Michigan CDL Manual and Test Resources

The Michigan Commercial Driver License Manual is the primary study source for Michigan CDL applicants. It covers safe commercial driving, cargo, air brakes, combination vehicles, endorsements, vehicle inspection, basic control skills, and on-road driving.

CDL Mastery can help you organize the material and practice individual topics, but the current Michigan manual and official Secretary of State instructions should remain your final authority.

Official Michigan CDL manual

Michigan publishes the Commercial Driver License Manual online as a complete manual and as separate chapter downloads.

Open the official Michigan CDL manual

Open Michigan CDL application information

Michigan CDL manual sections

Michigan provides the complete manual and separate chapters covering the major CDL knowledge and skills-test areas.

• Section 1: Michigan CDL licensing rules, classes, endorsements, restrictions, and disqualifications.
• Section 2: Driving safely, inspections, speed, space management, hazards, emergencies, and difficult conditions.
• Section 3: Transporting cargo safely, including weight, balance, securement, and cargo inspections.
• Section 4: Transporting passengers safely.
• Section 5: Air-brake systems, warning devices, pressure, leakage checks, and safe braking.
• Section 6: Combination vehicles, coupling systems, trailer air lines, off-tracking, rollover prevention, and inspections.
• Section 7: Doubles and triples, converter dollies, coupling, stability, and inspection.
• Section 8: Tank vehicles, liquid surge, outage, vehicle control, and inspection.
• Section 9: Hazardous materials, placards, shipping papers, loading, parking, security, and emergencies.
• Section 10: School buses, student loading, warning systems, railroad crossings, and emergency procedures.
• Sections 11 through 13: Vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control skills, and on-road driving.

Michigan CDL groups

Michigan refers to its major commercial license classifications as Group A, Group B, and Group C.

• Group A: Generally covers qualifying vehicle combinations with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more when the towed vehicle exceeds 10,000 pounds.
• Group B: Generally covers qualifying single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more and certain vehicles towing 10,000 pounds or less.
• Group C: Covers certain vehicles outside Group A or B that require passenger, school bus, or hazardous-material qualifications.

Michigan commercial learner’s permit

First-time CDL applicants and drivers seeking certain upgrades or endorsements must obtain a commercial learner’s permit before completing the applicable skills test.

After obtaining the CLP, the applicant must practice under the supervision of a properly licensed CDL holder for at least 14 days before taking the driving skills test.

The Michigan application process generally includes:

1. Hold a valid Michigan driver’s license.
2. Schedule a Secretary of State office visit.
3. Provide the required identity and legal-presence documents.
4. Provide proof of Michigan residency.
5. Complete CDL self-certification.
6. Meet applicable medical-certification requirements.
7. Pass the vision examination.
8. Pass all applicable CDL knowledge tests.
9. Receive the commercial learner’s permit.
10. Hold and use the permit for at least 14 days before skills testing.

Review Michigan CDL application steps

Michigan CDL knowledge tests

Michigan administers CDL knowledge tests at computer testing stations. A minimum score of 80 percent is required on each test.

• Group A: A 70-question general knowledge test and a 20-question combination vehicles test.
• Group B and Group C: A 50-question general knowledge test.
• Air Brakes: A 25-question test when the driver plans to operate an air-brake equipped vehicle.
• Tank, Passenger, School Bus, and Double Trailer: A 20-question test for each endorsement.
• Hazardous Materials: A 30-question endorsement test.

Michigan allows only one test per day from each testing category. Applicants should study the official manual rather than rely only on memorized practice questions.

Entry-Level Driver Training

Federal Entry-Level Driver Training applies to many applicants seeking a first Group A or Group B CDL, upgrading from Group B to Group A, or obtaining a first-time HazMat, passenger, or school bus endorsement.

For most affected CDL classes and endorsements, applicants may complete the knowledge tests and obtain a CLP first, but must complete ELDT before scheduling the skills test.

First-time HazMat applicants must complete the required ELDT before taking the HazMat knowledge test.

Michigan verifies ELDT completion electronically through the federal training system.

Search the FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Michigan CDL medical certification

CDL applicants and holders must self-certify the type of commercial operation they perform or expect to perform. The selected category determines whether a Medical Examiner’s Certificate is required.

Since June 14, 2025, Michigan checks the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners when issuing a CLP or CDL to drivers certifying as non-excepted interstate.

Michigan states that Medical Examiner’s Certificates are accepted electronically from the National Registry rather than as routine paper submissions.

Review Michigan CDL medical-certification requirements

Michigan CDL skills test

Michigan CDL skills testing is conducted through public and private driver testing businesses approved by the state.

