Commercial driver's license
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A commercial driver's license (CDL) is required in the United States to operate any type of vehicle with a gross weight of 26,001 lb (11,793 kg) or over including (but not limited to) tow trucks, tractor trailers and buses. [1]
The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 was signed into law on October 27, 1986. The main purpose for the Act was to improve highway safety by making sure truck drivers and drivers of tractor trailers and buses have passed a written and driving test to become qualified to drive Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs), and to remove drivers that are unsafe and unqualified from the highways. The Act continued to give states the right to issue CDLs, but the national government established minimum requirements that must be met when issuing a CDL.
The Act corrects the problems that existed before 1986 by making it illegal to hold more than one license and by requiring States to adopt testing and licensing standards for truck and bus drivers.
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[edit] Pre-1986
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Driving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), which are primarily tractor-trailers, requires advanced skills and knowledge beyond that of driving a car or light weight vehicle. Before implementation of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Program requirements for driving larger vehicles and buses varied from state to state. In many states and the District of Columbia anyone licensed to drive an automobile could also legally drive a tractor trailer or a bus. There were many drivers that had a legal license to drive a commercial vehicle but did not necessarily have the training or skills to drive such a vehicle. This lack of training resulted in a large number of preventable traffic deaths and accidents. [2] Many drivers were able to obtain driver's licenses from more than one State and hide or spread convictions among several driving records and continue to drive unaffected. Public outcry and companies who insured CMV drivers saw this needed to be changed thus Commercial Motor Vehicle of 1986 legislation passed and became law.
[edit] Class definitions
Since April 1, 1992, when this Act became law, all drivers have been required to have a CDL in order to drive a Commercial Motor Vehicle. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has developed testing standards for licensing drivers. States are able to issue CDLs only after a written and driving test have been given by the State or approved testing facility. A driver will need a CDL if the vehicle meets one of the following definitions of a CMV: [3]
- Class A - Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds (11,793 kg) provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds (4536 kg).
- Class B - Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds (11,793 kg), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR.
- 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 placarded for hazardous materials.
States may require drivers of additional vehicles to have CDLs. For examples:
- New Jersey requires a driver to have a CDL to drive any bus, limousine or van used for hire and designed to transport 8 to 15 passengers.[4]
- New York State requires drivers to have CDLs to transport passengers in vehicles defined as under Article 19-A of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, such as school buses.[5]
The minimum age to apply for a CDL is usually 21, as required by the Department of Transportation, although some states may allow drivers who are 18-20 to apply for a CDL that is valid only within the driver's state of residence. 18-20 year olds additionally cannot obtain HazMat or School Bus endorsements and in some states, such as New York, cannot apply for a Class A license. A single state CDL only restricts driving of CMVs within the holder's state (not non-commercial vehicles), and automatically converts to a 50 state CDL at the age of 21.
[edit] Endorsements
Additional tests to obtain any of the following endorsements on their CDL have to be passed as well. These are only obtained after a CDL has been issued to the driver.
- T Semi trailer Double or Triple (Written Test)
- P Passenger Vehicle (Written and Driving Tests)
- S School Bus (Written and Driving Test, Background Check, Sex Offender Registry Check and P endorsement)
- N Tank Truck (Written Test)
- H Hazardous materials (Written Test and Background Check through the Transportation Security Administration)
- X Combination of Tank Vehicle and Hazardous Materials (Written Test)
[edit] Test requirements
Schooling is not mandatory to obtain a CDL. A prospective driver must pass a written test on highway safety and a test about different parts of a truck with a minimum of 30 questions on the test. To pass this knowledge tests student drivers must answer at least 80 percent of the questions correctly. To pass the driving skills test the student driver must successfully perform all the required driving maneuvers this portion of the test requires. The driving skill test must be taken in a vehicle that the driver operates or expects to operate.
[edit] Testing facilities
Employers, training facilities, States, governmental departments, and private institutions can administer knowledge and driving test for the State. The test must be the same as those given by the State issuing the CDL and the instructors must meet the same professional certification as State instructors.
States are required to conduct an inspection of the testing facility and evaluate the programs by taking an actual test as if they were testing driver at least once a year, or by taking a sample of drivers tested by the third party and then comparing pass/fail rates.
