FMCSA Seeks to Tighten CDL Rules

New rules proposed July 27 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would increase the number of offenses termed serious enough to revoke a commercial drivers license.

At the same time, the rules would give the agency the authority to shut down state licensing programs that don’t meet federal standards.

“This comprehensive rulemaking will strengthen commercial motor vehicle driver licensing requirements and enhance highway safety by ensuring that only safe drivers operate large trucks and buses,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said.

New licensing requirements proposed in the rulemaking require individual states to check driver records for CDL applicants in all states where the driver was previously licensed to drive any type of vehicle.

The proposal also would require drivers to be disqualified after a first conviction of driving while suspended, driving while disqualified, or causing a fatality.

This is the second CDL proposal the agency has issued since the beginning of May. The first required states to revoke licenses of drivers who have been convicted of drunk driving and other serious traffic violations. Both proposals would apply to offenses committed in passenger as well as commercial vehicles.

The proposed changes to the CDL rules were ordered by Congress in an attempt to crack down on truck drivers who commit numerous traffic offenses and to tighten up state licensing procedures so that truck drivers cannot obtain licenses if they have a history of traffic offenses in both trucks and passenger vehicles.

(Click here for the full press release.)

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