If you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL), that license is issued by the state you live in. The rules that control the CDL, however, are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Federal rules concerning public safety tend to be strict, and CDLs are no exception.
A person with a CDL is held to a higher standard than an ordinary driver. This is especially true when it comes to DUI charges, where the punishments are incredibly harsh. Not only that, but because they’re set at the federal level, the penalties are completely non-negotiable.
A driver’s license suspension automatically disqualifies you from using a CDL.
If you hold a CDL in Indiana, there is a good chance that your ability to drive is directly related to your capacity to earn money. When you make your living driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), driving is not just related to your livelihood—it is your livelihood.
CDL complications can be devastating, because even a temporary disqualification of your CDL could cost you your job. In the State of Indiana, there are a variety of offenses that can result in the disqualification of your CDL status.
Some of these offenses are pretty straightforward and apply to both personal motor vehicles and CMVs. For example, leaving the scene of an accident results in a one-year CDL disqualification.
A DUI arrest in your personal vehicle can also jeopardize your CDL. Indiana law specifically provides that any court judgment, court order, or administrative proceeding that results in a suspension of a person’s driving privileges also suspends any driver’s license or permit held by the person.
This means that even if you are convicted of a traffic offense on your own time and in your own vehicle, your CDL could still be disqualified—potentially ruining your ability to earn a living. This blog will cover:
- the violations that Indiana considers serious traffic offenses;
- offenses that result in a CDL disqualification
- what a DUI means for a CDL holder; and
- what a CDL holder can do to protect their livelihood.
