THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT OF 1986 AND CLASSIFIED DRIVER LICENSING

In nineteen states a person licensed to drive an automobile can also legally drive a tractor-trailer. No special training or special license is required, even though it is widely recognized that certain types of vehicles call for special skills, knowledge, training and other qualifications. The 31 states with a classified system vary in categories for commercial vehicles from an unspecified weight limit in Illinois to 40,000 pounds in Virginia, and only 12 actually test an individual in the type of heavy commercial vehicle they will drive. Another serious problem is presented by multiple driver licenses. Some commercial drivers have avoided possible license suspension or revocation for traffic law violations by holding driver licenses in more than one state. The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 enacted by Congress on October 18, 1986, addresses these problems. The Act makes it illegal for a commercial motor vehicle operator to have more than one driver license. It also requires the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to develop uniform standards for testing and licensing of operators of vehicles 26,000 pounds or more GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating), of vehicles carrying hazardous materials, or of passenger vehicles with 15 or more passengers. The Act establishes sanctions for states that do not implement the uniform national standards by September 30, 1993. The Act makes provisions for the Secretary, in cooperation with the states, to develop a clearinghouse to aid the states in implementing the one-license requirement, and to record the issuance of a commercial driver license. Additionally, the Act stipulates operator disqualifications and provides for financial grants to assist states in implementing the testing and licensing standards. In accordance with the Act, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation issued Federal Regulations covering standards for the testing and licensing of Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers, including a driver licensing classification and endorsement system for commercial motor vehicles, on July 15, 1988. This paper outlines the general requirements of the Federal Regulations.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Publication Date: 1988-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 14 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commercial vehicles; Driver licenses; Driver licensing; Driving tests; Hazardous materials; Laws and legislation; Sanctions; Standards; Transportation; Truck drivers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Clearinghouses
• Old TRIS Terms: Commercial motor vehicle safety act, 1986
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Law; Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General); I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00475965
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 30 1988 12:00AM