In addition, the State's agreement with the third party testing centers must allow the FHWA and the State to conduct random examinations, inspections, and audits without notice.
[edit] Contents
A CDL must contain the following information:
- The words Commercial Driver's License or CDL.
- Driver's full name, signature, and address.
- Date of birth, sex, and height.
- A color photograph or digitized image of the driver.
- Driver's State license number, issuing State name, date issued, and expiration date of the license
- The class(es) and endorsements that the driver is authorized.
- Learner's permits for a driver training on public highways accompanied by another driver with a valid CDL appropriate for that vehicle.
[edit] CDLIS Clearinghouse
The Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) and the National Driver Register (NDR) exchange information on traffic convictions, and driver disqualifications about commercial drivers. States have to use both CDLIS and NDR to check a driver's record before any State can issue a CDL. To gain access to these databases, CDLIS and NDR, respectively, one should visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Technical Support Web site for instructions on how this information is accessed and who can access it. Trucking companies can use a commercial company that has clearance for providing this information before hiring any driver for employment.
[edit] If Convicted while driving a CMV
- Driving without a CDL, or suspended CDL, is 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 he or she knowingly uses 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: 90 day to five year suspension.
- One or more violations of an 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.
States can reduce certain lifetime disqualifications to a minimum disqualification period of 10 years if the driver completes a driver rehabilitation program approved by the State. Not all states do this. For example, this waiver of lifetime disqualification is available in Idaho[3] and New York State[5] but not California[6] or New Jersey.[4]
If a CDL holder is disqualified from operating a CMV they can not be issued a "conditional" or "hardship" CDL, but can continue to drive non-commercial vehicles.
Any conviction are reported to the drivers 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.
The FHWA has established 0.04% as the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level at or above which a CMV driver is deemed to be driving under the influence of alcohol and subject to lose his/her CDL.
A driver must report any driving conviction within 30 days, except parking, to their employer regardless of the nature of the violation.
Employers must be notified if a driver's license is suspended, revoked, or canceled. The notification must be made by the end of the next business day following receipt of the notice of the suspension, revocation, cancellation, lost privilege or disqualification.
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.
[edit] CDL Training in United States
In the United States, a CDL can be obtained by attending 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 Department of Transportation 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 earn their CDL permit and later pass the CDL skills test that will allow them to earn their CDL.
There are a number of licensed CDL training schools around the United States, and many trucking companies operate their own schools as well.
[edit] United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom the PCV Licence (PCV stands for Passenger Carrying Vehicle) enables the holder to drive buses and/or minibuses, subject to what kind of Practical Driving Test the licence holder passes.
Category C+E Vehicles over 3500kg with a trailer over 750kg also known as Large Goods Vehicle normal max gross weight 44000kg (97416 lbs) minimum age 21
Category D1 allows the holder to drive a vehicle with between nine and sixteen passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg maximum authorised mass.
Category D1+E allows the holder to drive a vehicle with between nine and sixteen passenger seats with a trailer over 750kg maximum authorised mass, provided that the maximum authorised mass of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the vehicle being driven and the combined maximum authorised mass of both the vehicle and trailer does not exceed 12 t (12000kg).
Example: A vehicle with an unladen mass of 2650kg and a MAM of 4005kg, with a trailer MAM of 2200kg will give a combined MAM of 6205kg - but the Unladen Mass of the vehicle being driven (2650kg) is greater than the MAM of the trailer (2200kg) so is acceptable. However, a vehicle with an unladen mass of 2650kg and a MAM of 4005kg, with a trailer MAM of 2700kg will give a combined MAM of 6705kg - but because the MAM of the trailer (2700kg) exceeds the Unladen Weight of the vehicle being driven (2650kg), you would need a Category D+E licence to drive that vehicle.
Category D allows the holder to drive a vehicle with more than eight passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg maximum authorised mass.
Category D+E allows the holder to drive a vehicle with more than eight passenger seats with a trailer over 750kg maximum authorised mass.
