CDL
DUI with a CDL: a year off the road, even in your own car
You hold a CDL and were arrested for DUI, maybe in your own car on a day off. A conviction disqualifies your CDL for at least 1 year, and the license hearing deadline comes before your court date.
Your call is answered 24/7, and a professional reviews your CDL case for free tonight.
The federal rule
Federal law sets the CDL penalty, and every state applies it. Driving under the influence is a major offense. A first one means 1 year; 3 years if you were hauling hazardous materials (eCFR). FMCSA notes these offenses count even in a non-commercial vehicle (FMCSA).
The 0.04 limit
In a commercial vehicle, the limit is 0.04, half the usual .08. A BAC of 0.04 or higher while driving a commercial vehicle is a major offense and brings the same 1-year disqualification. Refusing the test is another.
A second offense
A second major offense brings a lifetime disqualification. A state may reinstate after a set period under the federal rule, but not every driver qualifies. Illinois notes a second summary suspension for a CDL holder brings a lifetime disqualification (Illinois Secretary of State).
A CDL case needs the license hearing more than most, because the job depends on it. Say you hold a CDL in the first minute of the call.
Questions people ask
Do you lose your CDL for a DUI in your own car?
Yes. Federal rules disqualify a CDL holder for at least one year for a DUI even in a personal vehicle.
What is the BAC limit for CDL drivers?
0.04 while driving a commercial vehicle. That is half the .08 limit for other drivers.
What happens on a second DUI with a CDL?
A second major offense brings a lifetime disqualification under federal rules. States may allow reinstatement after a set time in some cases.
Can I get a hardship license with a CDL?
You may get a restricted personal license in some states, but not a commercial one during the disqualification.
Read next: The DMV hearing · A second DUI · BAC calculator
What to do now
You hold a CDL, you were arrested for DUI, and your license hearing deadline is already counting down. A first conviction means at least 1 year off the road, or 3 years if you hauled hazardous materials. Call tonight so a DUI defense lawyer for your state can go over your CDL case and ask for the police records.
Call about my CDL (877) 317-9931
Your call is answered 24/7, and a professional reviews your CDL case for free tonight.
Send your case details
Send your arrest date, your state, the paper license notice, and whether you hold a CDL. With those details, the lawyer knows your commercial license is at stake from the start of the call.