When you are considering a job that requires you to drive for a living, you may need to have a commercial driving license to perform the job legally. The steps to get a commercial license may not be the same for every state, so it is critical that you check with your local department of transportation for the requirements in your state.

Types of Licenses

The commercial driving license you need can depend on the type of vehicle you are going to drive. Truck drivers have specific requirements that apply to the vehicle size, weight, and even the cargo they are carrying, while other industries may be extremely different. 

A bus driver may be driving a large bus, but they often require a license that is specifically for vehicles carrying people, not cargo. The things they need to know may be similar to that of a truck driver, but because they are open operating on roads with more traffic and lower speeds, the challenges for bus drivers will be different than those that commercial truck drivers face. 

Drivers License Training

Often the state issuing the commercial driving license will require the driver to have completed a training program of some kind. The training may include classroom and driving time, and the instructor will need to sign off saying you completed the training and are ready for a commercial driving license. 

The driver will still need to take the test for the state licensing department in most states, but after the training, the driver should be able to pass the test without any problem. Even after passing the test, a lot of companies that employ commercial drivers require the driver to go through on-the-job training to make sure that the driver is familiar with the procedures that the company wants their drivers to use.

Safety and Revokation

A driver that holds a commercial driving license must follow the rules for the vehicle they are driving. A large truck another heavy vehicle is hard to stop will maneuver slower and can cause an accident much easier than a passenger vehicle. In many states, the fines for drivers holding a commercial driving license are much higher than for people with passenger vehicle licenses. 

The potential for a commercial driver to get into trouble and have their license suspended or revoked is very real. The law in many states can still affect a driver with a commercial driving license when driving a personal car, so it is important to drive carefully, even when off duty.