Class "A" Commercial Driving: 1.3 Wisconsin CDL

1.3 Wisconsin CDL

Who is exempt from CDL licensing in Wisconsin?

Federal law allows states the option to waive certain kinds of drivers from the requirement to obtain a CDL. In Wisconsin, fire fighters, emergency vehicle operators, recreational vehicle drivers and farmers do not need a CDL to operate certain CMV's but remain subject to the alcohol and traffic rules that apply to all commercial motor vehicle drivers. Wisconsin waivers include:

* Fire fighters and rescue squad members will not need a CDL to drive properly equipped emergency or fire fighting vehicles.

* Recreational vehicle operators (owned or leased motor home, fifth wheel mobile home, or touring mobile home provided it isn't longer than 45 feet) not engaged in commercial activity will not need a CDL.

A farmer will not need a CDL to drive a commercial motor vehicle owned or leased by the farmer, provided the vehicle is not used in "for hire" carriege, is transporting farm supplies, produce or machinery to or from the farm and is within 150 miles of the farm. The farm supplies that a farmer may transport without obtaining a CDL may include hazardous materials. However, a farmer driving a commercial motor vehicle with double or triple trailers, or designed to carry or actually carying 16 or more passengers must have a CDL with proper endorsemsnts.

* Back-up (substitutes or replacement) snowplow drivers (includes snow or ice removal by plowing, salting or sanding) for local units of government (defined as a county, city, village, town, school district, county utility district, sanitary district, metropolitan sewage district, or other public body created by or pursuant to state law) will not need a CDL if they meet all of the following:

-Are an employee of a local unit of government with a population of 3,000 or less

-Hold a valid Class D license

-Are operating within the boundaries of the local unit of government.

Are one of the following:
*Substituting for or replacing a regular employee who ordinarily operates the vehicle
*An additional employee because a snow emergency exists (ad determined by the local unit of government)

What is the Classified License?

What are Endorsemwnts?
My State of "Wisconsin" (might be different from other states. check with your local DMV) will issue ENDORSEMENTS for specific types of operation. These endorsements require additional knowledge testing. The information you need for special operation. You must pass tests and receive an endorsement to operate a:

* school bus "S
* passanger vehicle "P"_designed to transport or actually transporting 16 or more passangers including the driver
* hazardous materials - hazmat "H"
* tank vehicles "N" -commercial vehicles equipped with a cargo tank
* double or tripple trailers "T" -towing doubles or tripple trailers
* farm service "F" -restricted to farm service operation

What is a CDL Restriction?
A Wisconsin commercial operator who wants to drive a vehicle with air brakes must pass a special knowledge test on air brake systems. You must also pass a skills test in a vehicle equipped with air brakes. If you choose not to take the air brake test, you will have a commercial license restriction of "No CMV Operation with Air Brakes". With this restriction on your CDL, you may not legally operate any commercial vehicle with air brakes.

Federal Medical Standards
Applicants for CDL must meet all federal physical qualifications. To drive in interstate commerce, an applicant must be at least 21 years old. However, applicants ages 18 to 21 may receive a restricted CDL, limited to intrastate (within WI) operation only. The CDL will be restricted to "No CMV Operation in Interstate Commerce".

Who was grandfathered and what are the benefits?
Effective July 29, 1996: Drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) operating in intrastate commerce must meet the federal medical standards and present a valid federal medical card when they apply for a commercial driver's license (CDL) unless they have been grandfathered or are excempt by federal or state law. A copy of the federal medical standards is available at DMV Customer Service Centers.

Exception-Grandfathering: Drivers who were issued a Wisconsin CDL or CDL instruction permit prior to July 29, 1996 need to meet only Wisconsin medical requirements for intrastate (within Wisconsin only) operation. CDL license will be restricted to "No CMV operation in Interstate Commerce". However, drivers whose CDLs are revoked on or after July 29, 1996 will lose their Grandfathered status. If they don't meet the state medical standards, drivers are allowed an appeal to the Medical Review Board.

