1.4 Other CDL Rules

There are other federal and state rules that affect drivers operating CMVs in all states. Among them are:

  • You cannot have more than one license. If you break this rule, a court may fine you up to $5,000 or put you in jail
  •  You must notify your employer within 30 days of conviction for any traffic violations (except parking). This is true no matter what type of vehicle you were driving.
  • You must notify your motor vehicle licensing agency within 30 days if you are convicted in any other jurisdiction of any traffic violation (except parking). This is true no matter what type of vehicle you were driving.
  • You must notify your employer within two business days if your license is suspended, revoked, or canceled, or if you are disqualified from driving.
  • You must give your employer information on all driving jobs you have held for the past 10 years. You must do this when you apply for a commercial driving job.
  • No one can drive a commercial motor vehicle without a CDL. A court may fine you up to $5,000 or put you in jail for breaking this rule.
  • If you have a hazardous materials endorse­ment you must notify and surrender your hazardous materials endorsement to the state that issued your CDL within 24 hours of any conviction or indictment in any jurisdiction, civilian or military, for, or found not guilty by reason of insanity of a disqualifying crime listed in 49 CFR 1572.103; who is adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution as specified in 49 CFR 1572.109; or who renounces his or her U. S. citizenship;
  •  Your employer may not let you drive a com­mercial motor vehicle if you have more than one license or if you're CDL is suspended or revoked. A court may fine the employer up to $5,000 or put him or her in jail for breaking this rule.
  • All states are connected to one computerized system to share information about CDL driv­ers. The states will check on drivers' accident records to be sure that drivers do not have more than one CDL.

You must be properly restrained by a safety belt at all times while operating a commercial motor vehicle. The safety belt design holds the driver securely behind the wheel during a crash, helping the driver to control the vehicle and reduces the chance of serious injury or death. If you do not wear a safety belt, you are four times more likely to be fatally injured if you are thrown from the vehicle.

You are not allowed to hold a mobile telephone to conduct a voice communication or dial a mobile telephone by pressing more than a single button when driving.

You are not allowed to send or read text mes­sages while driving.

Penalties for False Information

Pursuant to 49 CFR 383.73G), if a State determines, in its check of an applicant's license status and record prior to issuing a CLP or CDL, or at any time after the CLP or CDL is issued, that the applicant has falsified infor­mation contained in subpart J of this part, in any of the certifications required in§ 383.71(b) or (g), or in any of the documents required to be submitted by§ 383.71(h), the State must at a minimum disqualify the person's CLP or CDL or his and / or her pending application, or disqualify the person from operating a com­mercial motor vehicle for a period of at least 60 consecutive days.

Pursuant to 49 CFR 383.73(k)(l), the State must have policies in effect that result, at a minimum, in the disqualification of the CLP or CDL of a person who has been convicted of fraud related to the issuance of that CLP or CDL. The application of a person so convicted who seeks to renew, transfer, or up­grade the fraudulently obtained CLP or CDL must also, at a minimum, be disqualified. The State must record any such withdrawal in the person's driving record. The person may not reapply for a new CDL for at least 1 year.

Pursuant to 49 CFR 383.73(k)(2), if a State re­ceives credible information that a CLP- or CDL-holder is suspected, but has not been convicted, of fraud related to the issuance of his and / or her CLP or CDL, the State must re­quire the driver to re-take the skills and / or knowledge tests. Within 30 days of receiving notification from the State that re-testing is necessary, the affected CLP- or CDL-holder must make an appointment or otherwise schedule to take the next available test. If the CLP- or CDL-holder fails to make an appoint­ment within 30 days, the State must disqualify his and / or her CLP or CDL. If the driver fails either the knowledge or skills test or does not take the test, the State must disqualify his and / or her CLP or CDL. Once a CLP- or CDL-holder's CLP or CDL has been disqualified, he and / or she must reapply for a CLP or CDL under State procedures applicable to all CLP and CDL applicants.

The Leave More Space is advertised on the side of trucks

Georgia Targeting Aggressive Cars and Trucks (GTACT)

The Georgia Department of Public Safety, Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD), promotes Georgia Targeting Aggressive Cars and Trucks (GTACT), a positive message to the motoring public to "Leave More Space". This is accomplished by conducting enforcement activity in High Crash Corridors and Outreach activities in selected geographical locations. GTACT is a partnership between MCCD, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Georgia Motor Trucking Association, state and local law enforcement.