Illinois DSD CDTS 90 Form: CDL Branch Addendum Guide – Businesses, municipalities, fire departments, and other organizations in the United States that participate in Illinois’ Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Third-Party Certification Program often need to expand operations. When adding a branch office, one essential document is the Illinois Secretary of State Form DSD CDTS 90. This official form serves as the Branch Office Addendum to the primary Agreement Between the Illinois Secretary of State and a Commercial Driver’s License Third-Party Certification Entity.
Understanding and properly completing Form DSD CDTS 90 helps certified entities maintain compliance with state and federal CDL testing standards while expanding testing locations. This guide explains the form’s purpose, who must use it, how to complete it, related requirements, and how to submit it — using information from official Illinois Secretary of State sources.
What Is Illinois Secretary of State Form DSD CDTS 90?
Form DSD CDTS 90 is an official one-page legal addendum issued by the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department, Commercial Driver Training Section. Printed by authority of the State of Illinois in September 2021 (DSD CDTS 90.1), it formally extends an existing Third-Party Certification Agreement to cover an additional branch office location.
The form documents that the Illinois Secretary of State and the named Third-Party Certification Entity agree to apply the terms of the original agreement (typically Form DSD CDTS 77) to the new branch site. It includes fields for the effective date, the entity’s name and location, and signature blocks for both the entity official and a Secretary of State official.
You can download the official PDF directly from the Illinois Secretary of State website: https://www.ilsos.gov/content/dam/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_cdts90.pdf.
Purpose of the Branch Office Addendum
The primary purpose of Form DSD CDTS 90 is to legally authorize a licensed Third-Party Certification Entity to conduct CDL skills and road tests at a branch facility. Under Illinois regulations (Ill. Admin. Code tit. 92, § 1030.60), third-party entities may administer CDL skills tests (Classes A, B, C, and M) only to their own employees or members, and only at approved locations that meet state and federal standards.
By signing this addendum, both parties confirm that the branch office will operate under the same rules, record-keeping requirements, safety standards, and oversight as the main facility. This includes compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements under 49 CFR Part 383 and Illinois Vehicle Code provisions.
Who Needs to File Form DSD CDTS 90?
Any entity already licensed as a Commercial Driver’s License Third-Party Certification Entity in Illinois that wishes to open or operate an additional testing location must complete this form. Eligible entities typically include:
- Private companies that employ CDL drivers
- Municipalities and local government agencies
- Fire departments
- Other governmental organizations that need to test their own personnel for CDL qualifications
The form is not used by commercial driver training schools that charge the public for instruction. Those schools follow a separate licensing process under different CDTS forms. Third-party certification is limited to testing an entity’s own employees or members for daily operational needs.
How to Complete Form DSD CDTS 90?
The form is straightforward and contains the following key sections:
- Effective Date — Enter the day, month, and year the addendum becomes effective.
- Parties — Identify the Illinois Secretary of State and the full legal name of the Third-Party Certification Entity.
- Location — Provide the complete street address of the branch office.
- Declaration — The form states that it serves as a duly signed addendum to the attached main Agreement.
- Signatures — An authorized official of the Third-Party Certification Entity and a Secretary of State official must each sign, print their name, and list their title.
Because the document is an official state agreement, both parties must execute it. Incomplete or unsigned forms will not be accepted.
Related Forms and Branch Facility Requirements
Form DSD CDTS 90 is only one part of the branch approval process. According to the official Illinois Secretary of State Third-Party Certification Program page, applicants must also submit:
- Application for Third-Party Certification Program Branch License (Form DSD CDTS 91)
- The main Agreement Between the Illinois Secretary of State and a Commercial Driver’s License Third-Party Certification Entity (Form DSD CDTS 77), if not already on file
- Narrative and physical layouts of the official road test route that meet federal CDL road test criteria
- Evidence that the branch facility meets public health and safety standards
- Any required surety bond and safety officer licensing documentation
The branch facility must have adequate space for skills testing, maintain required records for four years, allow audits and inspections, and display all licenses prominently. Detailed requirements appear in Illinois Administrative Code Title 92, Section 1030.60.
Official program information and form links are available on the Illinois Secretary of State website: https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/driver-education/commercial-driver-training/thirdparty.html.
How to Submit Form DSD CDTS 90 and Contact Information?
Completed forms and supporting documents should be mailed to:
Illinois Secretary of State
Commercial Driver Training Section
1800 W. Hawthorne Ln.
West Chicago, IL 60185
Phone: 630-520-9310
Website: https://www.ilsos.gov
After receipt, the Commercial Driver Training Section reviews the materials and contacts the applicant to schedule any required inspections or training. Do not begin testing at the branch location until the Secretary of State issues the branch license and the addendum is fully executed.
Why Proper Use of Form DSD CDTS 90 Matters for U.S. Operators?
For U.S.-based organizations operating in Illinois or employing drivers who need Illinois CDL credentials, maintaining valid third-party certification status is critical. Operating a branch without the approved addendum and license can result in denial of testing privileges, license suspension or revocation, and potential federal compliance issues with FMCSA.
Correctly filing Form DSD CDTS 90 helps ensure that skills test results are accepted by the Illinois Secretary of State, that drivers can obtain or upgrade their CDLs efficiently, and that the entity remains in good standing under both state and federal commercial driver regulations.
Download the Official Form
Always use the current official version of the form published by the Illinois Secretary of State. Download Form DSD CDTS 90 here: https://www.ilsos.gov/content/dam/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_cdts90.pdf.
For the most up-to-date list of all Commercial Driver Training Section publications and forms, visit the Illinois Secretary of State Publications page: https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/allpubs.html.
Conclusion
Illinois Secretary of State Form DSD CDTS 90 is a required legal instrument for any licensed CDL Third-Party Certification Entity that wants to add a branch office. By completing this Branch Office Addendum together with the related Application for Branch License (DSD CDTS 91) and meeting facility and route standards, organizations can expand their testing capacity while remaining fully compliant with Illinois and federal requirements.
Entities planning to open a branch should contact the Commercial Driver Training Section early in the process, gather all required documentation, and use only official forms from the Illinois Secretary of State. Staying current with these requirements protects both the organization and the commercial drivers it serves across the United States.