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CDL disqualifications: alcohol, serious violations, out-of-service and railroad crossings

General Knowledge5 minManual section 1.3, 1.3.1–1.3.5, 1.3.7

A disqualification means you may not drive a CMV for a set time — or for life. The numbers in this lesson (days, years, BAC) are some of the most tested facts on the General Knowledge exam. You may not drive a CMV while disqualified for any reason.

Alcohol: the 0.04% limit and implied consent

It is illegal to drive a CMV with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04% or more — half the usual 0.08% car limit.

Implied consent: by driving a CMV, you are considered to have already agreed to alcohol testing. Refusing a test is treated like failing it.

If you have any detectable amount of alcohol but less than 0.04%, you are put out-of-service for 24 hours.

Major offenses: 1 year, 3 years, or life

You lose your CDL for at least 1 year for a first offense of any of these:

  • driving a CMV with a BAC of 0.04% or higher;
  • driving a CMV under the influence of alcohol;
  • refusing an alcohol test;
  • driving a CMV under the influence of a controlled substance (drugs);
  • leaving the scene of a crash involving a CMV;
  • committing a felony that involves using a CMV;
  • driving a CMV while your CDL is suspended (or revoked or canceled);
  • causing a death through negligent operation of a CMV.

If the first offense happens while driving a CMV placarded for hazardous materials, the loss is at least 3 years.

A second offense of any of these = disqualified for life. (Some states allow a reinstatement after 10 years for certain cases; check your state.)

Using a CMV to commit a felony involving controlled substances (making or selling drugs) = life, with no reinstatement.

Serious traffic violations

Serious traffic violations include:

  • excessive speeding — 15 mph or more over the posted limit;
  • reckless driving;
  • improper or erratic lane changes;
  • following a vehicle too closely;
  • traffic offenses in a CMV connected with a fatal crash;
  • driving a CMV without a CDL, or without the CDL in your possession;
  • driving a CMV without the right class and/or endorsements;
  • under current federal rules, texting or holding a hand-held phone while driving a CMV also counts (the 2017 manual's list is older and may not show this).

Penalties (all within 3 years, in a CMV):

  • 2 serious violations → at least 60 days.
  • 3 or more → at least 120 days.

Violating an out-of-service order

An out-of-service order stops you or your vehicle until a problem is fixed. Driving anyway is a serious offense. Current federal minimums (within 10 years):

  • 1st violation → at least 180 days.
  • 2nd violation → at least 2 years.
  • 3rd or more → at least 3 years.

If you were hauling placarded hazmat or driving a vehicle for 16+ passengers, the penalties are higher (at least 180 days for the first, 3 years for the second).

Note: the 2017 manual text shows older numbers (90 days, 1 year, 3 years). Federal rules have since raised them. Some test banks may still use the old numbers — know both, but the current rule is the one above.

Railroad-highway grade crossing violations

Penalties (in a CMV, counted within 3 years):

  • 1st violation → at least 60 days.
  • 2nd → at least 120 days.
  • 3rd → at least 1 year.

The six offenses at a railroad-highway grade crossing are:

  • drivers not always required to stop: failing to stop before the crossing if the tracks are not clear;
  • drivers not always required to stop: failing to slow down and check that the tracks are clear of a train;
  • drivers always required to stop (for example, buses and placarded hazmat): failing to stop before driving onto the crossing;
  • all drivers: not having enough space to drive completely through the crossing without stopping;
  • all drivers: failing to obey a traffic control device or an enforcement official at the crossing;
  • all drivers: failing to get across because of not enough undercarriage clearance (getting stuck on a raised crossing).

Violations in your personal vehicle

The Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA) of 1999 says some convictions in your own car also cost you your CDL:

  • If your personal driving privilege is revoked, canceled or suspended for traffic law violations (not parking), you also lose your CDL privileges.
  • If it is taken for alcohol, controlled substance or felony violations, you lose your CDL for 1 year. A second such violation (in your car or a CMV) = CDL lost for life.
  • While your personal license is suspended, you cannot get a hardship license to drive a CMV.

The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

Since January 6, 2020, the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a national online database of CDL drivers' drug and alcohol testing violations (positive tests, refusals). Employers must check it before hiring and at least once a year. The state checks it before issuing, renewing, upgrading or transferring a CDL.

Since November 18, 2024, a driver with a "prohibited" status in the Clearinghouse loses the CDL privilege (it is downgraded) until the driver finishes the return-to-duty process with a substance abuse professional. Your printed manual may not mention the Clearinghouse.

