How long does cdl truck driver training take in Minnesota?

Most people become a CDL Truck Driver in Minnesota through FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years.

Do CDL truck drivers need a license in Minnesota?

Yes. Minnesota requires state-level licensing or registration for CDL truck drivers, administered by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in Minnesota (2026)

Q: How much do CDL truck drivers earn in Minnesota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), CDL truck drivers in Minnesota earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,990.

Q: What is the job outlook for CDL truck drivers in Minnesota?

Minnesota currently employs approximately 38,770 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Minnesota employs about 38,770 CDL truck drivers earning a median $61,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a CDL Truck Driver here means completing FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years, then applying through Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Key Facts

Median wage (Minnesota): $61,990/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Minnesota: 38,770 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.99x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 4.0% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)
Licensing/credentialing body: Minnesota Department of Public Safety (Source: State licensing agency, 2025)

Compare CDL Truck Driver Schools in Minnesota

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Alexandria Technical & Community College	74.5	Contact school for pricing	$59,377	Not reported	Yes*	100 mi
2	Fox Valley Technical College	67.6	$5,040 - $16,862	$55,857	63%	Yes*	255 mi
3	Moraine Park Technical College	66.9	$4,819 - $14,583	$53,771	54%	Yes*	270 mi
4	Northwood Technical College	66.6	Contact school for pricing	$49,705	54%	Yes*	83 mi
5	Northland Community and Technical College	63.6	Contact school for pricing	$54,671	52%	Yes*	231 mi
6	Gogebic Community College	61.7	Contact school for pricing	$51,213	34%	Yes*	176 mi
7	Chippewa Valley Technical College	61.2	Contact school for pricing	$57,493	48%	Yes*	102 mi
8	Lake Superior College	61.0	$5,785 - $19,723	$57,665	40%	Yes*	117 mi
9	Riverland Community College	59.3	Contact school for pricing	$49,768	53%	Yes*	118 mi
10	Northcentral Technical College	57.8	Contact school for pricing	$50,869	47%	Yes*	187 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Minnesota employs approximately 38,770 CDL truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,990 ¹. Nationally, cdl truck driver employment is projected to grow 4.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 237,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a CDL Truck Driver in Minnesota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: ELDT from a Training Provider Registry school (find programs)
Typical timeline: FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years
Licensing authority: Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Exam: state CDL skills test
Median wage (Minnesota): $61,990 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in Minnesota

How to become a CDL Truck Driver in Minnesota? Complete FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years. Apply through Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

How long does it take? Most people finish FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years. Confirm current hour totals with the program and Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Do I need a license in Minnesota? Yes. Minnesota credentials this role through Minnesota Department of Public Safety ³. See the licensing section below.

What do CDL truck drivers earn in Minnesota? The median annual wage for CDL truck drivers in Minnesota is $61,990 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,910 and experienced professionals can earn $81,830 or more ¹.

How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in Minnesota

Meet age, record, and medical rules. Interstate CDL driving is generally 21 and up; many states allow intrastate CDL at 18. Pass a DOT medical exam from an NRCME examiner.
Complete FMCSA ELDT. Take Entry-Level Driver Training from a school on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Get a CLP and pass the skills test. Earn a commercial learner’s permit, practice, then pass the skills test at the state driver-license office.
Receive the CDL and endorsements. The state issues the CDL. Add endorsements the job needs. Confirm current rules with the state DMV, not a parent transportation agency homepage.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in Minnesota

CDL truck drivers in Minnesota complete FMCSA ELDT, pass a DOT medical exam, and earn a state-issued CDL. This is a weeks-long path, not a multi-year apprenticeship. See Minnesota Department of Public Safety ³.

Typical path

Meet age, record, and DOT medical rules.
Complete ELDT on the Training Provider Registry.
Get a CLP and pass the skills test.
Receive the CDL and needed endorsements from the state DMV.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Minnesota Department of Public Safety before you enroll.

CDL Truck Driver Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers wages in Minnesota vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	20,430	$64,200	$66,500	$48,080	$83,410
Fargo	3,570	$58,900	$59,770	$40,870	$78,350
Sioux Falls	2,540	$60,820	$60,270	$44,730	$74,630
St. Cloud	2,140	$61,960	$63,900	$45,640	$81,380
La Crosse-Onalaska	2,100	$60,300	$63,330	$47,000	$81,470
Duluth	2,050	$60,970	$63,360	$46,510	$81,430
Rochester	1,260	$62,180	$64,620	$45,340	$93,490
Grand Forks	1,100	$59,360	$62,160	$47,440	$89,870
Mankato	740	$60,070	$63,720	$45,640	$93,650

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for CDL truck drivers in Minnesota? Minnesota currently employs approximately 38,770 CDL truck drivers ¹. Nationally, cdl truck driver employment is projected to grow 4.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a cdl truck driver in Minnesota with an out-of-state license? Contact the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Minnesota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Minnesota.

How much do CDL truck drivers earn in Minnesota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for CDL truck drivers in Minnesota is $61,990, which is $4,550 above the national median of $57,440 according to BLS data ¹.

In Minnesota

Best Trade Schools in Minnesota (2026)

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Minnesota Department of Public Safety - Licensing Information: https://dps.mn.gov/Pages/default.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)