CDL Study Guide 2019: Commercial Driver’s License Exam Prep

Who Needs a CDL

Anyone that wants to drive commercial motor vehicles (CMV) in interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce needs a Commercial Driver’s License. A CMV is a vehicle that

●Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more

●Designed to carry multiple passengers (including the driver) (check with your local DMV as the number of passengers varies from state to state)

●Transports hazardous materials that requires placards

●Tows any vehicle with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more

*GVWR is the gross vehicle weight rating; it is the maximum loaded weight of a single vehicle as stated by the manufacturer.

How to Get a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP)

You can get a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) that allows you to drive a specific vehicle as long as there is another driver in the vehicle with you that has a CDL of equal or higher class and proper endorsements. To get a CLP, you must be at least 18 years old and have a valid non-commercial driver’s license.

The CLP is valid for 180 days and can be renewed for another 180 days as long as the CLP expiration date is less than 1 year from the initial application date. If the CLP contains a Tank (N) endorsement, the tank must be empty and purged of hazardous materials before a CLP holder can drive it. If the CLP contains a Passenger (P) and/or School Bus (S) endorsement, there must be no passengers in the vehicle before a CLP holder can drive it.

You must wait at least 14 days after CLP issuance before you can take the CDL Skills test.

How to Get a CDL

To get a CDL, you must pass a state CDL test. When applying for a CDL, you will need to specify whether you will be operating in intrastate or interstate commerce. In intrastate commerce, you only drive your vehicle WITHIN a single state. In interstate commerce, you may drive your vehicle across state lines as well as cross into a foreign country.

You must also provide a Medical Examination Report (MER) and a Medical Examiner’s Certificate Form (MEC) dated within the last 2 years. You will be required to provide an MER and MEC every 2 years. Medical examinations must be performed by a medical examiner listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.

Once you have a CDL, you are required to return any non-CDL licenses back to the state. You can only ever have one CDL, so if you have a CDL from another state, you need to return that as well.

When applying for a job, you must disclose all driving jobs you have had in the last 10 years. You must notify your employer and the DMV within 30 days of any traffic violation convictions (except parking) regardless of the type of vehicle you were driving when you received the violation and regardless of the state you received the violation in. You must also notify your employer within 2 days if your license was suspended, revoked, or canceled.

You or your employer may be fined if you have more than one license or you drive a commercial vehicle without a CDL or with a suspended, revoked, or canceled CDL.

CDL Disqualifications

Your CDL may be suspended or revoked if you are convicted of the offenses or traffic violations (while driving commercial or personal vehicles) listed below.

Imminent Hazard

An “imminent hazard” is when you are at imminent risk of seriously harming yourself or the public. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association may suspend your license for at most 30 days (unless you’ve been notified of your rights to a hearing) if they believe you pose an “imminent hazard”.

Lifetime Disqualifying Offenses

You will be issued a lifetime suspension if you use a vehicle to commit a felony that involves manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing controlled substances.

Major Offenses

Your CDL will be immediately suspended for 1 year on the first conviction (3 years if the offense occurs while operating a vehicle placarded for hazardous materials). On the second conviction, you will receive a lifetime suspension (some states will allow a reinstatement after 10 years). Below is a list of major offenses.

●Driving a commercial vehicle with blood alcohol level of 0.04 or greater (You will be put out of service for 24 hours if you have any amount of alcohol under 0.04)

●Driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance

●Refuse to take an alcohol test

●Leave the scene of an accident

●Use a vehicle to commit a crime

●Drive a commercial vehicle without a CDL or a revoked, suspended, or cancelled CDL

●Cause a fatality through negligent operation of a commercial vehicle

Serious Traffic Violations

If you receive any 2 traffic violations (listed below) in 3 years, your CDL will be suspended for 60 days. If you receive any 3 traffic violations (listed below) in 3 years, your CDL will be suspended for 120 days.

●Driving 15 mph or more over the speed limit

●Reckless driving, improper lane changes, following vehicles too closely

●Violating a motor vehicle control law that results in a fatal accident

●Driving a commercial vehicle without the proper CDL class or endorsement

●Driving without a CDL in the vehicle (you will not be in violation if you can provide proof that you had a valid CDL at the time the citation was issued

Traffic Violations in Your Personal Vehicle

Your CDL will be disqualified if you commit the following violations in your personal vehicle:

●Violations that involve drugs or alcohol

●Felonies that involve a motor vehicle

●Hit and Runs

If your license to drive a personal vehicle is suspended, revoked, or cancelled due to alcohol or controlled substance related violations or felony violations, your CDL will be suspended for 1 year. If you have second conviction, your CDL will be suspended for life.

If your personal vehicle license is revoked, suspended, or cancelled, you will not be able to obtain a “hardship” license to drive a CMV.

Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Violations

If you violate any railroad-highway grade crossing law, your CDL will be suspended for 60 days on your first conviction. It will be suspended for 120 days on your second conviction and at least 1 year on your third conviction.

Below is a list of Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing violations:

●Drivers who are not always required to stop, failing to stop before reaching the crossing if the tracks are not clear.

●Drivers who are not always required to stop, failing to slow down and check that the tracks are clear of an approaching train.

●Drivers who are always required to stop, failing to stop before driving onto a crossing.

●All drivers, failing to have sufficient space to drive completely through the crossing without stopping.

●All drivers, failing to obey a traffic control device or the directions of an enforcement official at the crossing.

● All drivers, failing to negotiate a crossing because of insufficient undercarriage clearance