Check your state

Utah's handbook also notes that a "plea in abeyance" on a CDL holder's citation still appears on the MVR and cannot be removed, and that using or possessing powdered alcohol is illegal in Utah. Disqualification periods are federal minimums; your state may set longer ones — check your state manual.

References and scope

The topic reference is listed below. Sources support verification; the lesson itself is here. The current content needs technical and language review before public launch.

Manual reference: 1.3, 1.3.1–1.3.5, 1.3.7

Official CDL handbook · Utah ↗StatesOur editorial approach

Put it into practice

Educational questions with explanations. The answer review also works without the interactive quiz.

Preparing your questions…

Review questions with answers

  1. It is illegal to drive a CMV with a blood alcohol concentration of:
    1. 0.02% or more
    2. 0.04% or more
    3. 0.08% or more
    4. 0.10% or more
    Show answer
    0.04% or more

    The CMV limit is 0.04%, half the usual car limit.

  2. If you have any detectable alcohol but less than 0.04%, you will be:
    1. Allowed to keep driving
    2. Disqualified for 1 year
    3. Put out-of-service for 24 hours
    4. Given a warning only
    Show answer
    Put out-of-service for 24 hours

    Any detectable amount under 0.04% means 24 hours out-of-service.

  3. By driving a CMV, you are considered to have given consent to alcohol testing.
    1. True
    2. False
    Show answer
    True

    Implied consent: operating a CMV means you have agreed to alcohol testing.

  4. For a FIRST offense of refusing an alcohol test, you lose your CDL for at least:
    1. 60 days
    2. 90 days
    3. 6 months
    4. 1 year
    Show answer
    1 year

    Refusing a test is a major offense: at least 1 year for a first offense.

  5. If a first major offense (like DUI) happens while driving a vehicle placarded for hazmat, the disqualification is at least:
    1. 1 year
    2. 3 years
    3. 5 years
    4. 10 years
    Show answer
    3 years

    With placarded hazmat, a first major offense means at least 3 years.

  6. A SECOND major offense, such as leaving the scene of a CMV crash twice, results in:
    1. A 2-year disqualification
    2. A 5-year disqualification
    3. Disqualification for life
    4. A fine only
    Show answer
    Disqualification for life

    A second major offense means a lifetime disqualification.

  7. Using a CMV to commit a felony involving controlled substances (making or selling drugs) results in:
    1. Losing your CDL for life
    2. A 1-year disqualification
    3. A 3-year disqualification
    4. A 120-day disqualification
    Show answer
    Losing your CDL for life

    A drug-trafficking felony using a CMV means a lifetime loss of the CDL.

  8. Excessive speeding, a serious traffic violation, means driving how fast over the posted limit?
    1. 5 mph or more
    2. 15 mph or more
    3. 20 mph or more
    4. 25 mph or more
    Show answer
    15 mph or more

    Excessive speeding is 15 mph or more over the limit.

  9. Two serious traffic violations in a CMV within 3 years cause a disqualification of at least:
    1. 30 days
    2. 45 days
    3. 60 days
    4. 120 days
    Show answer
    60 days

    Two serious violations in 3 years = at least 60 days.

  10. Three serious traffic violations in a CMV within 3 years cause a disqualification of at least:
    1. 60 days
    2. 90 days
    3. 1 year
    4. 120 days
    Show answer
    120 days

    Three or more serious violations in 3 years = at least 120 days.

  11. Which of these is a serious traffic violation?
    1. Following another vehicle too closely
    2. A parking ticket
    3. An expired registration sticker
    4. A broken taillight warning
    Show answer
    Following another vehicle too closely

    Following too closely is on the list of serious traffic violations.

  12. Driving a CMV without having your CDL in your possession is:
    1. Not a violation if you own one
    2. A serious traffic violation
    3. A parking offense
    4. Allowed within 50 miles of home
    Show answer
    A serious traffic violation

    Driving a CMV without a CDL in your possession is a serious traffic violation.

  13. Under current federal rules, a FIRST violation of an out-of-service order results in a disqualification of at least:
    1. 30 days
    2. 60 days
    3. 180 days
    4. 3 years
    Show answer
    180 days

    Current federal rules set at least 180 days (the 2017 manual shows the older 90 days).

