|
 The
FMCSA has published the Final Rule of changes to the CDL regulations. Published
July 31, 2002, the 24 page document makes some significant changes in obtaining,
renewing and violation reporting of the Commercial Drivers License.
New Regulatory Provisions cover:
-
Disqualification of Commercial
Drivers for driving while suspended, disqualified or causing a fatality.
-
Emergency disqualification of
drivers posing an imminent hazard.
-
An expanded definition of what
constitutes a serious traffic violation. click
here to review the disqualification tables
-
Extended driver license checks.
-
New requirements for notification.
-
Masking prohibitions.
-
Disqualification for certain
violations in non-commercial vehicles.
With an estimated cost of over $361
million in "later years", these new regulations focus on how
states issue CDL's, report driver's records and disqualify
Commercial Drivers.
The new regulations won't change the
way most trucking companies currently handle their driver's traffic conviction
requirements. However, it may impact companies who use drivers with less than
perfect driving records, through:
-
The addition of certain
serious violations committed in a non-commercial vehicle. For instance, a
driver who is convicted of speeding +15mph over the speed limit in
his/her private vehicle twice in a three year period could receive a 60 day
disqualification. Note: Violations prior to 9/30/02 will not count
towards disqualification. Only violations after the effective date will be
considered.
-
Limitation on "Hardship
Licenses". In the past CDL holders who had their licenses suspended or
revoked could receive a "hardship or work" license so that the
driver could continue to drive a commercial vehicle.
-
New endorsement requirements for
school bus drivers.
If nothing else, the new regulations
will make Commercial Drivers more aware of their driving record and hopefully
encourage them to maintain a "clean record". Because of individual
state participation, plan on many years before this is fully implemented. Look
at CDLIS, it's still not fully functional after all of these years.
Check out the new regulations and see
how they may impact your company. For a full copy of the regulations you can
click here. 
PDF
Version or HTML
Version.
Return to Top of Page
|