School bus drivers employed by school districts and driving a school bus owned by the district are excempt from the federal standards. They may cross state lines to transport (carry) students between home and school or when driving to curricular or extracurricular activities and charter trips.

School bus drivers employed by a commercial contractor and driving a school bus owned by the contractor are excempt from the Federal standards while operating within Wisconsin. They may also cross state lines to transport students between home and school. Operation across state lines for curricular, or extra curricular activities and charter trips would require the driver to have a valid federal medical card.

Drivers who do not have a federal medical card and are not grandfathered may be issued a regular CDL or CDL instruction permit with the following two restrictions:

* No CMV operation in interstate commerce.
* No CMV operation in intrastate commerce unless excempted by federal or state law.

Holders of a regular CDL or CDL instruction permit with these two restrictions are limited to the following CMV operation:

- Operate a motor truck or motor bus for political subdivision prvided they are an employee of the political subdivision and the CDL has the proper class and endorsement for the CMV being operated.

- Operate a school bus if they meet the state medical standards for a schoolbus endorsement and the CDL has the proper class and endorsement for the CMV being operated.

Note: Drivers who have a CDL instruction permit with both restrictions may not practice operating a truck with a commercial driving school. However, if they are taking a commercial driving class to operate a CMV through a Wisconsin Technical College, they may practice operating with the technical school because it's a political subdivision.

For drivers needing a P endorsement, such as those driving busses owned by a municipality (which is exempt), having both restrictions is fine. For others, such as those driving busses for private human service agency (which is not excempt), the "No CMV operation in Intrastate Commerce" and "No CMV operation in Interstate Commerce" restrictions will not be acceptable and they will need to present the federal medical card, unless grandfathered, to avoid these restriction. Drivers must know the type of operation in which they will be involved to determine whether or not they need a federal medical card.

If you do not meet the federal visual acuity standard of 20/40 in both eyes but have a federal medical card, you will be referred to a vision or other appropriate medical specialist. If you are issued a permit or license, you will have tthe "No CMV operation in Interstate Commerce" restriction. If you are not grandfathered, you will also have the "No CMV operation in intrastate Commerce" restriction.

If you are 18, 19 or 20 years of age and have not been grandfathered or are not excempt by federal or state law, you will need a federal medical card if you wish to operate a CMV in intrastate commerce. If you have a federal medical card, your CDL will be issued with the "No CMV Operation in Interstate Commerce" restriction because federal law does not permit a person under age 21 to operate a CMV in interstate commerce.

You can appeal to the Medical Review Board for intrastate driving if you have beeen grandfathered. If you are a new driver who plans to drive for the exempt groups (political subdivision or school district) you also can appeal to the board. However, the board cannot make any exceptions to the federal standards; therefore, anyone who needs a federal medical card cannot appeal to the board.

Identification Requirements
Applicants for driver licenses will be required to furnish their Social Security number. The Social Security number will not appear on the driver license document but will be used to identify driver records between states.

Additional testing at renewal for "H"
To renew a CDL with an "H" (hazardous materials) endorsement, applicants must pass a hazardous materials knowledge test.

Farm Service CDL
A special, restricted CDL called a Farm Service CDL is available for seasonal drivers of certain CMV's when employed by specific farm related service industries. Contact your DMV Service Center(s) for details.

Instruction Permits for Commercial Drivers
New commercial drivers must get an instruction (CDLI) to practice driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to prepare for the CDL skills test. To obtain the permit you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Hold a valid operator’s license.
• Pass the knowledge test for the type of vehicle you will be driving.
• Have a valid federal medical card.

Persons who do not have a valid federal medical card will be restricted to:

• No CMV operation in interstate commerce.
• No CMV operation in intrastate commerce unless exempted by federal or state laws, i.e., employed by a government agency or operating a school bus (a state medical form is required for school bus operation).
A CDL instruction permit is valid only for CMV’s. The permit is valid for 6 months ad will list the type of vehicles and endorsements for which you have qualified. Certain restriction will apply to your operation with a CDL instruction permit:
• You must have a qualified driving instructor or a person who is licensed to operate that type CMV, and is at least 21 years old, sitting next to you at all times.
• You may not transport passengers. However, if the accompanying driver is a qualified instructor, 3 other persons with instruction permits may also ride along.
• You may carry property in a CMV while you are driving on an instruction permit.
• Unless you are at least 21 years old, and have a federal medical certificate (Fed Med Card), you may not operate in interstate commerce on an instruction permit.

