Wisconsin Commercial Driver’s Manual - May 2026 - Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) and CDL Safety

Sep 18, 2026

Wisconsin Commercial Driver’s Manual (May 2026) provides training and study guidance for commercial driver license applicants and licensed drivers. It outlines entry-level requirements, CDL rules and exemptions, medical documentation and standards, and testing and skills expectations. The manual also covers safe driving practices across many scenarios, including vehicle inspection, speed and space management, hazards and distracted driving, and emergency procedures. Later sections address transporting cargo and passengers safely, air brakes, combination vehicles, doubles and triples, tank vehicles, hazardous materials, and school bus requirements.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages232

Reading Time9 h 45 min

AccessFree to download

Preliminary Information

Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements

What CDL do I need?

What are the CMV classifications?

What are endorsements and restrictions?

Social Security number and citizenship requirements

Commercial driver license medical requirements

Federal medical standards frequently asked questions

Warnings and penalties

Identifying human trafficking

Part One

Section 1: Introduction

Section 2: Driving Safely

Part Two

Section 3: Transporting Cargo Safely

Section 4: Transporting Passengers Safely

Section 5: Air Brakes

Section 6: Combination Vehicles

Section 7: Doubles and Triples

Section 8: Tank Vehicles

Section 9: Hazardous Materials

Section 10: School Buses

WISCONSIN Commercial Driver’s Manual May 2026 [wisconsindot.gov](wisconsindot.gov) CONTENTS Women and youth are forced into prostitution along our nation’s highways . You can help. Everyday Heroes Needed Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, where traffickers use force, fraud and coercion to control their victims. It can occur in many locations, including truck stops, hotels, restaurants, rest areas, brothels, strip clubs, private homes, etc . Any minor engaged in commercial sex is a victim of human trafficking. Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) has been working with members of the transportation industry since 2009 to provide the needed training and tools to enable members of these key industries to both recognize and report human trafficking when they see it happening. TAT has wallet cards with red flags to look for, questions to ask if you suspect someone is a victim and actionable information to report. This wallet card is available by app, from the appropriate app store, [or by emailing](or by emailing info@truckersagainsttrafficking.org)[ info@truckersagainsttrafficking.org](or by emailing info@truckersagainsttrafficking.org)[ ](or by emailing info@truckersagainsttrafficking.org)[TAT also provides a powerful](TAT also provides a powerful), 26-minute video on its website ([www.truckersagainsttrafficking.org](www.truckersagainsttrafficking.org)), with, when watched along with taking and passing a short test, certifies drivers as TAT-Trained, a designation which can go on your resume. Because professional drivers often find themselves in locations frequented and exploited by human traffickers, they’re in a unique position to recognize the signs of human trafficking and make the call that can lead to victim recovery and perpetrator arrests. Order wallet card: Scan this QR code to download on Apple devices Scan this QR code to download on Android devices Make the Call, Save Lives. Call 911 to report human trafficking! For victim services call the national hotline: 1-888-373-7888 (US) 1-833-900-1010 (Canada) [www.truckersagainsttrafficking.org](www.truckersagainsttrafficking.org) COVER 2 CONTENTS CONTENTS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION 6 Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements 6 What is an Entry Level Driver Training provider and where can I find one? 6 Are any drivers exempt from Entry Level Driver Training requirements? 6 Wisconsin information 7 Federal information 7 What should I study in this manual? 8 What CDL do I need? 9 What are the CMV classifications? 9 Who is exempt from CDL licensing in Wisconsin? 12 What are endorsements? 13 What is a CDL restriction? 13 Social Security number requirement 14 Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal status requirement 14 What is interstate commerce? 14 What is intrastate commerce? 14 Commercial Learner Permit (CLP) 15 Skills testing 15 School bus “S” endorsement 16 Hazardous materials “H” endorsement 17 Farm service CDL 18 Commercial driver license medical requirements 19 Who was grandfathered from federal medical standards? 20 Who is exempt from federal medical standards? 20 Federal medical standards frequently asked questions 21 Warnings and penalties 23 Identifying human trafficking 24 PART ONE 26 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION 26 1.1 Commercial driver license tests 26 1.2 Medical documentation requirements 28 1.3 CDL disqualifications 30 1.4 Other CDL rules 30 1.5 International Registration Plan (IRP) and International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) 31 SECTION 2: DRIVING SAFELY 32 2.1 Vehicle inspection 32 2.2 Basic control of your vehicle 42 2.3 Shifting gears 44 2.4 Seeing 46 2.5 Communicating 48 2.6 Controlling speed 51 2.7 Managing space 54 2.8 Seeing hazards 61 2.9 Distracted driving 66 2.10 Aggressive drivers/road rage 69 2.11 Night driving and driver fatigue 71 2.12 Driving in fog 75 2.13 Driving in winter 75 2.14 Driving in very hot weather 78 2.15 Railroad–highway crossings 79 2.16 Mountain driving 82 2.17 Driving emergencies 84 2.1

FAQs

What is Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) and what does it cover?

The manual includes an ELDT section that describes ELDT requirements and how to find an ELDT provider, along with whether any drivers are exempt.

What medical and documentation requirements apply to CDL licensing in Wisconsin?

It covers commercial driver license medical requirements, including grandfathered and exempt groups, and includes federal medical standards frequently asked questions plus warnings and penalties.

How does the manual address identifying human trafficking and what should drivers do?

It explains that human trafficking involves force, fraud, and coercion, notes that minors engaged in commercial sex are victims, and urges drivers to recognize signs, use resources provided by Truckers Against Trafficking, and call 911 to report trafficking.

Sep 18, 2026

Upload by eBook King