FMCSA Toughens CDL Requirements

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a final rule on July 31 designed to strengthen the licensing and sanctioning requirements of the commercial driver’s license (CDL) program for truck and bus drivers.

The final rule, which will take effect September 30, now allows FMCSA to disqualify commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers convicted of traffic violations while operating a passenger vehicle that resulted in their license being cancelled, revoked or suspended, or of committing drug- and alcohol-related offenses while driving a passenger vehicle. The rule also disqualifies anyone driving a CMV after a CDL was revoked, suspended or cancelled for operating a CMV, or anyone who caused a fatality through negligent or criminal operation of a CMV.

To view the rule, visit http://dms.dot.gov, and search docket numbers FMCSA-2001-9709 and FMCSA-00-7382.