The test consists of:

• Pre-trip vehicle inspection: identifying safety-critical components and explaining what is being checked.
• Basic vehicle control skills: demonstrating required low-speed control and backing maneuvers.
• On-road driving skills: demonstrating safe operation in traffic and roadway situations.

Before scheduling the test, applicants must satisfy applicable ELDT requirements. Michigan states that the test must be scheduled at least two days before the applicant is eligible to test.

Skills-test prices vary because Michigan does not establish a single statewide fee for driver testing businesses.

Skills-test results remain valid for one year. Applicants who do not obtain the CDL within that period may need to repeat required testing.

Find Michigan CDL testing information

Representative vehicle and restrictions

The vehicle used during the skills test affects the class, endorsements, and restrictions shown on the Michigan CDL.

• Testing without a full air-brake system can result in an air-brake restriction.
• Testing in an automatic-transmission vehicle can result in a manual-transmission restriction.
• Testing in a vehicle that does not represent the desired tractor-trailer configuration can result in a combination-vehicle restriction.
• Passenger and school bus testing must use an appropriate representative vehicle.

Michigan CDL endorsements

Michigan offers endorsements based on the vehicle and cargo involved.

• T: Double or triple trailers. Michigan notes that triple-trailer combinations are not permitted in the state.
• P: Passenger vehicles designed to carry 16 or more people, including the driver.
• N: Tank vehicles transporting qualifying bulk liquids or liquefied gases.
• H: Hazardous materials requiring placards.
• X: Combined tank and hazardous-materials endorsement.
• S: School bus operation.

Michigan HazMat endorsement

A hazardous materials endorsement requires additional state and federal steps beyond a standard CDL.

The process may include:

• First-time HazMat Entry-Level Driver Training.
• Passing the Michigan HazMat knowledge test.
• Providing proof of citizenship or qualifying legal presence.
• Completing TSA fingerprinting and a security threat assessment.
• Maintaining the required medical and CDL qualifications.

ELDT must be completed before a first-time HazMat applicant takes the knowledge test.

Review Michigan HazMat endorsement requirements

Passenger and school bus endorsements

Passenger and school bus applicants must pass the applicable knowledge tests, obtain the proper CLP endorsements, complete required ELDT, and pass a skills test in a representative vehicle.

School bus applicants should study both the Passenger Vehicles and School Buses sections of the Michigan CDL manual.

Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

Michigan checks the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before completing certain CLP and CDL transactions, including issuance, renewal, transfer, and upgrade.

A driver with a prohibited Clearinghouse status cannot operate a commercial motor vehicle and may lose commercial licensing privileges until the federal return-to-duty process is completed.

Open the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

Military CDL waiver

Eligible military service members and veterans with recent experience operating military vehicles equivalent to commercial vehicles may qualify for a waiver or even exchange of certain CDL knowledge and driving skills tests.

Applicants must meet Michigan and federal eligibility requirements and provide the required military documentation.

How to study the Michigan CDL manual

1. Choose your CDL group. Determine whether you need Group A, B, or C.
2. Identify every endorsement. List HazMat, Tank, Passenger, School Bus, or Double Trailers.
3. Study Driving Safely first. Build your foundation in inspections, speed, space, hazards, and emergencies.
4. Add Air Brakes when applicable. Learn the components, warning devices, pressure rules, leakage limits, and inspection sequence.
5. Add Combination Vehicles for Group A. Focus on coupling, trailer air systems, rollover prevention, off-tracking, and inspections.
6. Study endorsements separately. Keep HazMat, Tank, Passenger, School Bus, and Double Trailers in focused sessions.
7. Practice by topic. Use missed questions to identify the exact manual section that needs review.
8. Prepare separately for skills testing. Practice the inspection aloud, basic control maneuvers, and safe road-driving habits in a representative vehicle.

Michigan CDL preparation checklist

• Read the current Michigan CDL Manual.
• Confirm your CDL group and endorsements.
• Prepare identity, legal-presence, and residency documents.
• Complete CDL self-certification.
• Confirm whether medical certification is required.
• Check whether ELDT applies.
• Pass all required knowledge tests with at least 80 percent.
• Obtain and hold the CLP for at least 14 days.
• Practice the pre-trip inspection aloud.
• Practice basic vehicle control maneuvers.
• Schedule an approved Michigan CDL skills test.
• Return to a Secretary of State office after passing.

Related CDL Mastery guides

• CDL Permit Test Beginner Guide
• CDL General Knowledge Test Study Guide
• CDL Air Brakes Study Guide
• CDL Combination Vehicles Study Guide
• Pre-Trip Inspection Study Method
• Who Needs Entry-Level Driver Training?