  14. Three or more out-of-service order violations within 10 years result in a disqualification of at least:
    1. 90 days
    2. 1 year
    3. 2 years
    4. 3 years
    Show answer
    3 years

    Three or more violations in 10 years = at least 3 years.

  15. A first railroad-highway grade crossing violation in a CMV results in a disqualification of at least:
    1. 30 days
    2. 60 days
    3. 120 days
    4. 1 year
    Show answer
    60 days

    First crossing violation = at least 60 days.

  16. A third railroad crossing violation within 3 years results in a disqualification of at least:
    1. 1 year
    2. 120 days
    3. 60 days
    4. Life
    Show answer
    1 year

    Third crossing violation within 3 years = at least 1 year (second = 120 days).

  17. Which is one of the six railroad crossing offenses that applies to ALL drivers?
    1. Failing to use the horn at the crossing
    2. Shifting gears on the tracks
    3. Not having enough space to drive completely through the crossing without stopping
    4. Driving across at more than 10 mph
    Show answer
    Not having enough space to drive completely through the crossing without stopping

    All drivers must have enough room to clear the crossing completely without stopping.

  18. Getting stuck on a raised railroad crossing because of low undercarriage clearance is:
    1. Not a violation if no train comes
    2. Only a warning
    3. A violation only for hazmat drivers
    4. A railroad crossing violation for all drivers
    Show answer
    A railroad crossing violation for all drivers

    Failing to negotiate a crossing because of insufficient undercarriage clearance is a violation for all drivers.

  19. If your personal (car) license is suspended for an alcohol violation, what happens to your CDL?
    1. Nothing, the CDL is separate
    2. You lose your CDL for 1 year
    3. You lose it for 60 days
    4. You can get a hardship CDL
    Show answer
    You lose your CDL for 1 year

    Losing car privileges for alcohol, drugs or a felony costs the CDL for 1 year.

  20. While your personal license is suspended, you can get a "hardship" license to drive a CMV.
    1. True
    2. False
    Show answer
    False

    False. You may not obtain a hardship license to operate a CMV.

  21. Since November 2024, a driver with a "prohibited" status in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse:
    1. May keep driving until the CDL renewal date
    2. Only pays a fine
    3. Loses the CDL privilege until finishing the return-to-duty process
    4. Gets an automatic 24-hour out-of-service order only
    Show answer
    Loses the CDL privilege until finishing the return-to-duty process

    States must downgrade the CDL of a driver in prohibited status until return-to-duty is complete.

  22. Which is a major offense that causes at least a 1-year disqualification for a first offense?
    1. Two speeding tickets
    2. Improper lane change
    3. A parking violation
    4. Causing a death through negligent operation of a CMV
    Show answer
    Causing a death through negligent operation of a CMV

    Causing a fatality through negligent CMV operation is a major offense.

  23. Under current federal rules, a SECOND violation of an out-of-service order within 10 years (no hazmat or passengers) brings a disqualification of at least:
    1. 60 days
    2. 120 days
    3. 2 years
    4. 10 years
    Show answer
    2 years

    Current federal rules: 1st = 180 days, 2nd = 2 years, 3rd or more = 3 years (within 10 years). The 2017 manual shows older, lower numbers.

  24. Your personal (car) driving privilege is suspended for traffic violations (not parking). What happens to your CDL privileges?
    1. Nothing, because the violations were in your car
    2. You lose your CDL privileges too
    3. You lose only your hazmat endorsement
    4. You lose your CDL only if you were on duty
    Show answer
    You lose your CDL privileges too

    Under MCSIA, if your personal driving privilege is revoked, canceled or suspended for traffic violations (other than parking), you also lose your CDL privileges.

  25. Which railroad crossing offense applies only to drivers who must ALWAYS stop at crossings (for example, buses and placarded hazmat)?
    1. Failing to obey a traffic control device at the crossing
    2. Not having room to clear the crossing without stopping
    3. Getting stuck because of low undercarriage clearance
    4. Failing to stop before driving onto the crossing
    Show answer
    Failing to stop before driving onto the crossing

    Drivers who are always required to stop commit a violation if they do not stop before driving onto the crossing. The other three apply to all drivers.

  26. Under current federal rules, texting while driving a CMV counts as:
    1. A parking violation
    2. A serious traffic violation
    3. No violation if traffic is light
    4. A violation only for hazmat drivers
    Show answer
    A serious traffic violation

    Current federal rules list texting (and holding a hand-held phone) while driving a CMV as a serious traffic violation. The 2017 manual list may not show it.