[edit] Western Australia
In WA a Heavy Vehicle Licence is required. Class LR Light Rigid allows for a maximum gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 8 tonnes. MR for a GVM over 8t but with no more than two axles. HR Heavy Rigid allows GVM over 8t with no axle limit and a trailer up to a max 9t. HC Heavy Combination allows HR + trailer over 9t or Prime Mover + Semi Trailer. MC Multi Combination allows Semi Trailers with two or more trailers (road trains) To obtain an HC licence you must have held a car licence for at least 3 years and an MR or HR licence for a year. In order to drive a bus for financial gain you must also hold a Hire and Reward Endorsement.
[edit] New Zealand
In New Zealand, driver licensing is controlled by the New Zealand Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA). Broadly there are six classes of motor-vehicle licence. Class 1 governs vehicles with a GLW less than 4500kg, and Class 6 governs motorcycles. Classes 2-5 govern heavy vehicles. A Class 2 licence allows the holder to drive:
- any rigid vehicle (including any tractor) with a GLW of more than 4500 kg but less than 18,001 kg
- any combination vehicle with a GCW of 12,000 kg or less
- any combination vehicle consisting of a rigid vehicle with a GLW of 18,000 kg or less towing a light trailer (GLW of 3500 kg or less)
- any rigid vehicle with a GLW of more than 18,000 kg that has no more than two axles
- any vehicle covered in Class 1.
Class 3 allows the holder to drive:
- any combination vehicle with a GCW of more than 12,000 kg but less than 25,001 kg
- any vehicle covered in classes 1 and 2.
Class 4 allows the holder to drive:
- any rigid vehicle (including any tractor) with a GLW of more than 18,000 kg
- any combination vehicle consisting of a rigid vehicle with a GLW of more than 18,000 kg towing a light trailer (GLW of 3500 kg or less)
- vehicles covered in classes 1 and 2, but not Class 3.
Class 5 allows the holder to drive:
- any combination vehicle with a GCW of more than 25,000 kg
- vehicles covered by classes 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Before getting a Class 2 licence, a driver must be at least 18 years of age and have held an unrestricted Class 1 licence for at least six months. Gaining a Class 5 is not dependent on holding a Class 3. Once a driver has a Class 2 they can progress straight through to Class 4 and Class 5. Each progression (2->3, 2->4, 4->5) requires having held an unrestricted licence of the preceding class for at least six months. For drivers aged 25 or over the minimum period for holding the unrestricted time is reduced to three months, or waived entirely on completion of an approved course of instruction.
Additional endorsements on an NZ driver's licence govern provision of special commercial services. The endorsements are:
- D - Dangerous Goods. Transporting hazardous substances. Must be renewed every five years.
- F - Forklift
- I - Driving Instructor. For-hire driver training. An I endorsement is awarded for a specific Class of licence, eg: 5I
- O - Testing Officer. Driving assessors who test a person prior to being granted a particular class of licence.
- P - Passenger. Transport of fare-paying passengers (bus and taxi drivers, limo-for-hire drivers, and dial-a-driver services)
- R - Roller. Special vehicle equipped with rollers.
- T - Tracks. Special vehicle equipped with tracks.
- V - Vehicle recovery. Operating a tow truck.
- W - Wheels. Special vehicle equipped with wheels, other than than fire appliances, buses, tractors, vehicle-recovery vehicles, or trade vehicles.
The F, R, T and W endorsements are for operating special types of vehicle on the road. Where the holder also has a heavy vehicle (Class 2 or Class 4) licence, they are permitted to drive heavy special vehicles. Otherwise the limits for Class 1 (4500kg) apply. Being granted a I, O, P and/or V endorsement requires that the applicant pass a "fit and proper person" check, to screen for people with criminal convictions or serious driving infringements. These endorsements are issued for one or five years, depending on how long the holder pays for at the time of application.
[edit] See also
- Commercial Driver's License Information System
- Driver's license
- Truck classification
- Trucking industry in the United States
[edit] References
- Department of Transportation
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
- [1]
- NZ LTSA licensing information page
[edit] Notes
- ^ Commercial Drivers License or CDL Required in US. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.
- ^ Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1985: Hearing Before the Committee. Retrieved on 2006-08-20.
- ^ a b CDL Class Definitions. Retrieved on 2006-08-20.
- ^ a b New Jersey Commercial Driver License Manual. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
- ^ a b c New York State Commercial Driver's Manual. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
- ^ a b California Commercial Driver Handbook. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
- ^ Appendix C to Part 658. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
