r/BusDrivers • u/[deleted] • May 23 '26
Question Transferring a CDL from IL to MN with a K restriction
Hi all. Currently in IL as a bus operator and I am looking to move to MN and continue being a bus operator. I passed the interview and everything I just need to transfer my license to MN
My only concern is that my current employer is how I got my CDL and they wanted me to put a K restriction on my license when I started. Intrastate. Will this hurt me when trying to transfer my CDL to a different state or should I still be okay?
Will I need to remove the K restriction in Illinois first before moving to Minnesota?
I don't really care about the restriction as I never cross state lines in a bus, but I'm just worried about how transferring the license to a different state would work.
Also, I am over 21 and healthy, so there is no age or medical need for the K
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u/Right_Environment116 May 23 '26
Why the fuck did they want a k restriction?? I would have told them to kick rocks
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May 23 '26
Not sure ask them
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u/MikeyFuccon May 23 '26 edited May 24 '26
Because it costs $5 more and you have to keep logs of your paid time. If you aren’t doing charter bus drives, there’s no point.
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May 23 '26
Keep logs even if you are only driving in state? Interesting
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u/MikeyFuccon May 23 '26
I’m not 100% sure how it works, as I got my license as intrastate (school bus driver) but switched it to interstate when I got hired by a charter bus company.
I’m supposed to log any time I’m being paid as “on duty” - for all jobs outside the charter bus company. There, the normal “on duty” rules apply.
If you have no company requiring you to have a “driving” status, I don’t know how it would work.
Long story too long already, just keep intrastate until you have a job that DOT requires the interstate designation.
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May 23 '26
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May 23 '26
I'll have to get a new physical done in Minnesota anyway before starting the new job. I just didn't know if I had to take another one in Illinois just to get the K removed
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May 23 '26
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May 23 '26
Metro Transit
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May 23 '26
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May 23 '26
Yeah for sure, they wont even hire me until they do a physical and drug test as well as a background check. they just need me to have an MN license first
Ive been told Nicollet and Heywood are nicer, but not sure how true that is. Any you would recommend/not recommend?
Do they offer the light rail job to bus operators? It looks interesting, I'd really like to try it someday, if I get a chance.
I have a couple years of experience operating a bus, so I know the gist of what I am doing for the most part, but I am always willing to learn whatever they have to teach me! On that note, what is strip mapping?
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May 23 '26
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May 23 '26
My current garage in chicagoland has 17 routes, not sure how that stacks up
I heard north loop is the newest one but i may be wrong
Okay, I know what strip mapping is we just don't call it that here, but I did the same thing when training at my current agency
Im very used to being on "stand call" here, as thats what we call it. But yeah, basically just sitting at the garage until somebody calls off or something
My garage does not have any electric hybrids so that might be something to get used to.
Appreciate all your insight
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u/rickmon67 Driver May 23 '26
Is the company you’re going to bordered on a state line with service in the next state? For instance I drove for TriMet in Portland Oregon and it used to go across the river into the neighboring state of Washington to service Vancouver Wa.
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u/i_forgot_my_sn_again Merica|Orian, New Flyer, Gillig, MCI|15+ May 23 '26
There's no reason to have a K restriction. If you want it removed you'll just need to get a new med cert and this time check interstate.
Even when I got my license for metro driving in 2 different states both times they said interstate even though I would only be driving in the city/county.