Driver's will need a CDL to operate any of the following vehicles or combination vehicles:
Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight of 26,001 pounds or more, with trailer(s) weighing 10,000 pounds or more.
Any single vehicle having a gross weight of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing another weighing 10,000 pounds or less.
Any vehicle or combination of vehicles not meeting the definition of Class A or Class B, designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver), or any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded to carry hazardous material:
Many states issue a "Class D" license, which is not part of the FMCSA standards. Some use it to classify regular, passenger car drivers licenses, while some use it to classify specific weights or types of vehicles. This varies from state-to-state.
See Also: Steps to getting your CDL
As with many career changes, it is a life-altering process, and drivers need to be prepared both mentally and physically.
See Also: TruckingTruth's Truck Driver's Career Guide.
Most new drivers will have attended either a private trucking school or a company-sponsored driving school. Getting a CDL on your own is generally not recommended and may make it more difficult to find a job driving trucks.
Drivers will be required to pass a written CDL knowledge exam.
The physical driving test, inside an actual truck. Just like any other driving test, but on a much bigger scale.
The FMCSA has issued guidelines on the physical requirements for over the road (OTR) CDL drivers. Additionally, regular drug and alcohol testing should be expected.
Driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) requires a higher level of knowledge, experience, skills, and physical abilities than that required to drive a non-commercial vehicle. These higher standards require passing a higher level of knowledge and skills tests and hold CDL drivers to higher standards when operating a CMV.
Piloting an 80,000-pound vehicle down the road is a definite public safety concern. Before 1986, CDL standards were set by individual states, and many drivers held CDL's in several states to spread out any violations.
The FMCSA has devised a specific set of rules regarding CDL drivers and the requirements for interstate driving of Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV's), as well as standards, restrictions, and penalties for alcohol and drug use and testing.
The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act (CMVSA), along with the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS), standardized CDL requirements that had varied wildly from state-to-state.
See Also: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
See Also: Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act (CMVSA).
Most drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV's) will be required to obtain some class of Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
CDL drivers are required to get a CDL from their declared state of residency, and state laws vary on residency requirements.
While licensing is done by states, the Federal government sets minimum testing and licensing requirements.
Pulling certain types of freight, or certain types of trailers, will require drivers to test for and obtain additional license "endorsements".
Military CDL drivers are exempt from having to get a CDL , and individual states are authorized to exempt emergency, farm, and government workers, as well as drivers of recreational vehicles. These exemptions may vary state-to-state.
To be eligible to drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), you will have to meet specific requirements:
In most states, drivers can get a CDL at age 18. However, federal regulations set 21 as the age which drivers can legally drive CMV's across state lines. Always check with your individual state DMV for specifics on your state's requirements.
In addition, drivers will generally need at least a year of "regular" driving experience to get hired by most trucking companies, and some states require it.
Trucking schools and companies, and some states, will require that drivers hold a regular passenger car license for at least 1 year before getting their CDL.
Most truck driving schools and trucking companies will require CDL trainees to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent before accepting them into their programs.
Federal requirements do not specifically address the issue of past legal problems. Potential drivers who have records for things like DUI's, felony convictions of any sort, drug convictions, etc., should expect trucking companies to examine a drivers hirability a bit closer than normal.
See Also: Trucking Companies That Hire Drivers With Felonies
Most companies will require a minimum number of years to have passed since the issue occurred. Generally, a minimum of 7-10 years having passed is a requirement for most companies to hire you. In addition, drivers with a poor or shaky driving history should expect that they may run into problems getting hired. The liability of poor drivers piloting an 80,000 lb vehicle down America's highways is too much for many trucking, and insurance, companies to bear. Especially hard to overcome is any DUI record. Drivers will normally need a minimum of 5-10 years to have passed before a company will even consider hiring them, and even then may have a hard time getting doors to open.
See Also: Trucking Company Policies For Drivers With DUI-DWI
As a CDL driver, you will be required to submit to regular DOT physical exams in order to be medically certified to drive. The FMCSA has issued regulations regarding the medical and physical condition of truck drivers.
Most frequently, drivers run into issues with high blood pressure (or hypertension). If blood pressure is too high, it can medically disqualify CDL drivers. Properly managed hypertension , with or without medication, should not be an issue for most drivers.
Most trucking schools and all companies will require physical exams before attending school or being hired.
See Also: DOT Physical
As the official language in the U.S. is English, CDL drivers are required to be able to read and speak it well enough to converse with the general public, understand traffic signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and to fill out forms and records.
FMCSA regulations specifically exempt only military personnel with comparable safe-driving experience from getting CDL's. States are authorized to provide exemptions for the rest of the following at their own discretion:
States must exempt individuals who operate vehicles for military purposes from the requirements for CDL drivers. This exemption includes active military, reserves and members of the National Guard. This exception does not apply to U.S. Reserve technicians.
Service members who are or were employed within the past year (12 months) in a military position requiring the operation of a military motor vehicle equivalent to a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) and who want to drive CMV's in civilian life can apply for a Skills Test Waiver to get their CDL.
See Also: Military Skills Test Waiver
Covering actual farm-to-market operations, not commercial grain haulers. Drivers must be 21 years old, and vehicle must have farm plates. Farm workers are not required to have a CDL to operate vehicles:
Those who operate CMV's necessary to preserving life or property, or performing emergency governmental functions, have signals that can be seen and heard, and are not subject to normal traffic laws. These include fire trucks, foam or water transport trucks, police SWAT team vehicles, ambulances and any other emergency vehicles.
Recreational Vehicle Operators:Drivers operating recreational vehicles (RV's) for their own non-commercial use can be exempted from CDL requirements.
Many states will have specific CDL exemptions that apply to workers in smaller towns or to state and local government employees in general. You will have to check with your specific state regulations.
Pulling certain types of freight and trailers will require CDL drivers to hold certain license endorsements. As always, TruckingTruth recommends getting every available endorsement in the interest of having more job opportunities.
See Also: CDL Endorsements and Restrictions.
CDL drivers can also have certain restrictions placed on them, depending on circumstances such as taking their skills test in a vehicle without air brakes, or with automatic transmission, or in a lower class vehicle. Endorsements and restrictions will appear as a letter code on a drivers license.
Weigh Safe's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Explainer
FMCSA Overview on Getting a CDL
FMCSA Training Provider Registry
S.1903 - Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986
CDL Class A Form B Inspection Procedures Video
New York State Commercial Driver's License Class A Young Adult Drivers Program Overview
Arizona CDL Regulations, Endorsement, and Exemption Definitions
FMCSA Guide to English Requirement
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.
A commercial motor vehicle is any vehicle used in commerce to transport passengers or property with either:
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
GVWR is the maximum operating weight of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer, minus any trailers.
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
Abnormally high blood pressure.
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
The Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) is a nationwide computer system that enables state driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) to ensure that each commercial driver has only one driver’s license and one complete driver record.
A drivers file will include their driving record as well as their medical certification status.
The Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) is a nationwide computer system that enables state driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) to ensure that each commercial driver has only one driver’s license and one complete driver record.
A drivers file will include their driving record as well as their medical certification status.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving While Intoxicated
Operating While Intoxicated
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.