What is the meaning of cdl license

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Overview

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. In order to obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), an applicant must pass both skills and knowledge testing geared to these higher standards. Additionally CDL holders are held to a higher standard when operating any type of motor vehicle on public roads. Serious traffic violations committed by a CDL holder can affect their ability to maintain their CDL certification.

Licensing

Driving a commercial motor vehicle is a big responsibility. It requires special skills and knowledge. Most drivers must obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL) through their home State (it is illegal to have a license from more than one State). In addition, special endorsements may be required if you or your company drivers will be driving any of the following vehicles:

  • a truck with double or triple trailers
  • a truck with a tank
  • a truck carrying hazardous materials
  • a passenger vehicle

Contact your State licensing bureau (e.g., Department of Motor Vehicles) for details.

Highlights

  • How Do I Get a Commercial Driver's License?
  • Driver Resources
  • State and Local Government Resources

What's New?

Any summary, description, or paraphrase of a regulatory requirement on this site is intended to provide general guidance only.  Please consult the text of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for a full account of the applicable requirements.

Reminder

FMCSA does not issue Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs). State governments are responsible for issuing CDLs.

Last updated: Thursday, June 30, 2022

What Does Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Mean?

A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is a legal certification to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) on public highways and roads with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds (or more), independent of, but also including, towage that covers trailer attachments with an allowable limit up to or exceeding 10,000 pounds. CDL classification falls into three categories including Class A, Class B, and Class C, with each class furnishing endorsements. When taking a CDL examination, endorsements serve as the criteria for operating distinct commercial motor vehicles, for example, a Class C license permits operation of vehicles with a passenger occupancy of 16 or more coupled with the transport of hazardous materials.

WorkplaceTesting Explains Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

After receiving a CDL license, drivers can apply for additional endorsements that carry distinctive requirements including background check, written and road aptitude testing, marginal fees, periodic license renewal and, in some states, criminal history. The CDL classification system follows a set of strict guidelines where the number of endorsements contributes to career prospects in the transportation industry. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides the exemption of CDL licensure for motor vehicle operators within agricultural and governmental occupations (such as firefighting).

Individuals with traffic violations that include driving under the influence (DUI), accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities, conveying illegal substances, fleeing an accident scene, and possessing an invalid CDL license, are liability issues where revocation or suspension ensues. Consequently, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (CMVSA) is a federal mandate that sets the precedence in addressing negligence on the road and precluding multiple licenses for drivers, which serves as a loophole in sidestepping revocations or suspensions across different states. The facility of retrieving and interchanging traffic violation information reinforces CDL standards in holding CMV operators responsible against stringent penalties.

The interrelationship between employers and employees reflects their solidarity to promote safe transportation methods on public highways in full compliance with federal and state regulations. FMCSA subsections that cover disclosure of any convictions of traffic violations by the driver to the state and their employer, along with consistent oversight of motor vehicle reports (MVR) to determine their legitimacy, is imperative to companies. Moreover, CMV operators that have two or three traffic violations inside three years coupled with vehicular accidents outside of work can impede CDL eligibility requirements.

What does CDL mean?

CDL stands for Commercial Driver's License. In order to drive a commercial motor vehicle in the United States, the driver must hold a valid Commercial Driver's License, or “CDL”.

What is the highest CDL license?

A Class C CDL is the last license class and it covers the rest, i.e. what Class A and B do not. It authorizes the holder to drive any single vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,000 pounds, given that the towed vehicle has a GVWR of less than 10,000 pounds.

What is CDL USA?

A CDL is a driver's license required for drivers who wish to drive across state lines in the United States to operate any type combination of vehicle which has vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 pounds (11,793 kg) pounds.

What class C means?

Class C. Authorizes an individual to drive: Single vehicle or combination of vehicles that are not included in Class A or B. Single vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds towing a farm trailer with a GVWR that does not exceed 20,000 pounds. Designed to transport 23 or less passengers including the driver.