CDL Requirements

What CDL License is Required?

The Federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 mandated new requirements for the testing and licensing of commercial motor vehicle operators. While detailed information on these requirements may be found in the Commercial Driver’s Manual (PUB 223), this Fact Sheet will provide you with a brief overview of the CDL program as a whole.

Who Must Have A Commercial Driver's License(CDL)?

Anyone who drives a commercial motor vehicle. The definition of a commercial motor vehicle is:

• a. a combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds;
• b. a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds;
• c. a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver;
• d. a school bus; or
• e. any vehicle that is transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in accordance with State and Federal regulations.

Commercial motor vehicles do not include:

• a. implements of husbandry;
• b. any motor home or recreational trailer operated solely for personal use; or
• c. motorized construction equipment, including, but not limited to, motorscrapers, backhoes, motorgraders, compactors, excavators, tractors, trenchers and bulldozers.

Who Must Submit A Self-Certification Form?

Every driver who currently has a commercial driver’s license, as well as every driver applying for a commercial learner’s permit, must self-certify the type of driving in which they operate or expect to operate in i.e., Non-excepted Interstate; Non-excepted Intrastate; Excepted Interstate; or Excepted Intrastate. The self-certification process will identify commercial drivers that operate in Non-excepted transportation, therefore identifying which drivers are required to submit a copy of their valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate to PennDOT.

Are There Any Exemptions From The CDL Program

Yes, the following persons are not required to obtain a CDL in order to drive a specified commercial motor vehicle:

• a. a firefighter who has a certificate of authorization from his fire chief while operating fire or emergency vehicles registered to the fire department;
• b. a driver of a farm vehicle which is controlled and operated by a farmer and used exclusively to transport agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies to or from a farm owned or operated by the owner of the farm vehicle. The farm vehicle may not be used in common or contract carriage and may be used only within 150 miles of the farm;
• c. active duty military personnel, personnel on full-time National Guard duty, personnel on inactive National Guard duty training or part-time National Guard training and National Guard military technicians who are required to wear military uniforms while operating equipment owned or operated by the Department of Defense.

What Are The Classes Of Commercial Driver Licenses?

In accordance with the licensing requirements of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act, the license classifications are:

• CLASS A - combination vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• CLASS B - single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• CLASS C - single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,001 pounds if the vehicle is: transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding; is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or, is a school bus.