Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110
§31311 Requirements for State Participation
Title 49 › SUBTITLE VI — MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS › PART B — COMMERCIAL › CHAPTER 313 — COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATORS › § 31311
Summary
Require each State to run a commercial driver licensing program that meets the federal minimum rules. States must test and make sure people are fit to drive big trucks and buses, and only give a commercial driver’s license (CDL) after the person passes the required written and driving tests. A State must treat a driver as drunk if their blood alcohol level is at or above the level set in section 31310(a). Licenses must include the required identifying information. Before issuing or renewing a CDL, the State must check the driver’s record with any other State that issued a license and ask the federal system (or the Secretary) for information when the Secretary’s rules require it. The State must notify the Secretary or the federal information system within 30 days after issuing a CDL, and within 10 days after disqualifying, revoking, suspending, or canceling a CDL for 60 days or more, and must record the violation. If a driver with an out-of-state CDL or an out-of-state regular license driving a commercial vehicle breaks traffic rules (not parking), the State where it happened must tell the issuing State within 10 days. States may not issue a CDL or a permit while the person is disqualified or their license is revoked, suspended, or canceled, and must require surrender of any out-of-state CDL before issuing a new one. States may generally issue CDLs only to people who live there, with limited exceptions (people from States that don’t issue CDLs, and active duty military stationed in the State). States must adopt federal regulations, keep full driving records of CDL holders and make them available to the driver, the Secretary, employers, licensing and law enforcement agencies, and must not hide violations. States must run a CDL information system that works with the federal system, report foreign driver convictions to the federal database, switch to exclusive electronic exchange on the federal system within 1 year after the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act of 2012, check the drug and alcohol clearinghouse before issuing or renewing a CDL, and, within 5 years after that 2012 Act, be able to receive electronic medical examiner certificates for interstate drivers. Allow a State to meet the rule that disqualifies a driver by revoking, suspending, or canceling the driver’s regular license. After a State asks the Secretary about a proposed CDL, the Secretary or the federal system must tell the State within 30 days if the person already has a CDL from another State or has been disqualified. Each State had to send the Secretary a plan showing how it would meet these rules from the plan’s submission date through September 30, 2016. The plan had to say how the State would fix problems found in federal audits, include a schedule that gives top priority to critical problems, and promise to meet the rules by September 30, 2015. The Secretary reviews and may approve or disapprove plans, must explain disapprovals in writing, and allow changes and resubmission. The Secretary can ask States to update plans as needed and will publish an annual comparison of how well States follow these requirements.
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §31311
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(a)General.—
To avoid having amounts withheld from apportionment under section 31314 of this title, a State shall comply with the following requirements:
(1)The State shall adopt and carry out a program for testing and ensuring the fitness of individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles consistent with the minimum standards prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation under section 31305(a) of this title.
(2)The State may issue a commercial driver’s license to an individual only if the individual passes written and driving tests for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle that comply with the minimum standards.
(3)The State shall have in effect and enforce a law providing that an individual with a blood alcohol concentration level at or above the level established by section 31310(a) of this title when operating a commercial motor vehicle is deemed to be driving under the influence of alcohol.
(4)The State shall authorize an individual to operate a commercial motor vehicle only by issuing a commercial driver’s license containing the information described in section 31308(3) of this title.
(5)Not later than the time period prescribed by the Secretary by regulation, the State shall notify the Secretary or the operator of the information system under section 31309 of this title, as the case may be, of the proposed issuance of the license and other information the Secretary may require to ensure identification of the individual applying for the license.
(6)Before issuing a commercial driver’s license to an individual or renewing such a license, the State shall request from any other State that has issued a driver’s license to the individual all information about the driving record of the individual.
(7)Not later than 30 days after issuing a commercial driver’s license, the State shall notify the Secretary or the operator of the information system under section 31309 of this title, as the case may be, of the issuance.
(8)Not later than 10 days after disqualifying the holder of a commercial driver’s license from operating a commercial motor vehicle (or after revoking, suspending, or canceling the license) for at least 60 days, the State shall notify the Secretary or the operator of the information system under section 31309 of this title, as the case may be, and the State that issued the license, of the disqualification, revocation, suspension, or cancellation, and the violation that resulted in the disqualification, revocation, suspension, or cancellation shall be recorded.
