New CDL requirements set for non-compliance drivers

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (Wis-DOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), is implementing new federal requirements for drug and alcohol status compliance, downgrading commercial driver licenses (CDL) for non-compliance.

Through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMSCA) new drug and alcohol clearinghouse status checks, state DMVs will be notified when CDL drivers do not pass their drug or alcohol testing. All Wisconsin CDL drivers, who are not in federal compliance, will have their commercial driving privilege downgraded, until they clear their record with the FMCSA.

With a license downgrade, operating a commercial vehicle is illegal. The commercial driver’s regular driving privilege will not be impacted.

“Our absolute No. 1 priority, is safety on Wisconsin’s roads,” said DMV administrator Tommy Winkler. “Our project team worked for the past year, to develop DMV’s path toward compliance with these new federal regulations. Among all states, Wisconsin DMV is one of the first driver licensing agencies to go live with this change.”

The formal federal rule notes, that, beginning Nov. 18, all state driver licensing agencies will be required to remove the commercial driving privileges from the driver license of an individual subject, to the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driving prohibition.

Wisconsin CDL drivers with the federal “prohibited” status, will have their CDL Classes downgraded (become invalid) until they can comply with the return to duty (RTD) process. Drivers who receive a downgrade letter from the DMV, should work with their employer and their substance abuse professional, to complete the RTD process.

Once the prohibited driver completes the RTD process with the FMCSA, the Wisconsin DMV will be notified and automatically release the downgrade, which returns their CDL status to valid.

More information is available at clearinghouse.fmcsa. dot.gov.