CDL Disqualification Offenses and How Long Each One Lasts
Federal rules set minimum CDL disqualifications for major offenses, serious traffic violations, railroad crossings and out-of-service orders. Some apply even to tickets in your own car.
Federal rules in 49 CFR 383.51 require states to disqualify a commercial driver’s license for set periods after certain convictions. A first major offense, such as driving under the influence, costs a CDL holder at least 1 year, or 3 years if the driver was hauling placarded hazmat. A second major offense means disqualification for life. Many offenses count even when they happen in a personal vehicle.
What are the major offenses that disqualify a CDL?
Major offenses carry the longest periods. These are the federal minimums from Table 1 of 49 CFR 383.51; states can set longer ones.
| Offense | First conviction | First, hauling hazmat | Second conviction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving under the influence of alcohol (any vehicle) | 1 year | 3 years | Life |
| Driving under the influence of a controlled substance (any vehicle) | 1 year | 3 years | Life |
| Alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more in a CMV | 1 year | 3 years | Life |
| Refusing an alcohol test under implied consent (any vehicle) | 1 year | 3 years | Life |
| Leaving the scene of an accident (any vehicle) | 1 year | 3 years | Life |
| Using a vehicle to commit a felony (any vehicle) | 1 year | 3 years | Life |
| Driving a CMV while the CDL is revoked, suspended, cancelled or disqualified | 1 year | 3 years | Life |
| Causing a fatality through negligent operation of a CMV | 1 year | 3 years | Life |
| Using a vehicle in a felony involving making, distributing or dispensing a controlled substance | Life | Life | Life |
| Using a CMV in a felony involving severe forms of human trafficking | Life | Life | Life |
The 0.04 limit applies only in a commercial vehicle. In a personal car, the state’s ordinary DUI limit applies, but a conviction still disqualifies the CDL.
Can a lifetime CDL disqualification be lifted?
Yes, for most major offenses. A state may reinstate a driver disqualified for life after 10 years if the driver completes a state-approved rehabilitation program. A driver reinstated this way who is later convicted of another major offense is disqualified for life with no second reinstatement. The controlled substance felony and human trafficking offenses are permanent, with no 10-year option.
What counts as a serious traffic violation for a CDL holder?
Serious traffic violations disqualify a CDL when a driver has two or more convictions within 3 years. A single conviction does not trigger a federal disqualification, although it goes on your record and an employer will see it.
| Violation | Second in 3 years | Third or more in 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding 15 mph or more over the limit | 60 days | 120 days |
| Reckless driving | 60 days | 120 days |
| Improper or erratic lane changes | 60 days | 120 days |
| Following too closely | 60 days | 120 days |
| Traffic control violation connected to a fatal crash | 60 days | 120 days |
| Driving a CMV without a CLP or CDL, or without it in your possession | 60 days | 120 days |
| Driving a CMV without the proper class or endorsement | 60 days | 120 days |
| Texting while driving a CMV | 60 days | 120 days |
| Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving a CMV | 60 days | 120 days |
The first five apply to tickets in a personal vehicle too, but only if the conviction leads to a revocation, cancellation or suspension of your personal license. A driver who proves to the court by the payment or court date that they held a valid license when cited avoids the “not in possession” violation. Endorsement requirements are in our guide to CDL endorsements and restrictions.
What are the railroad crossing violations?
Railroad-highway grade crossing violations in a CMV carry at least 60 days for a first conviction, 120 days for a second within 3 years and 1 year for a third within 3 years. The six offenses:
- not slowing down and checking that the tracks are clear, where the driver is not always required to stop;
- not stopping before the crossing when the tracks are not clear, where the driver is not always required to stop;
- not stopping before driving onto the crossing, for drivers always required to stop, such as hazmat haulers;
- entering the crossing without enough space to drive completely through;
- not obeying a traffic control device or an officer at the crossing; and
- failing to clear the crossing because of insufficient undercarriage clearance.
What happens if I violate an out-of-service order?
Driving while under a driver or vehicle out-of-service order brings a disqualification of 180 days to 1 year for a first conviction, 2 to 5 years for a second within 10 years and 3 to 5 years for a third. Hauling placarded hazmat or driving a vehicle designed for 16 or more passengers raises the first-conviction range to 180 days to 2 years and the second to 3 to 5 years. Federal civil penalties for the driver and the carrier apply on top of the disqualification.
Do drug and alcohol testing violations affect the CDL?
Yes, through the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rather than Table 1. Since November 18, 2024, states must remove the commercial privilege from the license of a driver whose Clearinghouse status is “prohibited” because of a positive test, a refusal or another violation. The privilege stays off until the driver completes the return-to-duty process with a substance abuse professional. The steps are in our guide to the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
Federal rules also bar states from masking or deferring CDL holders’ convictions. A diversion program or deferred adjudication that keeps a ticket off a car driver’s record cannot do the same for a CDL holder.
Bottom line
Disqualification periods stack. Each conviction from a separate incident is counted, and a new period starts after any earlier one ends, so two offenses close together can keep a driver out of a truck far longer than either alone. Because personal-vehicle tickets count, a CDL holder facing a DUI, reckless driving or 15-over charge in their own car should treat it as a career matter and talk to a traffic attorney before pleading. Losing medical certification is a separate route to losing the CDL, covered in the DOT physical guide.
FAQ
Does a DUI in my personal car affect my CDL?
Yes. A DUI conviction in any vehicle disqualifies a CDL for at least 1 year for a first offense and for life for a second.
How many speeding tickets before I lose my CDL?
Two convictions for speeding 15 mph or more over the limit, or two of any serious traffic violations, within 3 years bring a 60-day disqualification. A third brings 120 days. Lesser speeding tickets do not count toward this rule, but states may have their own point systems.
Can a lawyer reduce a ticket to keep my CDL?
A court can convict on a different charge if the facts support it, but federal rules forbid masking or deferring a CDL holder’s conviction. An attorney can explain the options under your state’s law.
Do these rules apply to a CLP holder?
Yes. The disqualification tables apply to holders of a commercial learner’s permit as well as a CDL.
