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The Curious Bag
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The abbreviation CDL stands for commercial driver's license. A commercial driver's license is required by law when driving a CMV, which stands for commercial motor vehicle.
Features
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a Class A CDL license is required when driving a vehicle that weighs more than 26,001 pounds or is towing a vehicle that weighs more than 10,000 pounds.
History
A commercial driver's license has been required to drive a commercial motor vehicle since April 1, 1992. According to the FMCSA, the requirement of a CDL was spurred by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Act of 1986.
CDL Testing
The Class A CDL test must contain at least 30 questions; 80 percent of the questions must be answered correctly. The driving portion of the test must be taken in a vehicle that would be considered to need a Class A CDL license in order to drive it.
Considerations
Someone can be "grandfathered," or not required to take a test, when applying for a Class A CDL. In order to be grandfathered, one must have a good driving record, have previously passed an acceptable skills test, or has acceptable CMV driving experience.
Warning
According to FMSCA, a person that is caught driving a CMV without a Class A CDL can face fines up to $5,000 and/or up to 90 days in jail.
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