2009 Vermont Code
Title 23 - Motor Vehicles
Chapter 39 - COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE ACT (Contains: §§ 4101 – 4123)
§ 4111 -   Commercial driver license

§ 4111. Commercial driver license

(a) Contents of license. A commercial driver's license shall be marked "commercial driver license" or "CDL," and shall be, to the maximum extent practicable, tamper proof, and shall include, but not be limited to the following information:

(1) The name and residential address of the person.

(2) The person's color photograph or imaged likeness. A person issued a license under this subsection that contains an imaged likeness may renew his or her license by mail. Except that a renewal must be made in person so that an updated imaged likeness of the person is obtained no less often than once every eight years.

(3) A physical description of the person including sex, height, and weight.

(4) Date of birth.

(5) Any number or identifier deemed appropriate by the commissioner.

(6) The person's signature.

(7) The class or type of commercial motor vehicle or vehicles which the person is authorized to drive together with any endorsements or restrictions.

(8) The name of this state.

(9) The dates between which the license is valid.

(10) [Repealed.]

(11) An indicator that a licensee has executed a document that serves as an anatomical gift pursuant to section 618a of this title.

(b) Classifications, endorsements and restrictions. Driver licenses may be issued with the following classifications, endorsements, and restrictions:

(1) Classifications. Licensees may drive all vehicles in the class for which the license is issued and all lesser classes of vehicles, except those requiring special endorsements.

(A) Class A-Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

(B) Class B-Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, and any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds.

(C) Class C-Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,001 pounds or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating not in excess of 10,000 pounds comprising:

(i) vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; and

(ii) vehicles used in the transportation of hazardous materials which requires the vehicle to be placarded under 49 C.F.R., part 172, subpart F.

(D) Class D-Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,001 pounds or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating not in excess of 10,000 pounds except vehicles included in Class C or vehicles which require a special endorsement unless the proper endorsement appears on the license. Class D licenses shall not be commercial driver licenses.

(2) Licenses may be issued with appropriate endorsements and restrictions noted thereon. The commissioner shall determine the manner of notation. Endorsements and restrictions may include, but are not limited, to those which:

(A) authorize a driver to drive a vehicle transporting hazardous materials;

(B) restrict the driver to vehicles not equipped with air brakes when the person either fails the air brake component of the knowledge test or performs the skills test in a vehicle not equipped with air brakes;

(C) authorize driving motorcycles;

(D) authorize driving tank vehicles;

(E) authorize driving vehicles carrying passengers;

(F) authorize driving Type I or II school buses;

(G) authorize driving Type II school buses;

(H) authorize driving double trailers;

(I) restrict the driver to operation solely within this state. A commercial driver license or commercial driver instruction permit with this restriction may be issued to any person who has attained the age of 18 years.

(c) Before issuing a commercial driver license, the commissioner shall request the applicant's complete operating record from any state in which the applicant was previously licensed to operate any type of motor vehicle in the past 10 years, conduct a check of the applicant's operating record by querying the national driver register, established under 49 U.S.C. § 30302 and the commercial driver's license information system, established under 49 U.S.C. § 31309, to determine if:

(1) the applicant has already been issued a commercial driver license; and the applicant's commercial driver license has been suspended, revoked, or canceled;

(2) the applicant had been convicted of any offenses contained in Section 205(a)(3) of the National Driver Register Act of 1982 (23 U.S.C. § 401 note).

(d) Within 10 days after issuing a commercial driver license, the commissioner shall notify the commercial driver license information system of that fact, providing all information required to ensure identification of the person.

(e) The commercial driver license shall expire in the same manner as set by section 601 of this title.

(f) When applying for renewal of a commercial driver license, the applicant shall complete the application form required by section 4110 of this title, providing updated information and required certifications. If the applicant wishes to retain a hazardous materials endorsement, the written test for a hazardous materials endorsement must be taken and passed. In addition, the applicant must successfully complete the security threat assessment required by 49 C.F.R. part 1572. (Added 1989, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1993, No. 122 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2003, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 15; 2005, No. 37, § 6; 2005, No. 166 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2007, No. 153 (Adj. Sess.), § 41; No. 188 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2009, No. 39, § 15.)