If you’re looking to become an independent contractor in the trucking industry, it’s important to learn about how to get your trucking permits and how they affect you as a driver of commercial vehicles. While you might think that you don’t need any type of special permits if you plan on working with only one company, this isn’t necessarily true. It all depends on your specific situation and where you plan on driving your truck.
If you plan on crossing state lines, you will need to get a CDL. You will need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to operate a truck with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more. If you plan on transporting hazardous materials, you will need to obtain additional endorsements on your CDL. You can apply for a CDL at your local Department of Motor Vehicles office. To get a CDL, you must pass a written exam and a skills test. The cost of the CDL is $30-50 per year. A commercial driver who operates a CMV requires a current medical certificate as issued by an authorized physician, which certifies that he/she is physically qualified to drive the CMV without presenting any hazard to himself/herself or others. The medical certificate shall be valid for 24 months from the date it was issued, unless sooner suspended or revoked by law.
Once you have your CDL, you can apply for endorsements, which will allow you to drive certain types of vehicles or haul certain types of cargo. Endorsements include: tanker, hazmat, double/triple trailer, passenger, and school bus. The more credentials you have on your CDL, the more options are available to you in the industry. There are nine different hazmat classes, each of which corresponds to a different type of material. These classes are determined by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and are used to help shippers properly label and document their loads.
There are four levels of severity for trucking violations: level 1 is the most serious and results in an out-of-service order; level 2 is a serious violation; level 3 is a moderate violation; and level 4 is a minor violation. A driver can appeal any out-of-service order issued by the FMCSA. For example, if a driver contests the terms of an out-of-service order based on health or safety reasons, he or she must submit a request to FMCSA within 10 days after being notified of the order.
The trucking industry is a highly regulated industry. To operate a commercial motor vehicle, you must have the proper permits. There are many different types of trucking permits, but the most common are for interstate travel, intrastate travel, and hauling hazardous materials. Trucking companies are required to drug test their drivers. This is to ensure that the drivers are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol while operating their vehicles. It is important to note that it does not matter if it’s illegal substances such as cocaine or marijuana, prescription medications like Adderall, or legal substances such as caffeine. If your employer has made this a requirement then you will need to provide proof of having taken these tests with your application for a permit.