Getting a commercial driver’s license will be way more difficult for many people in the United States. New rules are about to be implemented and will change who can be eligible for this type of license, and what are the requirements to obtain it. These rules aim to increase road safety and make sure that only well prepared and legally authorized drivers can drive heavy vehicles.
Generally, when we hear about driving licenses on the news, most people just think about particular driving licenses because they are more common. However, on the United States roads there are many types of vehicles driving and each of them has their own license requirements, which may change depending on state or federal laws. So, let’s learn more about this.
Regular and commercial driver’s license
The main difference between a regular driver’s license and a commercial one is the type of vehicle you can legally drive. Let’s explain them in more detail.
A regular driver’s license allows you to drive Class D vehicles, they are personal most cars and small trucks used for everyday transportation. To get this license, drivers take a written test and a road test, and must meet certain vision and age requirements. These licenses are fairly simple to get and to renew.
Then, a commercial driver’s license is compulsory for those who drive heavy vehicles because of work reasons. Here, we can find 3 main types of commercial licenses:
- Class A: it allows you to drive tractor-trailers or other combination vehicles.
- Class B : this one is for single heavy vehicles weighing over 26,001 pounds.
- Class C: for vehicles designed to carry 16 or more passengers, or those that transport hazardous materials.
To get a commercial drivers’ license in the United States, drivers must pass additional exams (both theory and practice) and match stricter federal standards when it comes to health, safety, and capability.
The United States getting stricter
New legislation from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will soon take effect, changing the way states issue commercial driver’s licenses. The DOT has announced that states must follow these new rules or risk losing federal highway funding. According to an official announcement from DOT:
“Moving forward, non-citizens will not be eligible for a non-domiciled CDL unless they meet a much stricter set of rules, including an employment-based visa and undergoing a mandatory federal immigration status check using the SAVE system.”
This means that non-citizens who want to apply for a commercial driver’s license must meet stricter immigration and employment requirements. From the end of September, states are no longer allowed to issue non-domiciled CDLs indefinitely. They must comply with the new rules or stop issuing these licenses.
Other changes in the United States
These new federal rules are happening at the same time as the strengthening of the REAL ID program, which requires all Americans to have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card to fly domestically or enter federal facilities. What’s more, several states are modernizing their processes through the digitalization of licenses and the renewal of driving licenses online.
For example, North Carolina approved a law that allows drivers to renew their driving licenses online, with the exception of those who have a REAL ID. This measure aims to reduce waiting time at DMV, simplify paperworks, and make sure more people have a valid and legal driving license.
Basically, the government of the United States is reinforcing road safety with these stricter regulations and the modernization of its renewal processes by making them online. Do you think what they are doing it is a positive change for drivers in the United States?