Section 391.11(b) sets the qualifications for CMV drivers, including holding a valid CDL of the appropriate class for the vehicle operated. Operating without a valid CDL — expired, suspended, revoked, wrong class, or missing required endorsement — is one of the most serious driver violations.
OOS criteria
A driver operating a CMV without a valid CDL of the appropriate class is placed out of service immediately. The carrier may also receive a §391.11 violation if it allowed the driver to dispatch.
Severity weight
This is severity weight 8 in the Driver Fitness BASIC and one of the highest-impact carrier-side findings.
How to prevent it
- Verify the CDL on hire, retain a copy, and verify it again on each annual MVR pull.
- Track CDL expiration explicitly — this is the leading cause of §391.11(b) violations.
- After every Clearinghouse query showing a violation, run an MVR to confirm CDL status.
- Endorsements (HazMat, Tanker, Doubles/Triples, Passenger) are class-specific — match the endorsement to the operation.
How Roadworthy HQ helps
CDL expiration is tracked at the driver record with an alert at 60 days, 30 days, and overdue. CDL copies are stored with retention enforced. The DQF view explicitly shows CDL status and the next renewal date.