How many driver licenses may a CDL holder have?

Two, one for cars and one for trucks

While driving a CMV, you may:

Use a hands-free phone that dials with a single touch

Hold your phone to talk if traffic is light

Read a text message at a red light while moving slowly

Dial a full number on a hand-held phone

Which of these will cause you to be denied a hazardous materials endorsement?

Being found by the TSA to be a security threat

Having a manual transmission truck

Living in a different state than your employer

An employer who knowingly lets you drive a CMV while your CDL is suspended:

May be fined up to $5,000 or jailed

Faces no penalty; only the driver is punished

Loses its business license automatically

What allows states to check that a driver does not hold more than one CDL?

One national computer system (CDLIS) that links all states

Other CDL rules: one license, reporting duties, phones, seat belts and the hazmat background check – CDL General Knowledge study guide

Beyond the tests, federal rules control how many licenses you may hold, who you must tell about tickets and suspensions, and how you use your phone and seat belt. Many test questions ask for the exact number of days.

One license only — and no CDL, no driving

You may not have more than one license. If you do, a court may fine you up to $5,000 or jail you, keep your home state license, and return the others.
No one may drive a CMV without a CDL. Penalty: a fine of up to $5,000 or jail.
Your employer may not let you drive a CMV if you have more than one license or if your CDL is suspended or revoked. The employer can be fined up to $5,000 or jailed.
All states are linked to one computer system (CDLIS) to share CDL driver information. States check drivers' records to make sure no one holds more than one CDL.

Who you must notify, and how fast

Employer, within 30 days of a conviction for any traffic violation (except parking) — in any type of vehicle, even your own car.
Your state licensing agency, within 30 days if you are convicted in another jurisdiction (another state) of any traffic violation (except parking) — in any type of vehicle.
Employer, within 2 business days if you are disqualified, or your license is suspended, revoked or canceled.
When you apply for a commercial driving job, give the employer information on all driving jobs you held in the past 10 years.

Memory tip: convictions = 30 days; losing your license = 2 business days; job history = 10 years.

Phones, texting and seat belts

You may not hold a mobile phone to talk, or dial by pressing more than a single button, while driving a CMV. Use hands-free, one-touch equipment within easy reach.
You may not send or read text messages while driving.
You must wear a safety belt at all times while operating a CMV. It holds you behind the wheel in a crash so you can keep control, and lowers the chance of serious injury or death. Without a belt you are 4 times more likely to be killed if you are thrown from the vehicle.
Your state may have more rules you must also obey.

Hazmat endorsement: background check and who is barred

To get the H endorsement you submit your fingerprints and pass a TSA background check (a security threat assessment). You will be denied or lose the H endorsement if you:

are not a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (or lack another qualifying lawful status);
renounce your U.S. citizenship;
are wanted or under indictment for certain felonies;
have a conviction in military or civilian court for certain felonies;
have been judged lacking mental capacity or involuntarily committed to a mental health facility (49 CFR 1572.109);
are considered a security threat by the TSA.

If you hold an H endorsement, you must notify and surrender it to the state that issued your CDL within 24 hours of any conviction, indictment, or "not guilty by reason of insanity" finding for a disqualifying crime (49 CFR 1572.103), or if you are judged lacking mental capacity, involuntarily committed, or renounce U.S. citizenship.

Background check steps vary by state; your licensing agency will explain them.

Check your state

The Utah handbook also covers Utah driver license fees and the International Registration Plan (IRP) and International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA). These are not federal CDL test topics. In short: interstate CDL vehicles are usually registered under IRP (apportioned plates and cab cards) and IFTA (one quarterly fuel tax return to your base jurisdiction), and drivers keep an Individual Vehicle Distance Record (trip report) with odometer readings at the start of the day, at each state line, and at the end of the trip, plus fuel receipts; these records are kept at least 4 years. Fees and details are state-specific — check your state.

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: 1.3.6, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6

Official CDL handbook · Utah ↗States Our 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

How many driver licenses may a CDL holder have?
1. One
2. Two, one for cars and one for trucks
3. One per state you drive in
4. As many as needed
Show answer

One
You may not have more than one license.
If you are convicted of a traffic violation (not parking) in any vehicle, you must notify your employer within:
1. 24 hours
2. 2 business days
3. 30 days
4. 60 days
Show answer

30 days
Notify your employer within 30 days of any traffic conviction except parking.
If your license is suspended, revoked or canceled, you must tell your employer within:
1. 1 hour
2. 2 business days
3. 10 days
4. 30 days
Show answer

2 business days
Notify your employer within two business days of a suspension, revocation, cancellation or disqualification.
When applying for a commercial driving job, you must give information on all driving jobs held in the past:
1. 3 years
2. 5 years
3. 7 years
4. 10 years
Show answer

10 years
Employers must get your driving job history for the past 10 years.
A court may fine a driver who drives a CMV without a CDL up to:
1. $5,000 or jail
2. $500
3. $1,000
4. $25,000 and loss of vehicle
Show answer

$5,000 or jail
Driving a CMV without a CDL can bring a fine up to $5,000 or jail.
If you are convicted of a traffic violation in another state, you must notify your home state licensing agency within:
1. 24 hours
2. 10 days
3. 30 days
4. 90 days
Show answer

30 days
Tell your state's licensing agency within 30 days of an out-of-state conviction (except parking).
While driving a CMV, you may:
1. Hold your phone to talk if traffic is light
2. Use a hands-free phone that dials with a single touch
3. Read a text message at a red light while moving slowly
4. Dial a full number on a hand-held phone
Show answer

Use a hands-free phone that dials with a single touch
You may not hold a phone or dial by pressing more than one button; hands-free one-touch use is allowed.
If you do not wear a safety belt, you are how many times more likely to be killed if thrown from the vehicle?
1. Two
2. Three
3. Ten
4. Four
Show answer

Four
Without a belt you are four times more likely to be fatally injured if thrown from the vehicle.
A driver with an H endorsement who is convicted of a disqualifying crime must surrender the endorsement to the state within:
1. 24 hours
2. 2 business days
3. 30 days
4. At the next renewal
Show answer

24 hours
Notify and surrender the hazmat endorsement within 24 hours.
Which of these will cause you to be denied a hazardous materials endorsement?
1. Having a manual transmission truck
2. Living in a different state than your employer
3. Being found by the TSA to be a security threat
4. Being under age 30
Show answer

Being found by the TSA to be a security threat
TSA security threat findings, certain felonies, mental incapacity rulings and lack of lawful status lead to denial.
An employer who knowingly lets you drive a CMV while your CDL is suspended:
1. Faces no penalty; only the driver is punished
2. May be fined up to $5,000 or jailed
3. Only receives a warning letter
4. Loses its business license automatically
Show answer

May be fined up to $5,000 or jailed
The employer can be fined up to $5,000 or jailed.
What allows states to check that a driver does not hold more than one CDL?
1. The IFTA fuel tax system
2. The TSA watch list
3. Each driver's employer
4. One national computer system (CDLIS) that links all states
Show answer

One national computer system (CDLIS) that links all states
All states are connected to one computerized system to share CDL driver information.
You must report a speeding conviction you got in your personal car to your trucking employer.
1. True
2. False
Show answer

True
True. The 30-day reporting rule applies no matter what type of vehicle you were driving.
When must you wear a safety belt while operating a CMV?
1. Only on highways
2. Only above 35 mph
3. At all times
4. Only when carrying passengers
Show answer

At all times
Wear your safety belt the whole time you are driving a CMV, not just on highways or at high speed.