CDL (Commercial Driver's License)

To help reduce the number of serious truck accidents, every truck driver is required to be licensed in his or her state of principal residence, with a driving record kept in a centralized computer for access by each state. This rule also applies to Michigan truck drivers. According to federal law, each state is required to adopt uniform testing standards for commercial drivers prior to being licensed.

A CDL is required to operate the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the GCWR of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds;
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more people, including the driver; and
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded with transporting hazardous materials.

However, the following vehicle operators are NOT required to obtain a CDL:

• Farm equipment operators;
• Vehicles used to transport farm products, equipment or supplies to and from a farm;
• Vehicles used within 150 air miles of a farm;
• Vehicles not used in operations of a contract carrier;
• Individuals operating motor homes or other vehicles used exclusively to transport personal possessions or family members for non-business purposes;
• Police and firefighters operating authorized emergency vehicles; and
• Firefighting equipment operators, military vehicle operators and recreational vehicle operators, if the vehicle is primarily used for personal use.

For certain vehicles, special endorsements are required:

• Double/triple tractor-trailers,
• Passenger vehicles,
• Tank vehicles,
• Semi-trucks carrying hazardous materials,
• Combination tank and hazardous materials, and
• Vehicles with air brakes.

The truck accident lawyers of Michigan Auto Law have helped enforce important CDL regulations to make our roads safer. No other law firm in Michigan has received more jury verdicts or consistently higher settlements for truck accident cases. In fact, the vast majority of our wrongful death and personal injury cases from truck accidents are referred to us by local attorneys, based upon our record of experience and success.

To request a free, no obligation case evaluation with one of our truck accident attorneys, please fill out our contact form and we will respond to your inquiry within one business day. Or to speak to an attorney immediately, please call (800) 777-0028.