Giving Up My CDL

[Alan Reagan]

The regulation Nation has finally gotten to me. I've held a CDL for 40 years. Now my personal physician physicals are no longer acceptable for the biannual medical certificate. I have to go to a federally approved site and see an RN for my physical. I also hold a master mariner's license and my medical cert for that is not acceptable even though the physical is more rigorous. It's all out of control. Instead of punishing the few drivers not getting physicals, they punish all drivers. I give up jumping through the useless hoops.

 

[TFucili]

That is the government way, don't deal with the problem folks, just make it unbearable for everyone. It happens to anything they get involved in.

 

[mwilson]

I have held onto my CDL, just in case....It is not so bad to keep it while working here as I am in the driver pool so they send me over to the local company wellness provider for the DOT physicals and the occasional pee test.

I did however dump my Haz-Mat endorsement right after 9-11, that was a little more hassle than I wanted to deal with. I could retest and get it back if I really needed it.

I just hate to give the darn thing up if I can possibly keep it going.

 

[Regcabguy]

Moonbeam nation.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I have held onto my CDL, just in case....It is not so bad to keep it while working here as I am in the driver pool...

I did the opposite... I dropped my CDL years ago to get out of the driver pool at our truck dealership.

Bill

 

[ata]

I gave up my CDL when I started drawing my DRITY NASTY LAZY UNION retirement and haven't looked back.

 

[Larry Willard]

I have considered giving up my CDL as well for the same reasons as the original poster. I did give up the HazMat on last renewal like Mike did due to the hassles of the finger printing and background check every time. Too bad we can't just sign a sworn statement that we aren't currently driving commercially and agree to get a new physical if/when needed. I can keep my Master Plumber license as "not insured to work" unless I want to add insurance and contract, so why not something similar for the CDL.
Larry

 

[Jim W]

Will before you give up your CDL check with your state DMV about trailer requirements when towing an RV. You might be able to reclassify to a NON-CDL class A.

I checked with my state DMV when I bought our new 5er; a 16,200 LBS GVWR if I needed a different licensee classification. Per the State of Illinois secretary states office; I am fine as long as the truck GVRW is under 10,000 LBS. If the truck was over 10,000 LBS and the trailer was over 16,001 LBS and I am not using the trailer for business purposes. I would need a Non-CDL class A licensee to pull this combination. My truck GVRW is 8,000 LBS so I am OK.

Jim

 

[Alan Reagan]

Will before you give up your CDL check with your state DMV about trailer requirements when towing an RV. You might be able to reclassify to a NON-CDL class A.

I checked with my state DMV when I bought our new 5er; a 16,200 LBS GVWR if I needed a different licensee classification. Per the State of Illinois secretary states office; I am fine as long as the truck GVRW is under 10,000 LBS. If the truck was over 10,000 LBS and the trailer was over 16,001 LBS and I am not using the trailer for business purposes. I would need a Non-CDL class A licensee to pull this combination. My truck GVRW is 8,000 LBS so I am OK.

Jim

Thanks, JimW for the idea. I was able to go onto the Georgia DDS website and select that I am an Excepted Driver. I can still keep my license and all endorsements but can't drive commercially which I'm not doing now anyway. By taking the excepted driver option, if I need to do any commercial work, I just go to the local CVS, answer the medical questions, get my certificate and upload to the website and everything goes back to full CDL. The physical and document upload takes less than an hour. I just hated the thought of needing it again and having to start over with the testing and driving test. I have dropped my HAZMAT because of the cost of the background checks every renewal. I appreciate the tip. Alan

 

[Brian Sullivan]

I gave up my CDL when I started drawing my DRITY NASTY LAZY UNION retirement and haven't looked back.

Didn't have cdl but drawing Union pension also

 

[The patriot]

I still have the CDL, but no medical cert, so in theory I'm OK within state. (I think...the rules keep changing)
I dropped the haz mat a long time ago. Still good with wiggle wagons, tankers, and of course air brakes. NO bus!
They made me drop boat off my license. I have no idea why, but being I no longer owned a boat, it wansnt worth a fight.
When my BIL renewed, they took his CDL off. I THINK it's because he had brain surgery. Dont really know.

 

[Alan Reagan]

In, Georgia, you have to self certify in regards to where you will be driving. If you don't, they will drop your CDL when you renew. Where you drive and if it is commercial determines whether you need a physical or not. I still don't understand how a registered nurse asking me five health questions is better than a full physical by my doctor. Makes no sense to me.

 

[MoparBob]

Alaska allows you to self-certify like Georgia so you don't have to submit a medical certificate. I am keeping all my endorsements intact though (still have avalid medical card too just in case) so that I can fall back on it in case the current job goes away unexpectedly. I get a nice insurance discount on RVs with it too.

 

[The patriot]

Yea, NJ is a self certify thing too I guess. Or it always used to be anyway...
Like I said, the laws keep changing, I haven't driven commercially in probably 15 years+. I'm sure plenty has changed.
I don't ever foresee needing it, but being I went through all the hassle of getting it, I like having 2 or 3 different skill-sets if needed being I earned it and all....