Illinois SOS DSD CDTS 71: CDL Training School Application

Illinois SOS DSD CDTS 71: CDL Training School Application – Form DSD CDTS 71, officially titled the Driver Training School Application for CDL Accreditation, is the required document issued by the Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Department. Commercial driver training schools in Illinois must complete this form to receive official state accreditation before offering instruction leading to a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), endorsement, or restriction.

Accreditation under this form ensures schools meet both Illinois Administrative Code requirements and federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) standards. Schools must also appear on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Training Provider Registry before advertising or delivering CDL training.

The current version of the form is DSD CDTS 71.3, printed September 2021. It remains the active application used by the Commercial Driver Training School Section.

Who Must Submit Form DSD CDTS 71?

Any commercial driver training school that wants to provide CDL, endorsement, or restriction training in Illinois must obtain CDL accreditation. This applies to:

New schools seeking original approval
Existing licensed schools renewing accreditation
Schools revising their classroom or behind-the-wheel curriculum

Without approved accreditation and listing on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, a school cannot lawfully offer or advertise CDL instruction after February 7, 2022. Accreditation is tied to the school’s overall commercial driver training school license and renews on the same schedule.

How to Download Form DSD CDTS 71?

The official fillable PDF is available directly from the Illinois Secretary of State website. Download the form here:

Download Illinois Form DSD CDTS 71 (PDF)

Forms should be saved to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader for best results when filling fields. The form appears on the official Commercial Drivers Publications and Forms page maintained by the Secretary of State.

Key Information Required on the Application

Applicants must provide:

Name of the person to contact regarding the application
Approval year (January 1 through December 31 of the relevant period)
Full name of the school
Chief administrator(s) with titles
Main office and classroom address, including street, city, county, ZIP code, and phone number
Application type: Original approval, Renewal of previous approval, or Revision of curriculum

For renewals, if previously approved outlines remain on file, schools may note “OF” (on file) and initial the appropriate sections.

Curriculum Requirements for CDL Accreditation

Form DSD CDTS 71 requires submission of detailed instructional outlines. Schools must provide two copies of the classroom phase outline and two copies of the behind-the-wheel phase outline. These must align with the federal standards in 49 CFR 383.110–121 and the appendices to 49 CFR Part 380.

Illinois rules further require a minimum of 160 hours of instruction delivered over no less than a four-week period. Students must complete the full program within nine months of starting. The typical breakdown includes:

40 hours of classroom instruction
Minimum 20 hours of range (behind-the-wheel) instruction on an approved training area
Minimum 20 hours of over-the-road instruction on public streets and highways
20 hours of observation
60 hours of remedial or additional training based on individual student needs

Classroom content must cover rules of the road from the official CDL Study Guide, safe driving practices, pedestrian safety, defensive driving, behavioral characteristics of drivers, federal regulations (49 CFR 383), vehicle insurance, safety devices, effects of alcohol and drugs, and information on human trafficking in Illinois.

Behind-the-wheel instruction may not begin until the student is enrolled, has obtained the required knowledge, and holds a valid instruction permit (unless previously licensed). Training must include pre-trip inspection, starting, stopping, shifting, turning, backing, docking, parking, steering, and emergency procedures.

Additional curriculum notes on the form address out-of-state CDL road test requirements for Illinois CDL applicants, hazardous materials endorsement processes (fingerprinting, TSA approval letter, and written test), DOT medical requirements, and the use of truck-specific GPS devices. Schools may also offer limited brush-up courses only to individuals who already hold or previously held a CDL.

Facility, Vehicle, and Bond Standards

CDL-accredited schools must meet specific facility requirements beyond the basic commercial driver training school license:

Classroom of at least 300 square feet with adequate seating, lighting, ventilation, blackboard, charts, textbooks, audiovisual materials, and fire extinguishers
Office space of at least 150 square feet in a commercially zoned location with a listed business telephone and permanent signage visible from 100 feet
A dedicated vehicle training area of at least 27,000 square feet with a solid surface (concrete, asphalt, or compacted limestone), adequate lighting for night instruction, parking for students, and restroom facilities if the main location is more than 100 feet away

Training vehicles must carry liability insurance of at least $50,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $100,000 for two or more persons, and $10,000 for property damage. Vehicles require Illinois Department of Transportation safety inspection and valid registration.

A continuous surety bond is mandatory. Amounts vary: $40,000 for a CDL-accredited school, $60,000 for a school holding both CDL and teen accreditation, with higher amounts required when three or more branches are licensed.

Instructor-to-student ratios are strictly limited: no more than five students per currently licensed instructor and no more than six students per registered CDL training vehicle at any time.

Student Records and Recordkeeping

Schools must maintain detailed student records that document participation. Records must include daily attendance and absence dates, lesson times, beginning and ending dates of classroom instruction, periodic evaluations, make-up dates, Social Security number, instruction permit number, full legal name, address, and behind-the-wheel details.

Classroom records must be available for inspection at all times. Behind-the-wheel records must be available within seven days of lesson completion. All records must be retained for at least three years.

How to Submit the Completed Application?

Mail the completed Form DSD CDTS 71 and all required exhibits to:

Illinois Secretary of State
Commercial Driver Training Section
1800 W. Hawthorne Ln.
West Chicago, IL 60185

Phone: 630-520-9310

Applications for license renewal must be submitted at least 15 days before the current license expires. Upon receipt, the Commercial Driver Training Section contacts the school to schedule facility inspections. Schools must reapply each licensing cycle.

Application fees for the underlying two-year commercial school license are $500 for the main school, $70 per instructor, and $50 for each branch. Checks should be made payable to the Illinois Secretary of State.

All owners, partners, associates, managers, and a majority of corporate directors or officers must sign the affirmation section under penalty of perjury. Providing false information or concealing material facts is a criminal offense and grounds for license revocation.

Federal ELDT Compliance and Why Accreditation Matters

Federal regulations under 49 CFR Part 380 require entry-level drivers to complete theory and behind-the-wheel training from a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Illinois ties its state CDL accreditation directly to this federal requirement. Schools that fail to maintain both state accreditation and federal registry status cannot legally train new CDL applicants.

Proper completion of Form DSD CDTS 71 demonstrates that a school’s curriculum, facilities, instructors, and recordkeeping meet the higher standards Illinois has established beyond the federal minimum. This protects students, supports highway safety, and allows schools to operate lawfully in a highly regulated industry.

Official Resources and Contact Information

For the most current rules, review Illinois Administrative Code Title 92, Part 1060, Section 1060.200 (Commercial Driver’s License, Endorsement, Accreditation) available through the Illinois General Assembly Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.

General information on commercial driver training schools is published at the Illinois Secretary of State Commercial Driver Training Schools page.

Questions about Form DSD CDTS 71 or the inspection process should be directed to the Commercial Driver Training Section at 630-520-9310 or by mail to the West Chicago address listed above.

Accurate completion and timely submission of Form DSD CDTS 71 is essential for any Illinois commercial driver training school that intends to offer CDL instruction. Using the official form and following the detailed curriculum, facility, and recordkeeping standards ensures compliance with both state and federal requirements.