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Driver's License

All commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers must be appropriately licensed to drive the specific type of vehicles they operate. Appropriate licenses are either an Operator’s License issued by one State or jurisdiction, a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) (with proper endorsements as necessary), a Canadian License or a Licencias Federales de Conductor issued by the Mexican Government. In order to obtain any of these licenses, drivers must have passed a knowledge and skills test for the appropriate type of vehicle.

 

An Operator's License is required for drivers of CMVs that

  • Have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 10,000 - 26,000 lbs (including towing vehicle)
  • Transport 8 - 15 passengers (including the driver) for compensation (for-hire)

 

(See FMCSR General Regulation Definitions and Guidance for more information)

 


Exceptions
  • Farm vehicles and their drivers when the vehicle is:
    • Controlled and operated by a farmer as a private motor carrier of property
    • Being used to transport either agricultural products of farm machinery and/or supplies to or from a farm
    • Not being used in operation of a for-hire carrier
    • Not carrying placardable HM
    • Being used within 150 air miles of the farm
  • Vehicle controlled by a beekeeper engaged in seasonal transportation bees
  • School buses, Federal/State operations, property moved not for commerce, carrying corpses, ambulances, fire trucks responding to an emergency, 9-15 passengers private vehicles, propane, winter heating fuel

 

A CDL is required for drivers of CMVs that:

  • Have a GVWR or GCWR of 26,001 lbs or more (including towed trailers/vehicles)
  • Transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) either for compensation (for-hire) or not for compensation (private)
  • Transport placardable amounts of Hazardous Materials (see 49CFR part 172 subpart F)

 

(See FMCSR General Regulation Definitions and Guidance for CDL for more information)

 

In addition, drivers of certain vehicles requiring a CDL must pass additional tests to obtain an appropriate endorsement as explained on FMCSA's Commercial Driver's License webpage.

 


Exceptions
  • Military drivers operating a CMV for military purposes
  • Farm vehicle drivers when the vehicle is
    • Controlled and operated by a farmer as a private motor carrier of property
    • Being used to transport either agricultural products or farm machinery and/or supplies to or from a farm
    • Not being used in the operations of a for-hire carrier
    • Not carrying placardable HM
    • Being used within 150 air miles of the farm
  • Firefighters, emergency response vehicle drivers, and drivers removing snow and ice
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 • 1-800-832-5660 • TTY: 1-800-877-8339 • Field Office Contacts