It costs more and requires more training to get a commercial driver’s license as compared to a standard driver’s license. It does take more skill and experience to safely maneuver a vehicle that is several times longer, taller and heavier than the average passenger vehicle.
Once you have your commercial driver’s license, you can potentially pursue a lucrative career with minimal managerial oversight. You will spend most of your time on the road by yourself. Unfortunately, small mistakes could possibly cost you your commercial license and put an end to your career as a professional driver.
How will a Texas driving while intoxicated (DWI) charge affect someone with a CDL?
An arrest in your own vehicle will affect your work
The strict licensing requirements for commercial drivers include constant scrutiny of their performance on the job and while driving for personal reasons. Eligibility for a CDL depends on having very few or no traffic infractions on your record.
Your private driving record can have a negative impact on your eligibility for a CDL. Too many tickets could cost you your CDL. Just one drunk driving conviction related to an incident in your own vehicle could end your eligibility for a CDL.
You can face charges when you aren’t actually drunk
The rules for those with a CDL are more strict when they are on the job too. The limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for most drivers is 0.08%. By the time someone reaches that BAC, they will likely notice signs of impairment caused by their alcohol consumption.
Commercial drivers have to comply with a limit that is twice that strict. A BAC of just 0.04% while behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle would potentially lead to arrests. A driver does not have to demonstrate any obvious impairment for a BAC of 0.04% to cost them their commercial license.
Anyone facing a drunk-driving charge may want to defend themselves. A conviction could mean the loss of their license, incarceration and drastic increases in Insurance costs. For commercial drivers, there is also the risk of losing their income and needing to change professions. Protecting your CDL when you face drunk driving charges may require a robust defense against those charges.