When is a Commercial Driver’s License Required?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates commercial drivers. However, Missouri law has jurisdiction over several aspects of the commercial trucking industry, truck drivers, and commercial motor vehicles. Missouri is responsible for issuing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), and the Department of Revenue is in charge.

CDLs are typically required to operate vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds or two motor vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds each. They are often needed to drive semi-trucks, city buses, school buses, shuttles, delivery vans, large passenger vans, and more.

Additional endorsements may be required depending on the specific motor vehicle, such as school buses or tow trucks. Additional endorsements also apply to commercial vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals or toxic materials.

What Happens to Your CDL if You Get a Traffic Ticket?

Traffic violations can have severe consequences for all motorists in Missouri, but this is especially true for CDL holders. State and federal law hold CDL holders to a higher standard. This is partly because many commercial vehicles are much larger and heavier, meaning that they can cause severe damage to other motorists on the road. For a commercial driver’s license holder, a serious traffic violation could have long-lasting and job-threatening repercussions.

Traffic offenses can result in points being added to your CDL driving record. Many points will lead to consequences like driver’s license suspensions or disqualifications. Disqualification means that the driver’s commercial driving rights will be suspended, but they can continue to drive non-commercial vehicles and passenger cars if their traffic offense does not impact their civilian driver’s license.

Examples of CDL disqualifications in Missouri include the following:

  • 60-day disqualification for two convictions of serious traffic offenses within the last three years
  • 180-day disqualification for transporting hazardous materials while subject to an out-of-service order
  • One-year CDL disqualification for driving a commercial vehicle over the legal alcohol limit of 0.04% for commercial drivers
  • Lifetime disqualification for a second conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol while operating a commercial vehicle

What is Missouri’s Commercial Driver’s License Points System?

Missouri uses a points-based system to keep track of traffic tickets and moving or non-moving violations. When points are added to your commercial driver’s license, it can result in fines, penalties, revocations, suspensions, or disqualifications. The more serious the traffic violations, the more significant the impact on your CDL.

Driving 15 mph over the speed limit adds several points to your record. While a single traffic ticket may not disqualify you, several traffic tickets for speeding certainly can.

Reckless driving adds significant points to your record and could result in an immediate CDL suspension. If your reckless driving offense is considered a serious traffic violation in that it endangers public safety, it can lead to disqualification.

Running stop lights, stop signs, making improper lane changes, and driving while intoxicated can also result in points and potentially harsh consequences, both legally and otherwise.

How Serious Are Reckless Driving Charges?

Missouri law does not have a statute for reckless driving. Instead, it uses the terms ‘careless and imprudent‘ driving. This law is somewhat vague, but it is based on the idea that every driver should operate their vehicles prudently to ensure their safety and that of others on the roads.

Missouri law defines ‘prudent driving’ as driving at safe speeds for the conditions, defensive driving with the intent not to endanger people or property, and careful vehicle operation. Careless or imprudent driving can result in significant points being added to your driving record, which could result in CDL disqualification or an immediate suspension of commercial driving privileges.

Commercial driving employers must routinely check CDL driving records. Employers are less likely to hire drivers with several traffic violations, regardless of whether the ticket was for the driver’s personal or commercial vehicle. Points on your commercial driver’s license may increase your employer’s insurance premiums. For job security purposes, it is essential to maintain a clean record. There may be employment consequences for reckless driving charges. If you cannot operate a commercial vehicle because of a license suspension or disqualification, you are unlikely to keep your job as a commercial driver. This will undoubtedly have financial repercussions and may take a personal toll on truck drivers.

If you have a traffic violation for reckless driving, you must seek professional legal representation to help defend you against the charges. Please contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation with our legal team today.

What Are the Consequences of Reckless Driving Traffic Violations?

There are several consequences for being convicted of a careless and imprudent driving ticket. If your ticket is in state court, a violation on a personal driver’s license is typically characterized as a Class B misdemeanor, which has a potential of up to six months in jail and fines of up to $500. Additionally, four points would be added to your driving record, which can increase insurance premiums.

For drivers who carry CDLs, a guilty plea or conviction for a careless and imprudent driving offense could be disastrous. It could potentially result in the loss of their CDL license, which would lead to the loss of employment.

If you receive a reckless driving offense, you must seek legal counsel from traffic attorneys to defend your legal rights. The cost of hiring a traffic lawyer far outweighs the potential consequences and burdens you may experience if convicted of a traffic violation as a commercial driver.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Missouri Law Firm Today

Our Missouri law office has extensive experience assisting clients with complex legal matters stemming from traffic offenses. As a commercial driver, you must retain legal representation to defend your interests and way of life. If convicted, you could lose your job and face financial penalties.

Contact our law firm to speak with our lawyers about your case in a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Call us at 636-220-5934.

We look forward to speaking with you.