Michigan CDL Cost: Training, Fees, and Endorsements

A first-time Class A commercial driver’s license in Michigan costs roughly $5,200 to $5,800 all in, and tuition at a required training school accounts for almost all of it. The fees the Secretary of State charges are small — well under $100 for a standard CDL with one endorsement — but a Michigan CDL cost estimate has to include the training program, the DOT physical, and the skills test fee charged by a private examiner. A Class B license runs considerably less, mostly because the training course is shorter.

Training Is the Largest Expense

Since February 2022, first-time Class A or Class B applicants have to complete Entry-Level Driver Training through an FMCSA-registered provider before they can take the knowledge or skills tests.1FMCSA. Entry-Level Driver Training Michigan does not regulate what schools charge, so tuition varies.

Published Class A tuition at several Michigan programs:

  • Northern Michigan University: $4,850 for a four-to-five-week program.2Northern Michigan University. CDL Program
  • Lake Michigan College (with Regen Trucking School): $4,900 for a three-week, 160-hour course.3Lake Michigan College. Commercial Drivers License
  • Trainco: $4,995.4Trainco. Tuition
  • Kirtland Community College and Mid Michigan College: $5,200.5Kirtland Community College. CDL6Mid Michigan College. CDL

Tuition usually covers classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel training, and a textbook. Mid Michigan College’s price also includes one attempt at the state road test.6Mid Michigan College. CDL The DOT physical, drug screen, and the permit fee are typically your responsibility.3Lake Michigan College. Commercial Drivers License These programs are not eligible for federal financial aid through FAFSA.2Northern Michigan University. CDL Program

Secretary of State Fees

The state’s charges are the smallest line items in the whole process:

  • Commercial Learner’s Permit: $25.7Michigan Secretary of State. CDL License Information
  • New photo license: $18 for a standard CDL, or $33 if you hold an enhanced license.8Michigan Secretary of State. Commercial Drivers License
  • License correction fee after passing the skills test: $9.9Michigan Secretary of State. CDL Apply
  • Endorsement fee: $5 each.9Michigan Secretary of State. CDL Apply

The CDL application page lists permit, endorsement, and license fees but does not itemize a separate charge for the written knowledge tests given at Secretary of State offices.9Michigan Secretary of State. CDL Apply

DOT Physical

Every CDL applicant operating interstate or in other non-exempt categories has to hold a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate, issued by a practitioner on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. Michigan does not set the price; the exam is done by private providers and typically runs about $75 to $150. Updating your medical certificate with the Secretary of State is free, though switching your classification from interstate to intrastate-only carries an $18 correction fee.10Michigan Secretary of State. CDL Medical Certificates

Skills Test Fee

Michigan does not administer the CDL driving skills test itself. Private driver testing businesses with agreements with the Department of State run the tests and set their own prices, which are not regulated by law.11Michigan Secretary of State. Driver Testing Businesses and Examiners Expect roughly $150 to $250 per attempt. Semi Academy charges $180 for a Class A test and $150 for a Class B.12Semi Academy. CDL Testing Same Day Road Test charges $175.13Same Day Road Test. CDL Road Test If you need to rent the test vehicle, add another $100 to $175 per day depending on the class.

HazMat Endorsement Costs Extra

A hazardous materials endorsement adds costs on top of the $5 state endorsement fee. Applicants have to pass a TSA security threat assessment that involves fingerprinting at a TSA-approved enrollment center. The fee is $85.25, or $41 for applicants who already hold a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential in a state that accepts the TWIC threat assessment.14TSA. Hazmat Endorsement The fee is non-refundable, the assessment is good for five years, and TSA recommends starting at least 60 days ahead because processing can take 30 to 60 days.15Michigan Secretary of State. Commercial Drivers License CDL FAQ

Putting the Numbers Together

A realistic breakdown for a first-time Class A applicant in Michigan:

  • Training program: $4,850–$5,200
  • Commercial Learner’s Permit: $25
  • DOT physical and drug screen: about $100–$200
  • Skills test: $150–$250
  • Secretary of State photo license, endorsement, and license correction: roughly $32–$57 depending on endorsements and license type

That lands most people between $5,200 and $5,800 for a Class A. Adding a hazmat endorsement pushes the total up by another $85 or so for the TSA background check.

Class B Costs Less

If you only need a Class B, the training bill is much smaller. Northern Michigan University charges $2,650 for a one-week course,2Northern Michigan University. CDL Program and Kirtland Community College charges $2,200 for its bus-driving CDL-B training.5Kirtland Community College. CDL The state fees, physical, and skills test are the same.

Ways to Cut the Cost

Several programs can offset tuition, and some cover it entirely:

  • Michigan Works! agencies offer classroom training scholarships based on financial need and funding availability, and CDL training qualifies as a high-demand occupation. You have to complete the FAFSA and enroll in a program listed on Michigan Training Connect. Michigan CDL schools note that this funding can significantly reduce or fully cover tuition.16Michigan Works!. Funding Opportunities3Lake Michigan College. Commercial Drivers License
  • The Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship pays up to $4,000, disbursed at up to $2,000 per year for up to two years, toward eligible career training.17Michigan Student Aid. Career Training
  • WIOA funding through Michigan Works! prioritizes veterans, public assistance recipients, and low-income applicants.18Michigan LEO. WIOA Adult Program
  • The MDOT Trucking Tuition Voucher pays trainees in the department’s On-the-Job Training program in two installments, 50% at course start and 50% on completion.19Michigan Department of Transportation. OJT Program Trucking Tuition Voucher
  • Veterans can use GI Bill benefits at VA-approved schools, including under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31). Northern Michigan University’s program is approved for all VA benefits, including vocational rehabilitation.20Midwest Truck Driving School. Veteran CDL Training2Northern Michigan University. CDL Program
  • The Going PRO Talent Fund reimburses Michigan employers up to $2,000 per employee for classroom training and up to $3,500 per apprentice annually, and some trucking companies use it to subsidize CDL training for new hires.21West Michigan Works!. Employers Awarded State Training Funds

Between employer sponsorship, state scholarships, and Michigan Works! funding, it is realistic for an eligible applicant to pay very little out of pocket for the training, leaving only the few hundred dollars of fees, the physical, and the skills test.