This document provides information about commercial driver's licensing requirements for farmers in Iowa. It discusses license classes for different weight vehicles and distances, as well as exemptions for farm vehicles. Medical certification is not required for intrastate farm driving but is needed for interstate trips over 150 miles from the home farm. Contact information is provided for questions about commercial vehicle rules and regulations in Iowa.

1. Agriculture Outreach
Office of Motor Vehicle Enforcement
Iowa Department of Transportation

2. DISCLAIMER
This slide module is intended to summarize commercial Vehicle rules
and regulations and is not intended to be used for legal guidance or as
a substitute for applicable local, state, and federal statutes.
While every attempt has been made to ensure the completeness and
accuracy of the information contained in this presentation, it is not a
detailed explanation of all applicable local, state and federal statutes.
The module is part of a larger presentation and as such is only part of a
summary of regulations that may or may not apply to you.
By use of this resource, the user agrees the Iowa Department of
Transportation assumes no liability or responsibility for the user’s
understanding and compliance to the rules and regulations

3. Driver licensing

4. Driver licensing
Commercial driver license (CDL)
Class C: Operator 16,000 or less
Class D: Chauffeur 16,001-26,000
Class C CDL: Placarded hazmat 26,000
and below
Class B CDL: Single vehicle 26,001 and
up
Class A CDL: Combination vehicle
26,001 and up with towed
vehicle over 10,001

5. Iowa farmer license requirements
Straight trucks 16,001-26,000 lbs
No distance limits
Class C operator
Farm drivers are
exempt from
Class D license

6. Straight trucks 26,001 or more
Required license for an Iowa
farmer
Within 150 air miles
Class C operator
Farm driver CDL
exemption
Beyond 150 air miles
Class B CDL

7. Pickup with trailer
26,000 or less with trailer 10,000
or less
Required license
for an Iowa
farmer
No distance
limits
Class C operator

8. Pickup with trailer
26,001 or more, with trailer
10,001 or more
Required license
for an Iowa farmer
Within 150 air miles
Class C operator
Farm driver
CDL exemption
Beyond 150 air miles
Class A CDL

9. Truck-tractor/Semi
26,001 lbs or more and
trailer 10,001 lbs or more
Required license
for an Iowa farmer
Within 150 air miles
Class D1
Farm driver CDL
exemption
Beyond 150 air miles
Class A CDL

10. Class C, Class D, Class C CDL
Review Class B CDL, and Class A CDL
Exemption test
Farmer
or Farmer
For hire for hire
Driven by farm
hand hauling corn Combo
Single
from field in
Emmetsburg, Iowa,
to market in 26,001 lbs 16,001-
26,000 lbs
Less than
16,001 lbs
or greater
Eddyville, Iowa
153 air miles Farm drivers are
exempt from Class D
license on single
17,000 GVWR vehicles
16,001-26,000 lbs

11. Class C, Class D, Class C CDL
Review Class B CDL, and Class A CDL
Exemption test
Farmer
or
For hire Farmer
for hire
ABC Co-op hires
you to haul corn
from their elevator Single Combo
in Emmetsburg,
Iowa, to market in 26,001 lbs 16,001- Less than
Eddyville, Iowa or greater 26,000 lbs 16,001 lbs
153 air miles
For-hire carriers are
not exempt
17,000 GVWR Class D required

12. Class C, Class D, Class C CDL
Review Class B CDL, and Class A CDL
Exemption test
Farmer
For hire or Farmer
for hire
Driven by farm hand
hauling corn from
field in Emmetsburg, Single Combo
Iowa, to market in
Eddyville, Iowa, 26,001 lbs
or greater
16,001-
26,000 lbs
Less than
16,001 lbs
153 air miles 150 air More
miles or than 150
less air miles
27,000 GVWR When traveling
beyond 150 air
miles, federal
exemptions are lost
Class B required

13. Class C, Class D, Class C CDL
Review Class B CDL, and Class A CDL
Exemption test
Farmer
For hire or Farmer
Driven by farm
for hire
hand hauling corn
from field in Single Combo
Emmetsburg, Iowa, 16,001- Less than
26,001 lbs
to market in Ames, or greater 26,000 lbs 16,001 lbs
Iowa
150 air
Over 150
miles or
air miles
145 air miles less
Transporting supplies equipment or
27,000 GVWR products for the farm operation and
hauling farm site to farm site
or home farm to market
Exempt Class C

14. Class C, Class D, Class C CDL
Review Class B CDL, and Class A CDL
Exemption test
Driven by farm hand
hauling hogs from Exemption not needed
field in Emmetsburg, Class C
Iowa, to slaughter in
Kansas City, Mo.
210 air miles
Truck 8,000 GVWR
Trailer 9,000 GVWR
Combo 17000 GCWR

15. Class C, Class D, Class C CDL
Review Class B CDL, and Class A CDL
Exemption test
Farmer
For hire or Farmer
Driven by farm hand for hire
hauling corn from
field in Emmetsburg, Single Combo
Iowa, to elevator in 150 air
Spencer, Iowa miles or
Over 150
air miles
less
18 air miles TT/ST
Truck
trailer
combo
combo
Truck 52,000 GVWR
Trailer 20,000 GVWR Transporting supplies equipment
or products for the farm operation
Combo 72,000 and hauling farm site to farm site
or home farm to market
GCWR Exempt from CDL, Class D1 required

16. Class C, Class D, Class C CDL
Review Class B CDL, and Class A CDL
Exemption test
Farmer
For hire or Farmer
Driven by farmer for hire
Hauling hogs from
farm in Emmetsburg, Single Combo
Iowa, to slaughter in
Kansas City, Mo. 150 air
miles or
Over 150
air miles
less
240 air miles Truck
TT/ST
trailer
combo
combo
Truck 10,000 GVWR
Trailer 17,000 GVWR
Combo 27000 GCWR Over mileage exemption
does not apply
Class A required

17. Driver qualification
Medical cards
Iowa licensed farm drivers
In intrastate commerce, with any type of
CMV, for any distance within Iowa:
 No medical certificate
required.
 Crossing state lines
cancels exemption.

18. Driver qualification
Farm drivers need a medical
examiner’s certificate when:
 In interstate commerce with an
articulated CMV or any CMV
when more than 150 air miles
from the home
farm.

19. Contact information
Motor Vehicle Enforcement
Information Line
800-925-64691
E-mail: omve@dot.iowa.gov
www.iamvd.com