changing your certification category may require the addition or the removal of this restriction on your driver’s license.

Where can I get a physical examination?

Medical certificates issued on or after May 21, 2014, must be issued by a medical professional listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. This means that a commercial driver who is renewing or obtaining a new medical certificate on or after May 21, 2014, must be examined by a medical professional listed on the national registry.

Medical examiners must complete training and pass a certification examination required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to become certified.

To learn more about the national registry and search for a certified medical examiner, visit the United States Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website.

If my chosen medical examiner does not have the appropriate forms, where can the forms be obtained?

For more information, or to download the files, visit our Medical Examiner Forms page.

What will happen if I remain a nonexcepted interstate driver, but fail to renew my Medical Examiner's Certificate?

The Iowa DOT is required to downgrade your CDL to a noncommercial privilege. This downgrade will happen after advance notice. However, the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) will be notified immediately. Your physical qualification status in CDLIS will be changed to “not certified.”

Law enforcement officers routinely check CDLIS, so you could be taken out-of-service if operating in non-excepted interstate commerce with an expired Medical Examiner’s Certificate.

It is important to renew your certificate and provide a copy to the Iowa Department of Transportation before it expires.

When do farm drivers have to meet physical qualifications?

To best determine the answer to this question we have provided a helpful physical qualifications guide.

Do I need a CDL?

To best determine if you need a CDL, you can answer a few questions and view the Iowa Department of Transportation's CDL Reference Guide (PDF).

What do I need to get a CDL?

We have compiled a list of all of the requirements on our Getting a CDL page.

Do I need a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP)?

You will need a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) if you are: - Applying for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for the first time. - Upgrading your existing CDL and the upgrade requires a skills (driving) test.

You must hold a CLP for at least 14 days before you can complete the required skills (driving) test.

For more information, visit the Iowa Department of Transportation website.

View All FAQ

Contact Us

Driver's License Office

Physical Address

1215 Edgington Avenue
Eldora, IA 50627

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 391 Eldora, IA 50627-0391

Phone: 641-939-8238

Fax: 641-939-8245

Hours

Monday - Friday
08:00 AM - 04:15 PM

Staff

Machel Eichmeier

Treasurer

Phone : (641) 939-8232

Sherry Simons

Drivers License Deputy

Phone : (641) 939-8238

No written tests will be allowed to begin after 3:30 p.m.

All services are by appointment only.

Drive Skills Test Hours

By Appointment Only

Treasurer Directory

Property Tax Directory

Motor Vehicle Directory

Driver's License Directory