(1) The commercial driver’s license shall be marked “commercial driver’s license” and “CDL” and shall be, to the maximum extent practicable, tamper proof. It shall include but is not limited to the following information:
(a) The name and present resident address of the licensee; (b) The licensee’s photograph;
(c) A physical description of the licensee including sex, height, weight, and eye color;
(d) The licensee’s date of birth; (e) The licensee’s signature;
(f) The class or type of commercial motor vehicle or vehicles that the person is authorized to drive together with any endorsements or restrictions;
(g) The name of this state;
(h) The dates between which the license is valid; and
(i) Any other information required by the cabinet, except for a person’s Social
Security number.
(2) A commercial driver’s license issued under this chapter shall contain a denotation that either:
(a) The commercial driver’s license is a voluntary travel ID identity document that complies with the security standards set forth by Pub. L. No. 109-13, Title II, and may be used for identification for federal purposes; or
(b) The commercial driver’s license shall not be used for federal identification purposes.
(3) A commercial driver’s license shall be issued with classifications, endorsements, and restrictions. Vehicles that require an endorsement shall not be driven unless the proper endorsement appears on the license and the applicant has passed the knowledge and skills test required by the State Police.
(a) Classifications:
1. Class A – Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand and one (26,001) pounds or more, if the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle being towed is in excess of ten thousand (10,000) pounds. Licensees with an “A” classification may with the proper endorsement drive Class B and C vehicles.
2. Class B – Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand and one (26,001) pounds or more, and any vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of ten thousand (10,000) pounds. Licensees with a “B” classification may with the proper endorsements drive Class C vehicles.
3. Class C – Any single vehicle with a gross weight rating of less than twenty-six thousand and one (26,001) pounds or any vehicle towing a
vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating not in excess of ten thousand
(10,000) pounds which includes:
a. Vehicles designed to transport sixteen (16) or more passengers, including the driver; or
b. Vehicles used in the transportation of hazardous materials which requires the vehicle to be placarded under Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 172, sub-part F, as adopted by administrative regulations of the cabinet, pursuant to KRS Chapter
13A.
4. Class D – All other vehicles not listed in any other class.
5. Class E – Moped only.
6. Class M – Motorcycles. Licensees with a “M” classification may also drive Class E vehicles.
(b) Endorsements:
1. “H” – Authorizes the driver to operate a vehicle transporting hazardous materials.
2. “T” – Authorizes operation of double trailers and triple trailers in those jurisdictions allowing the operation of triple trailers.
3. “P” – Authorizes operation of vehicles carrying passengers.
4. “N” – Authorizes operation of tank vehicles.
5. “X” – Authorizes operation of combination of hazardous materials and tank vehicle endorsements.
6. “R” – Authorizes operation of all other endorsements not otherwise specified.
7. “S” – Authorizes operation of school buses.
(c) The Transportation Cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to outline restrictions on the operation of commercial vehicles and the associated codes to identify such restrictions, which shall appear on the face of the commercial driver’s license.
(4) Within ten (10) days after issuing a commercial driver’s license, the cabinet shall notify the commercial driver’s license information system of that fact, providing all information required to ensure identification of the person.
(5) A commercial driver’s license issued to a resident pursuant to this chapter shall expire in eight (8) years unless the license was issued to a resident under the age of twenty-one (21). A commercial driver’s license issued to a person who is not a resident shall be issued for one (1) year and shall not be renewable. The fee for a commercial driver’s license issued to a nonresident shall be the same as the fee charged to a resident.
(6) A person under the age of twenty-one (21) shall not be licensed to operate a Class A, B, or C vehicle unless he has an “I” restriction. A commercial driver with an “I” restriction shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce, unless he is exempt pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 391.2. A commercial driver under the age
of twenty-one (21) shall not be allowed to operate a school bus or a vehicle transporting hazardous material in intrastate commerce.
(7) The holder of a commercial driver’s license shall be considered to hold a valid
Kentucky driver’s license issued under the provisions of KRS § 186.4102 and
186.412.
Effective: January 1, 2019
History: Amended 2018 Ky. Acts ch. 135, sec. 5, effective January 1, 2019. — Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 32, effective January 1, 2019. — Amended
2013 Ky. Acts ch. 21, sec. 3, effective June 25, 2013. — Amended 2007 Ky. Acts ch.
28, sec. 6, effective June 26, 2007. — Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 165, sec. 7, effective June 20, 2005. — Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 204, sec. 9, effective April 5,
2002. — Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 481, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1994. – Amended
1992 Ky. Acts ch. 274, sec. 5, effective April 7, 1992. — Created 1990 Ky. Acts ch.
455, sec. 17, effective July 1, 1991.