2009 North Carolina Code
Chapter 20 - Motor Vehicles.
§ 20-37.16. Content of license; classifications and endorsements; fees.

§ 20‑37.16.  Content of license; classifications and endorsements; fees.

(a)        A commercial drivers license must be marked "Commercial Drivers License" or "CDL" and must contain the information required by G.S. 20‑7 for a regular drivers license.

(b)        The classes of commercial drivers licenses are:

(1)        Class A CDL – A Class A commercial drivers license authorizes the holder to drive any Class A motor vehicle.

(2)        Class B CDL – A Class B commercial drivers license authorizes the holder to drive any Class B motor vehicle.

(3)        Class C CDL – A Class C commercial drivers license authorizes the holder to drive any Class C motor vehicle.

(c)        Endorsements. – The endorsements required to drive certain motor vehicles are as follows:

Endorsement               Vehicles That Can Be Driven

H                     Vehicles, regardless of size or class, except tank vehicles, when

                        transporting hazardous materials that require the vehicle to be

                        placarded

M                    Motorcycles

N                     Tank vehicles not carrying hazardous materials

P                     Vehicles carrying passengers

S                     School bus

T                     Double trailers

X                     Tank vehicles carrying hazardous materials.

To qualify for any of the above endorsements, an applicant shall pass a knowledge test. To obtain an H or an X endorsement, an applicant must take a test. This requirement applies when a person first obtains an H or an X endorsement and each time a person renews an H or an X endorsement. An applicant who has an H or an X endorsement issued by another state who applies for an H or an X endorsement must take a test unless the person has passed a test that covers the information set out in 49 C.F.R. § 383.121 within the preceding two years.

(c1)      Expired.

(d)        The fee for a Class A, B, or C commercial drivers license is fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each year of the period for which the license is issued. The fee for each endorsement is three dollars ($3.00) for each year of the period for which the endorsement is issued. The fees required under this section do not apply to employees of the Driver License Section of the Division who are designated by the Commissioner.

(e)        The requirements for a commercial drivers license do not apply to vehicles used for personal use such as recreational vehicles. A commercial drivers license is also waived for the following classes of vehicles as permitted by regulation of the United States Department of Transportation:

(1)        Vehicles owned or operated by the Department of Defense, including the National Guard, while they are driven by active duty military personnel, or members of the National Guard when on active duty, in the pursuit of military purposes.

(2)        Any vehicle when used as firefighting or emergency equipment for the purpose of preserving life or property or to execute emergency governmental functions.

(3)        A farm vehicle that meets all of the following criteria:

a.         Is controlled and operated by the farmer or the farmer's employee and used exclusively for farm use.

b.         Is used to transport either agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies, both to or from a farm.

c.         Is not used in the operations of a for‑hire motor carrier.

d.         Is used within 150 miles of the farmer's farm.

A farm vehicle includes a forestry vehicle that meets the listed criteria when applied to the forestry operation.

(f)         For the purposes of this section, the term "school bus" has the same meaning as in 49 C.F.R. § 383.5. (1989, c. 771, s. 2; 1991, c. 726, s. 18; 1993, c. 368, s. 4; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 750, ss. 4, 6; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 695, s. 1; c. 756, s. 5; 1998‑149, s. 5; 2003‑397, ss. 4, 5; 2005‑276, s. 44.1(g); 2005‑349, s. 9.)