What is a commercial drivers license?
A commercial driver’s license is a special permit deemed necessary by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. This public safety measure requires people who want to operate commercial vehicles to demonstrate that they are qualified to do so by obtaining special permits.Licensing AuthoritiesThe federal government mandates the necessity of commercial drivers’ licenses. These permits are not obtained through the federal government, however. They are obtained through state licensing authorities that have developed standards that comply with federal regulations.ClassesThere are several types of commercial drivers’ licenses. They are divided into classes, which are determined by vehicle weight and the number of passengers to be transported.EndorsementsEndorsements are special licensing codes that certify that a person has additional driving privileges that are not covered merely by having a commercial driver’s license. For example, an “S” endorsement is needed to drive a school bus
