Secretary of State Extends Expiration Dates for CDLs, CLPs

BY KAY SHIPMAN, FARMWEEK 

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced Tuesday he is extending until Jan. 31 the expiration dates for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and commercial learner permits (CLPs), according to Rodney Knittel, Illinois Farm Bureau assistant director of transportation and infrastructure.

Earlier, White announced all Secretary of State departments, including driver services facilities, would be closed for in-person transactions Jan. 3-17 because of increased COVID cases. All facilities are scheduled to reopen Jan. 18. Online services remain available. He also extended March 31 all non-CDL drivers’ license and ID card expiration dates.

In a Jan. 3 statement, White said, “Given the impact the two-week closure of facilities will have on the trucking industry, I have directed my staff to implement an emergency rule change, effective immediately, to extend expiration dates for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) to Jan. 31, 2022.”

The extension applies to CDLs and CLPs expiring between Nov. 1, 2021, and Jan. 31, 2022. Knittel urged any drivers driving out of state to contact those states where they will travel to make sure there is reciprocity with the state of Illinois’ extension. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration allows states to extend the expiration date, but does not require them to do it.

Knittel added no extension has been announced regarding the Feb. 7 deadline for the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirement. He reminded Farm Bureau members who want to get a CDL without going through the ELDT, they need to pass the written exam before Feb. 7 to get a CLP.