US Commercial Driver's License & Driver Qualifications

Since 1992, all drivers of commercial motor vehicles in the United States have been required to hold a Commercial Driver’s License.

Commercial motor vehicles include large trucks, vehicles carrying hazardous materials, transit buses, school buses, over-the-road motorcoaches, and other vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver.  While the federal government does not require an individual to hold a CDL in order to operate a van or other vehicle designed to hold between 8 and 15 passengers, some states have adopted this requirement and several of the other driver qualification requirements listed at the bottom of this page apply to drivers of these vehicles.

Mechanics and other maintenance employees or other individuals who only operate and maintain vehicles on employer property and who do not operate on public roads or highways, are not required to obtain a CDL, unless a state requires otherwise.

CDL Tests and Endorsements

In order to obtain a CDL, an individual must pass state-administered knowledge and skill tests specific to the type of vehicle they intend to operate.  Most ATU members must also obtain an appropriate endorsement for their CDL, typically a Passenger Vehicle (“P”) endorsement or a School Bus (“S”) endorsement.

Employer Notifications

Within 30 days of a conviction for any traffic violation, except parking, a CDL holder must notify his/her employer, regardless of the nature of the violation or the type of vehicle which was driven at the time.

If a driver's license is suspended, revoked, canceled, or if he/she is disqualified from driving, his/her employer must be notified. 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.

CDL Disqualification Penalties

As of October 1, 2005, individuals holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in the United States are subject to harsh new disqualification penalties and other restrictions that could result in the loss of their CDL. 

Under these new regulations, a driver may have his or her CDL suspended or revoked if they are convicted of certain offenses or traffic violations in either a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) or in their own personal car or other non-commercial motor vehicle (non-CMV).

Click here to read a Summary of the CDL Disqualification Penalties.

Other Driver Qualification Requirements

In addition to the CDL requirement, the federal government imposes other requirements on individuals operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce, as well as individuals operating large commercial vans (designed to carry between 8 and 15 passengers).  These requirements do not apply to public transit employees unless a state has adopted similar requirements that specifically cover employees of public transit agencies.

Qualification of Drivers

In order to operate a commercial motor vehicle an individual must be:

• at least 21 years of age;
• able to read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records; and
• physically qualified to operate a CMV, as determined by a licensed medical examiner in accordance with the medical examination guidelines issued by the FMCSA  (Click here to view the FMCSA Physical Qualifications regulations)

Hours of Service

The following time limitations apply to individuals operating a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle:

• maximum of ten (10) hours driving after a minimum of eight (8) consecutive hours off-duty;
• maximum of fifteen (15) hours on-duty after eight (8) consecutive hours off-duty;
• maximum of sixty (60) hours on-duty within seven (7) consecutive days if the employer does not operate every day of the week; and
• maximum of seventy (70) hours on-duty within eight (8) consecutive days if the employer does operate every day of the week.

CDL in the News

Proceedings of the Medical Review Board Public Meetings 

FMCSA Appoints Medical Review Board – March 7, 2006