(9)If an individual violates a State or local law on motor vehicle traffic control (except a parking violation) and the individual—
(A)has a commercial driver’s license issued by another State; or
(B)is operating a commercial vehicle without a commercial driver’s license and has a driver’s license issued by another State,
the State in which the violation occurred shall notify a State official designated by the issuing State of the violations not later than 10 days after the date the individual is found to have committed the violation.
(10)(A)The State may not issue a commercial driver’s license to an individual during a period in which the individual is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle or the individual’s driver’s license is revoked, suspended, or canceled.
(B)The State may not issue a special license or permit (including a provisional or temporary license) to an individual who holds a commercial driver’s license that permits the individual to drive a commercial motor vehicle during a period in which—
(i)the individual is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle; or
(ii)the individual’s driver’s license is revoked, suspended, or canceled.
(11)The State may issue a commercial driver’s license to an individual who has a commercial driver’s license issued by another State only if the individual first returns the driver’s license issued by the other State.
(12)(A)Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the State may issue a commercial driver’s license only to an individual who operates or will operate a commercial motor vehicle and is domiciled in the State.
(B)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the State may issue a commercial driver’s license to an individual who—
(i)operates or will operate a commercial motor vehicle; and
(ii)is not domiciled in a State that issues commercial driver’s licenses.
(C)The State may issue a commercial driver’s license to an individual who—
(i)operates or will operate a commercial motor vehicle;
(ii)is an active duty member of—
(I)the armed forces (as that term is defined in section 101(a) of title 10); or
(II)the reserve components (as that term is defined in section 31305(d)(2) of this title); and
(iii)is not domiciled in the State, but whose temporary or permanent duty station is located in the State.
(13)The State shall impose penalties consistent with this chapter that the State considers appropriate and the Secretary approves for an individual operating a commercial motor vehicle.
(14)The State shall allow an individual to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the State if—
(A)the individual has a commercial driver’s license issued by another State under the minimum standards prescribed by the Secretary under section 31305(a) of this title;
(B)the license is not revoked, suspended, or canceled; and
(C)the individual is not disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle.
(15)The State shall disqualify an individual from operating a commercial motor vehicle for the same reasons and time periods for which the Secretary shall disqualify the individual under subsections (b)–(e), (i)(1)(A) and (i)(2) of section 31310.
(16)(A)Before issuing a commercial driver’s license to an individual, the State shall request the Secretary for information from the National Driver Register maintained under chapter 303 of this title (after the Secretary decides the Register is operational) on whether the individual—
(i)has been disqualified from operating a motor vehicle (except a commercial motor vehicle);
(ii)has had a license (except a license authorizing the individual to operate a commercial motor vehicle) revoked, suspended, or canceled for cause in the 3-year period ending on the date of application for the commercial driver’s license; or
(iii)has been convicted of an offense specified in section 30304(a)(3) of this title.
(B)The State shall give full weight and consideration to that information in deciding whether to issue the individual a commercial driver’s license.
(17)The State shall adopt and enforce regulations prescribed by the Secretary under as 31310(j) of this title.
(18)The State shall maintain, as part of its driver information system, a record of each violation of a State or local motor vehicle traffic control law while operating a motor vehicle (except a parking violation) for each individual who holds a commercial driver’s license. The record shall be available upon request to the individual, the Secretary, employers, prospective employers, State licensing and law enforcement agencies, and their authorized agents.
(19)The State shall—
(A)record in the driving record of an individual who has a commercial driver’s license issued by the State; and
(B)make available to all authorized persons and governmental entities having access to such record,
all information the State receives under paragraph (9) with respect to the individual and every violation by the individual involving a motor vehicle (including a commercial motor vehicle) of a State or local law on traffic control (except a parking violation), not later than 10 days after the date of receipt of such information or the date of such violation, as the case may be. The State may not allow information regarding such violations to be withheld or masked in any way from the record of an individual possessing a commercial driver’s license.
(20)The State shall revoke, suspend, or cancel the commercial driver’s license of an individual in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary to carry out section 31310(g).
(21)The State shall operate a commercial driver’s license information system that is compatible with the modernized commercial driver’s license information system under section 31309.