Drivers who upgrade class, restrictions, or endorsements will need a CDL instruction permit if the upgrade requires a skills test.

Skills Testing

All applicants for a driver license must pass a skills test in the type of vehicle they plan to drive. The license endorsements for driving a school bus or a commercial motor vehicle carrying passengers require that the applicant pass a skills test in a school bus or passenger-carrying vehicle.

Third-party (non-DMV) testers/examiners are also authorized to administer CDL skills test, See inside front cover for telephone number to call for third-party tester information.

School Bus Licenses
Wisconsin school bus drivers will be tested when they first apply for a school bus endorsement. They must also pass the knowledge test and a brief skill test upon renewal (or, if 70 or older. Every 2 years) to retain their endorsements. Wisconsin school bus driver must complete a medical report (or show DOT physical exam certificate) on original application and file a new medical report every 2 years and upon renewal (if 70 or older, every year).

Fees
The following fees are in effect as of February 2000 and are subject to change without notice:
For drivers of Non-Commercial Vehicles
• Instruction Permits $25.00
• Original License $18.00*
(probationary & regular)
With Motorcycle endorsement $30.00*
• Renewal License $24.00*
(probationary & regular)
• Renewal with Motorcycle $32.00
Endorsement
• Driving Skills Test (Road Test) $15.00
-Add $15.00 fee when driving skills test required.

For Drivers of Commercial Vehicles
-Instruction Permit $20.00
-Driving Skills Test (Road Test)
*School Busses $15.00
*Other Commercial Vehicles $20.00
** This is the fee if the test is given by DMV. Third-party tester fees may be higher.

Commercial Drivers License $64.00

The fee for a commercial drivers license (CDL) is $64 for an eight year license. The $64 fee includes any endorsements added at the time of original CDL application. A CDL may be “upgraded” later to add authorization to drive additional classes or types of vehicles for $5 for each endorsement. When the license upgrade requires a skills test, a skills test fee will be charged.

Special Notes

-A CDL must be renewed every 8 years. Extensions of the 8 year period (temporary licenses, driving receipts, etc.) are not permitted. A valid CDL is necessary at all time.
-If you move (change address), you must apply for a duplicate CDL (with your new address) within 10 days of moving. Apply at any DMV Service Center.
-Any vehicle considered illegal for highway use, or for use on a skills test route, will not be allowed for skills test purposes.

Legal Size

The following is general information. For further information on size (and weight) contact your State Patrol Headquarters.

In general, size limits in Wisconsin are:
Lenght-single vehicle and load, 40'
Lenght-combination of 2 vehicles and load, 65'
Width-vehicle and load, 8'6"
Height-vehicle and load, 13'6"

Load Extensions

There are a number of exceptions which apply to farm machinery, vehicles involved in towing operations, and vehicles carrying certain types of loads.

One notable exception for lenght involves cranes or booms that are part of a hauled vehicle.

The load cannot extend beyond the left fender line, but it can extend up to 6" beyond the right fender line and up to 3" beyond the front bumper. Loads extending more than 4' beyond the rear of the vehicle must have a red flag during daylight hours and a red lamp during hours of darkness attatched to the end of the load. Some vehicles can exceed lenght limitations as follows:

1. 48' for a semitrailer or trailer operating as part of a two vehicle combination.

2. 53' for a semitrailer operating on the interstate system or designated routes, if distance from center of kingpin to center of kingpin to center of rear axle(s) is not more than 43'.

3. 28'6" for semitrailer or trailer operating as part of a double-bottom.

4. 66' plus an additional overhang of 4' to the front of the vehicle and 5' to the rear for an automobile haulaway.

Special Permits

In order to move vehicles exceeding these size, weight, and load extension dimmensions, a special permit is required. Call (608) 266-7320 for information on these moves.