49 CFR 383.153 – Information on the CLP and CDL documents and applications
(a) Commercial Driver’s License. All CDLs must contain all of the following information:
(1) The prominent statement that the license is a “Commercial Driver’s License” or “CDL,” except as specified in paragraph (c) of this section.
(2) The full name, signature, and mailing or residential address in the licensing State of the person to whom such license is issued.
(3) Physical and other information to identify and describe such person including date of birth (month, day, and year), sex, and height.
(4) Color photograph, digitized color image, or black and white laser engraved photograph of the driver. The State may issue a temporary CDL without a photo or image, if it is valid for no more than 60 days.
(5) The driver’s State license number.
(6) The name of the State which issued the license.
(7) The date of issuance and the date of expiration of the license.
(8) The group or groups of commercial motor vehicle(s) that the driver is authorized to operate, indicated as follows:
(i) A for Combination Vehicle;
(ii) B for Heavy Straight Vehicle; and
(iii) C for Small Vehicle.
(9) The endorsement(s) for which the driver has qualified, if any, indicated as follows:
(i) T for double/triple trailers;
(ii) P for passenger;
(iii) N for tank vehicle;
(iv) H for hazardous materials;
(v) X for a combination of tank vehicle and hazardous materials endorsements;
(vi) S for school bus; and
(vii) At the discretion of the State, additional codes for additional groupings of endorsements, as long as each such discretionary code is fully explained on the front or back of the CDL document.
(10) The restriction(s) placed on the driver from operating certain equipment or vehicles, if any, indicated as follows:
(i) L for No Air brake equipped CMV;
(ii) Z for No Full air brake equipped CMV;
(iii) E for No Manual transmission equipped CMV;
(iv) O for No Tractor-trailer CMV;
(v) M for No Class A passenger vehicle;
(vi) N for No Class A and B passenger vehicle;
(vii) K for Intrastate only;
(viii) V for medical variance; and
(ix) At the discretion of the State, additional codes for additional restrictions, as long as each such restriction code is fully explained on the front or back of the CDL document.
(b) Commercial Learner’s Permit. (1) A CLP may, but is not required to, contain a digital color image or photograph or black and white laser engraved photograph.
(2) All CLPs must contain all of the following information:
(i) The prominent statement that the permit is a “Commercial Learner’s Permit” or “CLP,” except as specified in paragraph (c) of this section, and that it is invalid unless accompanied by the underlying driver’s license issued by the same jurisdiction.
(ii) The full name, signature, and mailing or residential address in the permitting State of the person to whom the permit is issued.
(iii) Physical and other information to identify and describe such person including date of birth (month, day, and year), sex, and height.
(iv) The driver’s State license number.
(v) The name of the State which issued the permit.
(vi) The date of issuance and the date of expiration of the permit.
(vii) The group or groups of commercial motor vehicle(s) that the driver is authorized to operate, indicated as follows:
(A) A for Combination Vehicle;
(B) B for Heavy Straight Vehicle; and
(C) C for Small Vehicle.
(viii) The endorsement(s) for which the driver has qualified, if any, indicated as follows:
(A) P for passenger endorsement. A CLP holder with a P endorsement is prohibited from operating a CMV carrying passengers, other than Federal/State auditors and inspectors, test examiners, other trainees, and the CDL holder accompanying the CLP holder as prescribed by § CFR 383.25(a)(1) of this part;
(B) S for school bus endorsement. A CLP holder with an S endorsement is prohibited from operating a school bus with passengers other than Federal/State auditors and inspectors, test examiners, other trainees, and the CDL holder accompanying the CLP holder as prescribed by § 383.25(a)(1) of this part; and
(C) N for tank vehicle endorsement. A CLP holder with an N endorsement may only operate an empty tank vehicle and is prohibited from operating any tank vehicle that previously contained hazardous materials that has not been purged of any residue.
(ix) The restriction(s) placed on the driver, if any, indicated as follows:
(A) P for No passengers in CMV bus;
(B) X for No cargo in CMV tank vehicle;
(C) L for No Air brake equipped CMV;
(D) V for medical variance;
(E) M for No Class A passenger vehicle;
(F) N for No Class A and B passenger vehicle;
(G) K for Intrastate only.
(H) Any additional jurisdictional restrictions that apply to the CLP driving privilege.
(c) If the CLP or CDL is a Non-domiciled CLP or CDL, it must contain the prominent statement that the license or permit is a “Non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s License,” “Non-domiciled CDL,” “Non-domiciled Commercial Learner’s Permit,” or “Non-domiciled CLP,” as appropriate. The word “Non-domiciled” must be conspicuously and unmistakably displayed, but may be noncontiguous with the words “Commercial Driver’s License,” “CDL,” “Commercial Learner’s Permit,” or “CLP.”
(d) If the State has issued the applicant an air brake restriction as specified in § 383.95, that restriction must be indicated on the CLP or CDL.
(e) Except in the case of a Non-domiciled CLP or CDL holder who is domiciled in a foreign jurisdiction:
(1) A driver applicant must provide his/her Social Security Number on the application of a CLP or CDL.
(2) The State must provide the Social Security Number to the CDLIS.
(3) The State must not display the Social Security Number on the CLP or CDL.
(f) The State may issue a multipart CDL provided that:
(1) Each document is explicitly tied to the other document(s) and to a single driver’s record.
(2) The multipart license document includes all of the data elements specified in this section.
(g) Current CDL holders are not required to be retested to determine whether they need any of the new restrictions for no full air brakes, no manual transmission and no tractor-trailer. These new restrictions only apply to CDL applicants who take skills tests on or after July 8, 2015 (including those applicants who previously held a CDL before the new restrictions went into effect).
(h) On or after July 8, 2015 current CLP and CDL holders who do not have the standardized endorsement and restriction codes and applicants for a CLP or CDL are to be issued CLPs with the standardized codes upon initial issuance, renewal or upgrade and CDLs with the standardized codes upon initial issuance, renewal, upgrade or transfer.