COMMUTING from home to work is an essential part of the American way of life. For many, driving also is a daily chore. Most people know they need a driver license to operate an automobile. But some employers and workers may not realize a commercial driver license (CDL) is needed to operate certain work-related vehicles.
“Sometimes people take the privilege of driving for granted,” said Benjamin Mangan, president of MANCOMM, a national publishing company that develops and distributes regulatory compliance and safety training material. “They may assume a driver license covers every vehicle a worker may need to drive. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations are very specific about commercial driver license requirements, when driving commercial motor vehicles.”
DOT regulations stipulate that workers must hold a CDL if the vehicle they will be operating meets the following definition — commercial motor vehicle means a motor vehicle, or combination of motor vehicles, used in commerce to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle:
A. Has a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds; or
B. Has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more; or
C. Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or
D. Is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous materials as defined by the DOT.
Exemptions to those requirements, however, exist on state and federal levels. Exemptions can include, and are not limited to, certain military drivers, farmers, firefighters, emergency response vehicle drivers, and drivers removing snow and ice. Off-road motorized construction equipment also is outside the scope of the DOT's requirements.
“It's always wise to check the regulations and keep current with them, since they change with time,” Mangan said. “Checking those regulations means paying close attention to details. For example, CMV waivers exist for farmers. But how does one define farmer? Could a person who grows sod receive a waiver? The answer is more complex than just a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ A person who grows sod as a business could be eligible for the farm waiver, providing that his or her state recognizes the growing of sod to be a farming activity.”
Test your CDL knowledge
Take the following quiz to test your knowledge about the use of a commercial driver license. Questions and answers are taken from MANCOMM's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Book.
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Are school and church bus drivers required to obtain a CDL?
A. School bus drivers, yes. Church bus drivers, no: that requirement does not apply to religious concerns.
B. No, because they are not carrying merchandise.
C. Yes, if they drive vehicles designed to transport 16 or more people.
D. None of the above
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May a person operate a CMV wholly on private property, not open to public travel, without a CDL?
A. Yes.
B. Yes, but only if the CMV is being used as part of a construction project.
C. Yes, but only if the CMV is a single-passenger vehicle.
D. No: if a person is operating a commercial motor vehicle, they must always have a commercial driver's license.
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Do drivers of either a tractor trailer or straight truck converted into a mobile office need a CDL?
A. Yes, if the vehicle meets the definition of a CMV.
B. No, because the vehicle can no longer be considered a CMV.
C. No, since mobile offices cannot be driven on public routes.
D. Mobile offices are covered solely by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.
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A state motor vehicle inspector who drives trucks and motorcoaches on an infrequent basis and for short distances as part of his or her job does not need a CDL.
A. True B. False
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Which of these would not be considered an example of off-road motorized construction equipment?
A. Backhoes
B. Bulldozers
C. Railroad track maintenance cranes
D. Jackhammers
E. C and D
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Does a mechanic need a CDL if he or she is operating a CMV or is only test-driving the vehicle?
A. No, because the vehicle is not part of their regular duties.
B. Yes, if he or she is employed by the government.
C. Yes, if the vehicle is operated or test-driven on a public highway.
D. None of the above.
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The civilian operator of a CMV operating solely on a military base open to public travel needs a CDL.
A. True B. False
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Are non-military amphibious landing craft that are usually used in water but occasionally used on a public highway considered CMVs?
A. No, since they are covered solely by maritime regulations.
B. Yes, if they are designed to transport 16 or more people.
C. Yes, if they are transporting merchandise as well as people.
D. B and C
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A person driving an empty school bus, designed for 16 or more passengers, from the manufacturer to the distributor does not need a CDL.
A. True B. False
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May a farmer who meets all the requirements of a farm waiver be waived from the CDL requirements when transporting another farmer's products?
A. Yes, since both individuals are farmers.
B. Yes, if the products are only being transported on rural roads.
C. No. If a farmer is being paid to transport another farmer's products, he or she is acting as a contract carrier and does not meet the conditions for a farm waiver.
D. None of the above.
The answers
- C
- A
- A
- B
- D
- C
- A
- B
- B
- C
If you answered seven or more of the above questions correctly: good job! “In all aspects of business, knowledge is power,” said Mangan. “It pays for every company with workers who operate vehicles to stay informed about CDL requirements. Those companies reduce their chances of having to deal with the aftermath of violating DOT regulations — namely, citations, fines, lost time, and productivity.”
Since 1996, MANCOMM and its partner company, American Safety Training Inc have been committed to helping businesses protect their workers by providing them with state-of-the-art safety products and training. For more information, visit www.mancomm.com.
Benjamin Mangan, president and founder of MANCOMM and American Safety Training Inc, also is an avid, instrument-rated pilot who enjoys flying to seminars and conferences to give safety presentations. He has written articles on safety for numerous business publications, including The John Liner Review, Dynamic Business, Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, Contractor Magazine, Lift Applications & Equipment, and Quad-City Business Journal.