When do you need a commercial drivers license?

Answer 1

Whenever you're operating a vehicle which requires one. Such vehicles include:

• Commercial or business use vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating in excess of 26,000 lbs. and not falling under DOT exemptions for CDL requirements.
• Commercial or business use vehicle combinations with a Gross Combined Weight Rating in excess of 26,000 lbs., and not falling under DOT exemptions for CDL requirements.
• Any vehicle of any weight class which is laden with a quantity of hazardous materials requiring the display of hazmat placards in accordance with CFR 49

Answer 2

Whenever you're operating a vehicle which requires one. Such vehicles include:

• Commercial or business use vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating in excess of 26,000 lbs. and not falling under DOT exemptions for CDL requirements.
• Commercial or business use vehicle combinations with a Gross Combined Weight Rating in excess of 26,000 lbs., and not falling under DOT exemptions for CDL requirements.
• Any vehicle of any weight class which is laden with a quantity of hazardous materials requiring the display of hazmat placards in accordance with CFR 49 § 172.
• Any vehicle of any weight class which is a bus designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver), whether or not it is carrying passengers at the time.

Some vehicles would require a CDL if used for commercial purposes, but do not because they fall under one of the following exemptions:

• Registered farm vehicles - when operated by the farmer, immediate family members of the farmer, or direct employees of the farmer, within a 150 mile radius of the farm, and provided that the vehicle is registered as a farm vehicle with farm vehicle plates, and is used only for the purposes of that farm, and not contracted out on a for-hire basis.
• Recreational vehicles - when titled as such and operated by private users for solely recreational purposes. The people who transport them from the dealership to the manufacturer may still be required to possess a CDL in the instances of single vehicles or combination with a GVWR/GCWR in excess of 26,000 lbs.
• Military vehicles - when operated by military personnel in the course of their military duties. This extends to members of the National Guard and Reserve, but does not apply to DoD civilians or contractors.
• Firefighting and first response vehicles - the federal government does not require them to be operated by a CDL licensed driver when used on official business, although some states and individual departments require the drivers to get CDLs.