Driver Licensing, Commercial

Commercial drivers are usually truck or bus drivers. They engage in hauling cargo or passengers over short to very long distances. In the United States, Canada, and other countries, the driving of commercial vehicles requires a special commercial driver's license (CDL).

Early versions of a driver's license were developed in Chicago and New York City. Chicago required all drivers of a motorized vehicle to pass an exam before driving. New York City adopted an ordinance that required steam-powered cars to be driven by a licensed engineer. In 1903 Massachusetts and Missouri issued driver's licenses, but no examination requirements were necessary. For practical purposes, the earliest licenses were identification cards. Many states in the 1930s and 1940s required only the payment of a small fee to get a driver's license. In some cases these could be acquired by mail.

Widespread adoption of driver's license laws to operate a car, truck, bus, or other vehicle began in the 1920s as the number of drivers increased at an enormous rate. With the increases in cars and drivers on the roads, motor vehicle accidents also increased. Many accidents were the fault of inexperienced or careless drivers who were driving more powerful vehicles. At higher speeds, inexperienced drivers or foolhardy drivers were increasingly a danger to themselves and to others as they drove at high speeds or recklessly. To slow or prevent the rising increase in wrecks that damaged property and killed or injured people, acquiring permission to drive on the public roads was mandated.

As safety concerns increased, public pressure developed to mandate that drivers demonstrate driving competency. Rhode Island instituted the first program for testing drivers before issuing them a driver's license in 1908. By 1913 New Jersey was requiring drivers to pass an examination of driving abilities and also knowledge of highway laws and safety. Other states slowly followed suit.

Prior to 1986 a license to drive a bus or a large tractor-trailer truck or some type of longer combination vehicles (LCVs) varied from state to state. In the District of Columbia and in many states all that was necessary for a commercial driver was a license to drive an automobile. Many states did not have a classified licensing system, nor did they have a system for skills testing the driver applicant on the type of vehicle (personal or commercial) that would be like the one they would be driving.

During the era prior to 1986 many truck drivers were not trained to drive the “big rigs” being introduced to haul larger loads on the Interstate Highway System. As a consequence of their insufficient training, many drivers had avoidable accidents, resulting in property losses, injuries, and vehicular deaths. To deal with the highway damage and slaughter, Congress passed the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, which was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on October 7, 1986. The law requires all drivers of vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,000 pounds (11,793 kg), haul hazardous materials, or carry more than 16 passengers to have a commercial driver's license (CDL). The law also requires tow truck operators to be licensed.

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