(22)The State shall report a conviction of a foreign commercial driver by that State to the Federal Convictions and Withdrawal Database, or another information system designated by the Secretary to record the convictions. A report shall include—
(A)for a driver holding a foreign commercial driver’s license—
(i)each conviction relating to the operation of a commercial motor vehicle; and
(ii)each conviction relating to the operation of a non-commercial motor vehicle; and
(B)for an unlicensed driver or a driver holding a foreign non-commercial driver’s license, each conviction relating to the operation of a commercial motor vehicle.
(23)Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act of 2012, the State shall implement a system and practices for the exclusive electronic exchange of driver history record information on the system the Secretary maintains under section 31309, including the posting of convictions, withdrawals, and disqualifications.
(24)Before renewing or issuing a commercial driver’s license to an individual, the State shall request information pertaining to the individual from the drug and alcohol clearinghouse maintained under section 31306a.
(25)Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act of 2012, the State shall establish and maintain, as part of its driver information system, the capability to receive an electronic copy of a medical examiner’s certificate, from a certified medical examiner, for each holder of a commercial driver’s license issued by the State who operates or intends to operate in interstate commerce.
(b)State Satisfaction of Requirements.—
A State may satisfy the requirements of subsection (a) of this section that the State disqualify an individual from operating a commercial motor vehicle by revoking, suspending, or canceling the driver’s license issued to the individual.
(c)Notification.—
Not later than 30 days after being notified by a State of the proposed issuance of a commercial driver’s license to an individual, the Secretary or the operator of the information system under section 31309 of this title, as the case may be, shall notify the State whether the individual has a commercial driver’s license issued by another State or has been disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle by another State or the Secretary.
(d)State Commercial Driver’s License Program Plan.—
(1)In general.—
A State shall submit a plan to the Secretary for complying with the requirements under this section during the period beginning on the date the plan is submitted and ending on September 30, 2016.
(2)Contents.—
A plan submitted by a State under paragraph (1) shall identify—
(A)the actions that the State will take to address any deficiencies in the State’s commercial driver’s license program, as identified by the Secretary in the most recent audit of the program; and
(B)other actions that the State will take to comply with the requirements under subsection (a).
(3)Priority.—
(A)Implementation schedule.—
A plan submitted by a State under paragraph (1) shall include a schedule for the implementation of the actions identified under paragraph (2). In establishing the schedule, the State shall prioritize actions to address any deficiencies highlighted by the Secretary as critical in the most recent audit of the program.
(B)Deadline for compliance with requirements.—
A plan submitted by a State under paragraph (1) shall include assurances that the State will take the necessary actions to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) not later than September 30, 2015.
(4)Approval and disapproval.—
The Secretary shall—
(A)review each plan submitted under paragraph (1);
(B)(i)approve a plan if the Secretary determines that the plan meets the requirements under this subsection and promotes the goals of this chapter; and
(ii)disapprove a plan that the Secretary determines does not meet the requirements or does not promote the goals.
(5)Modification of disapproved plans.—
If the Secretary disapproves a plan under paragraph (4), the Secretary shall—
(A)provide a written explanation of the disapproval to the State; and
(B)allow the State to modify the plan and resubmit it for approval.
(6)Plan updates.—
The Secretary may require a State to review and update a plan, as appropriate.
(e)Annual Comparison of State Levels of Compliance.—
The Secretary shall annually—
(1)compare the relative levels of compliance by States with the requirements under subsection (a); and
(2)make the results of the comparison available to the public.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3131149 App.:2708.Oct. 27, 1986, Pub. L. 99–570, § 12009, 100 Stat. 3207–179; Dec. 18, 1991, Pub. L. 102–240, § 4009(b), 105 Stat. 2156. Subsection (a)(15) is substituted for 49 App.:2708(a)(15)–(19) for consistency with section 31310(b)–(e) of the revised title and to avoid repeating the language restated in section 31310(b)–(e). In subsection (b), the words “in accordance with the requirements of such subsection” are omitted as surplus.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Par. (3) of section 31308 of this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(4), was redesignated par. (4) by Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, § 4122(2)(C), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1734. The date of enactment of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act of 2012, referred to in subsec. (a)(23), (25), is the date of enactment of title II of div. C of Pub. L. 112–141, which was approved July 6, 2012.
