Ways Truckers Can Lose Their CDL

For any trucker, losing or facing a CDL license temporary suspension can be an absolute nightmare. Losing the ability to drive will leave the driver without a job and affect his future career. Unfortunately, companies don’t want to hire truckers with bad driving records out of liability concerns. Here are several situations that every truck driver should avoid if they don’t want their CDL being suspended.

Failing a Drug Test

FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse has access to all information about drug and alcohol-related tests and issues. And for a truck driver’s career, it is vital to pass every drug test they take. These can be tests when applying for a new job, or if you are suspected of a drug use at your current job. Also, each truck driver may be randomly selected for unannounced drug tests. Thus, they must come to the testing center immediately to take the test. If drivers don’t pass the drug test, usually they lose their CDL and job in the trucking industry.

Driving while intoxicated

Any driver knows that drunk driving is unacceptable. What newbie truckers may not know is that driving a CMV with an alcohol concentration of .04 percent or higher can lead to losing a commercial driver’s license for 1 year. In addition, truckers can lose CDL temporarily even if they drive drunk in their personal car during their down time.

Getting Certain Traffic Violations

Major violations include the following:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Driving a commercial vehicle under a revoked CDL
• Negligently causing death with your commercial vehicle
• Using a vehicle to commit a felony
• Refusing a chemical test to detect drugs or alcohol

If you are convicted of two serious traffic offenses within three years, your CDL will be suspended for 60 days. Remember, CDL suspencion may be aplied for any offense which you commit, even if you are not operating a commercial vehicle.

Leaving the scene of an accident

Fleeing the scene of an accident is the same serious offense as inebriated driving and for the first time, it will lead to a one-year suspension. But the repetition of such a situation will be a reason for a lifetime disqualification.

Letting the license lapse

Driving a commercial vehicle with an expired CDL is a big mistake. This can lead not only to the need to pay a fine but also to a loss of a license. That is why it is very important that truckers renew their CDL on time, which includes passing a medical examination, paying fees, and providing a current license.

Other Factors That Might Cause Loss of a CDL

This may surprise you, but there are some non-driving offenses that might cause truckers to lose their CDL. This list depends on the driver’s state of residence but may include failure to pay child support, bouncing a check, tax debt, etc. 

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