As a truck driver, there’s good reason to take a moving violation seriously. A speeding ticket or an improper lane change can affect your driving record, and certain offenses can keep you from driving commercially.
That doesn’t mean every ticket will cost you your CDL or rule you out for a new job, though. Keep reading to find out what you should know about the penalties, how violations show up on your record, and how to handle them when applying for work.
What Is a Moving Violation?
A moving violation generally involves breaking a traffic law while operating a vehicle. Common examples include speeding, running a red light, following too closely, and making an illegal lane change.
These violations differ from issues such as an expired registration or an equipment defect. Both can require attention, but they do not necessarily carry the same consequences for your license. The specific offense matters, especially when it falls into a category that can lead to CDL disqualification.
Can Moving Violations Cost You Your CDL?
One ticket does not automatically mean you will lose your CDL. However, certain offenses and repeated convictions can disqualify you from operating a commercial motor vehicle.
Federal rules classify the following as serious traffic violations:
- Driving at least 15 mph over the posted speed limit
- Reckless driving
- Improper or erratic lane changes
- Following another vehicle too closely
- Certain traffic violations connected to a fatal crash
- Texting or prohibited handheld phone use while driving a commercial motor vehicle.
- Certain CDL licensing, possession, or endorsement violations
For qualifying offenses committed in a commercial vehicle, two convictions from separate incidents within three years result in a 60-day disqualification. Three or subsequent convictions within that period result in a 120-day disqualification.
Major offenses also carry different penalties. A first conviction for driving under the influence or leaving the scene of an accident generally brings a one-year disqualification, and a second qualifying major offense can lead to lifetime disqualification. Certain hazardous materials operations carry longer first-offense penalties.
Your own state may also impose additional consequences. Be sure to check your state’s CDL manual and licensing agency guidance rather than assuming another driver’s experience will apply the same to your situation.
Do Tickets in Your Personal Vehicle Affect Your CDL?
Your driving record still matters when you are off the clock. Certain offenses in your personal vehicle, including DUI or leaving the scene of an accident, can disqualify you from commercial driving.
For serious traffic violations in a personal vehicle, the federal repeat-offense disqualification rules apply when the conviction also results in suspension, cancellation, or revocation of your license or noncommercial driving privileges. State requirements may add further consequences, so it’s important to be aware.
Even when a personal-vehicle ticket does not trigger disqualification, you should be prepared to discuss it if an employer asks about your driving history. Always keep the paperwork so you can provide accurate information about the offense and its outcome.
What Is the Difference Between Your MVR and PSP Report?
If you are preparing to change jobs, reviewing your records can help you avoid surprises during the hiring process. Your motor vehicle record, or MVR, and your Pre-Employment Screening Program, or PSP, report provide different information.
Your MVR is maintained by a state licensing agency and generally includes your license status, traffic convictions, and suspensions. The information displayed and the length of history available depend on the state and the type of record requested.
Your PSP report contains five years of crash history and three years of roadside inspection history from FMCSA’s database. It can include inspection violations that did not result in a traffic conviction, so it may show information that does not appear on your MVR.
A PSP report does not assign you a federal driver safety score. Employers review the information in the report when making hiring decisions, but there is no PSP point total that determines whether you qualify for a job.
How Can Violations Affect Your Job Options?
Keeping a valid CDL is essential, but employers also review your driving history when deciding whether to hire you. Federal rules require covered carriers to evaluate drivers’ records for safe-driving qualifications, giving particular attention to conduct such as speeding, reckless driving, and impaired driving.
Before applying, be sure to read the carrier’s posted qualifications and ask the recruiter about any requirements you do not understand. If you have a violation, try to explain what happened accurately and describe any changes you have made since then.
For example, if a speeding ticket led you to build extra time into your trip planning or watch speed changes more carefully through small towns, that’s a great detail to explain. Specific changes give an employer something useful to consider alongside the violation.
What Should You Do After Receiving a Ticket?
Responding promptly gives you time to understand the charge, meet deadlines, and keep your records organized. You can start with these steps:
1. Review the citation and response deadline.
Check the listed offense, location, and instructions. Before paying, find out whether payment will be treated as a guilty plea or conviction and what that could mean for your CDL. A traffic attorney familiar with commercial licensing can help you evaluate your options.
2. Follow your employer’s reporting policy
Federal rules require CDL drivers who operate commercial vehicles to notify their current employer in writing within 30 days of a traffic conviction, excluding parking violations. This applies whether the offense occurred in a commercial or personal vehicle. Your company may require you to report a citation sooner, so be sure to check its policy.
3. Keep copies of the outcome
Save the citation, court documents, payment receipts, and any correspondence about the case. Having those records together makes it easier to answer an employer’s questions or address an incorrect entry later.
4. Review your driving records
Request your MVR through your state licensing agency and your PSP report through the official PSP website. Check that the information belongs to you and accurately reflects the events listed.
5. Request a review of inaccurate information
For an MVR error, contact the state agency that maintains the record. For incomplete or incorrect federal crash or inspection information, use FMCSA’s DataQs system to request a review and provide supporting documents.
Protect Your Record Between Jobs
In the commerical driving world, safe driving practices are key. Give yourself enough following distance, adjust your speed for conditions, and set up navigation before you start driving. If a delivery schedule is becoming difficult to meet safely, communicate with dispatch early so you can discuss the situation before it affects your driving.
If you already have a violation, it’s important to review your records and understand your license status before starting a job search. You will be better prepared to answer questions and focus on positions whose qualifications you meet.
Looking for more trucking tips, industry insights, and resources? Check out the rest of our Truck Driver Blog and follow Drive My Way on social media.
