MOTOR CARRIER DIVISION UTAH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Chapter 12

Commercial Driver's License

A driver must obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to operate any of the following vehicles used to transport passengers or cargo:

  • A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
  • A combination of vehicles with a combined gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, when pulling a trailer rated for 10,001 pounds or more.
  • A vehicle designed to transport 16 or more people (including the driver).
  • Any size vehicle that requires hazardous materials placards.

A driver will be disqualified from operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle for a tleast one year if the driver is convicted of any of the following offenses:

  • Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while operating aCMV
  • Driving a CMV with a blood alcohol level of 0.04 percent or more
  • Leaving the scene of an accident involving a CMV
  • Using a CMV to commit a felony
  • Failing to stop at a railroad grade crossing when required todo so (disqualified for at least 60 days)
  • Violating an out of service order (disqualified for at least 90 days)
  • Causing a fatality through negligent operation of a CMV
  • Operating a CMV when the driver’s CDL is revoked, suspended or cancelled
  • For not less than 60 days for offenses committed in a non-CMV as listed in 49 CFR 383.51

THREE CLASSES OF THE COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSES

Class C is valid for:

  • Drivers operating Class D vehicles that transport hazardous materialsin amounts that require the vehicle to be placarded. (A Class Dlicense is valid for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 26,000pounds or less, or a vehicle combination with a power unit with aGVW of 26,000 pounds or less and a trailer with a GVW of 10,000pounds or less.)
  • Drivers operating school buses designed to transport 15 or fewerpassengers, including the driver. The license must show a SchoolBus endorsement.

Class B is valid for:

  • A single unit vehicle with a GVW over 26,000 pounds.
  • Vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers, includingthe driver.The holder of a Class B license may only tow vehicles with a gross vehicleweight of 10,000 pounds or fewer when operating a Class B power unit.

Class A is valid for:

  • Vehicle combinations in excess of 26,000 pounds that have towed units with a GVW over 10,000 pounds.

CDL Flowchart

CDL ENDORSEMENTS

49 CFR 383

Commercial drivers license endorsements are:

  • H - Hazardous Materials
  • K - Intrastate only - restriction
  • L - Air brake - restriction
  • N - Tanker
  • P - Passengers
  • S - School bus
  • T - Double or triple trailer
  • X - Tanker and hazardous materials

BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR DRIVERS WITH CDL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ENDORSEMENTS

49 CFR 1572

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the USDOT have issued regulations establishing new eligibility criteria for persons holding a hazardous materials endorsement on a CDL. No person may hold or renew a CDL with a hazmat endorsement, or be granted a new CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement if:

  • The individual is not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
  • The individual has been convicted of a disqualifying criminal offense in the past seven years or released from incarceration in the last five years for committing any of the disqualifying offenses.
  • The individual has been notified by the TSA that they pose a security threat as described in 40 CFR 1572.107