A commercial driver’s license is a driver’s license required to operate large, heavy, or placarded hazardous material vehicles in commerce.
In the United States, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 established minimum requirements that must be met when a state issues a CDL. It specifies the following types of licenses:
Class A – Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR/GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating/Gross Vehicle Weight) of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR/GVW of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
Class B – Any single vehicle with a GVWR/GVW of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR/GVW.
Class C – Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is required to be placarded for hazardous materials.
Age Requirements
The minimum age to apply for a Commercial Driver’s License varies by state. In most states, the minimum age to obtain a CDL is 18. The DOT requires CDL-holders in all states and jurisdictions to be 21 years of age or older to operate for interstate commerce (Which allows the CDL holder to travel outside their home state). CDL-Holders who are 18 to 20 years of age or have a medical exemption, may only drive for intrastate commerce (Which allows CDL-holders to drive in their home state only).
Endorsements
Additional testing is required to obtain any of the following endorsements on the CDL. These can only be obtained after a CDL has been issued to the driver:
- T Semi trailer Double or Triple. A Class A license is required to obtain the T endorsement
- P Passenger Vehicle
- S School Bus
- N Tank Truck
- H Hazardous materials
- X Combination of Tank Vehicle and Hazardous Materials
- W Tow truck.
Training
Depending on the State, the education requirements vary. Some states (Ohio) for example require 160 hours or classroom and on the road training. Training may be obtained by completing a qualified CDL training program through a truck driving school.
These training programs specialize in teaching potential truck drivers the necessary skills and knowledge to properly and safely operate a truck, including map reading, trip planning, and compliance with U.S. DOT laws, as well as backing, turning, hooking a trailer, and road driving.
The overall purpose of these training schools is to help truckers-to-be pass the CDL knowledge and skills tests as well as advanced driving techniques such as skid avoidance and recovery and other emergency actions for situations such as a break away trailer and hydroplaning.
These classes usually go well beyond the training the typical non-commercial driver receives, such as the drivers education provided in high school. There are a number of licensed CDL training schools around the United States and many trucking companies operate their own schools as well.
Convictions
Driving without a CDL, or suspended CDL, incurs a civil penalty of up to US$2,500 or, in aggravated cases, criminal penalties of up to US$5,000 in fines and/or up to 90 days in prison.
An employer is also subject to a penalty of up to US$10,000 if they knowingly permit a driver to operate a CMV without a valid CDL.
- Two or more serious traffic violations, including excessive speeding, reckless driving, improper or erratic lane changes, following the vehicle ahead too closely, and traffic offenses in connection with fatal traffic accidents, within a three-year period: a 90-day to five-year suspension.
- One or more violations of a Motor vehicle declared out of service order within a 10-year period: one-year suspension.
- Driving under the influence of a controlled substance or alcohol, or leaving the scene of an accident, or using a CMV to commit a felony: three-year suspension.
- Any of the one-year offenses while operating a CMV for hazardous materials or second offense of any of the one-year or three-year offenses, or using a CMV to commit a felony involving manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing controlled substances: life suspension.
Any convictions are reported to the driver’s home State and Federal Highway Administration and these convictions are treated the same as convictions for violations that are committed in the home State. The Commercial Drivers License Program collects and stores all convictions a driver receives and transmits this data to the home State so that any disqualification or suspension can be applied.
Employers cannot under any circumstances use a driver who has more than one license or whose license is suspended, revoked or canceled, or is disqualified from driving. Violation of this requirement may result in civil or criminal penalties.
Medical certification
Commercial motor vehicle drivers must prove they are healthy enough to safely drive a truck.
A valid medical certificate must be filled out by a medical professional listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners at the conclusion of an extensive physical exam.
The test assesses the general health, as well as mental and emotional fitness for the demands of professional driving. This check-up clears the driver for driving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and helps ensure that he/she and fellow CMV drivers can handle the long hours, exhausting schedules, and stress of operating commercial vehicles.
The FMCSA requires all commercial drivers to carry a certificate of good health with them, which drivers receive upon passing the DOT Medical Examination. There is a Long form and a short form (Medical card) of the medical certificate.
Most medical certificates are good for two years. However, if the driver has low blood pressure or high blood pressure, or any other condition that may inhibit his ability to drive, he may receive a 1-year certificate. And if he has very high blood pressure or other treatable conditions, he may receive a 3-month certificate. After 3 months, if he shows improvement in that condition, he’ll be eligible to get a 1 or 2-year certificate.
Unfortunately, sometimes drivers begin suffering from a condition (after receiving their certificate) that makes it unsafe to carry out their responsibilities on the job. If this is the case, they must stop driving, have the condition treated, and then take their DOT physical again to ensure their safety as well as that of fellow drivers.