Amendments
2024—Subsec. (a)(21). Pub. L. 118–156 substituted “The State shall operate” for “By the date established by the Secretary under section 31309(e)(4), the State shall be operating”. 2015—Subsec. (a)(12)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 114–94 amended cl. (ii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (ii) read as follows: “is a member of the active duty military, military reserves, National Guard, active duty United States Coast Guard, or Coast Guard Auxiliary; and”. 2012—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 112–141, § 32305(b)(1)(A), substituted “Not later than the time period prescribed by the Secretary by regulation,” for “At least 60 days before issuing a commercial driver’s license (or a shorter period the Secretary prescribes by regulation),”. Subsec. (a)(12). Pub. L. 112–196 amended par. (12) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (12) read as follows: “The State may issue a commercial driver’s license only to an individual who operates or will operate a commercial motor vehicle and is domiciled in the State, except that, under
Regulations
the Secretary shall prescribe, the State may issue a commercial driver’s license to an individual who operates or will operate a commercial motor vehicle and is not domiciled in a State that issues commercial drivers’ licenses.” Subsec. (a)(22). Pub. L. 112–141, § 32203(b), added par. (22). Subsec. (a)(23), (24). Pub. L. 112–141, § 32305(b)(1)(B), added pars. (23) and (24). Subsec. (a)(25). Pub. L. 112–141, § 32302(d), added par. (25). Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 112–141, § 32305(b)(2), added subsecs. (d) and (e). 2005—Subsec. (a)(15). Pub. L. 109–59, § 4123(b)(1), substituted “(i)(1)(A) and (i)(2)” for “(g)(1)(A), and (g)(2)”. Subsec. (a)(17). Pub. L. 109–59, § 4123(b)(2), substituted “as 31310(j)” for “section 31310(h)”. Subsec. (a)(21). Pub. L. 109–59, § 4123(b)(3), added par. (21). 1999—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 106–159, § 202(a), inserted “or renewing such a license” after “to an individual” and struck out “commercial” after “has issued a”. Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 106–159, § 202(b), inserted “, and the violation that resulted in the disqualification, revocation, suspension, or cancellation shall be recorded” before the period at end. Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 106–159, § 202(c), amended par. (9) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (9) read as follows: “If an individual operating a commercial motor vehicle violates a State or local law on motor vehicle traffic control (except a parking violation) and the individual has a driver’s license issued by another State, the State in which the violation occurred shall notify a State official designated by the issuing State of the violation not later than 10 days after the date the individual is found to have committed the violation.” Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 106–159, § 202(d), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B). Subsec. (a)(13). Pub. L. 106–159, § 202(e), inserted “consistent with this chapter that” after “penalties”, substituted “vehicle.” for “vehicle when the individual—”, and struck out pars. (A) to (C) which read as follows: “(A) does not have a commercial driver’s license; “(B) has a driver’s license revoked, suspended, or canceled; or “(C) is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle.” Subsec. (a)(18) to (20). Pub. L. 106–159, § 202(f)–(h), added pars. (18) to (20). 1998—Subsec. (a)(15). Pub. L. 105–178, § 4011(e)(1), substituted “subsections (b)–(e), (g)(1)(A), and (g)(2) of section 31310” for “section 31310(b)–(e) of this title”. Subsec. (a)(17), (18). Pub. L. 105–178, § 4011(e)(2), (3), redesignated par. (18) as (17) and struck out former par. (17) which read as follows: “The State shall adopt and enforce
Regulations
prescribed by the Secretary under section 31310(g)(1)(A) and (2) of this title.” 1995—Subsec. (a)(18). Pub. L. 104–88 added par. (18).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Effective Date
of 2012 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 23, Highways.
Effective Date
of 1995 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–88 effective Jan. 1, 1996, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 1301 of this title.
Regulations
Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title V, § 5401(c), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1547, provided that: “Not later than December 31, 2015, the Secretary [of Transportation] shall issue final
Regulations
to implement the exemption to the domicile requirement under section 31311(a)(12)(C) of title 49, United States Code.” State-to-State Notification of Violations Data Pub. L. 106–159, title II, § 221, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1769, provided that: “(a) Development.—In cooperation with the States, the Secretary shall develop a uniform system to support the electronic transmission of data State-to-State on convictions for all motor vehicle traffic control law violations by individuals possessing a commercial drivers’ licenses as required by paragraphs (9) and (19) of section 31311(a) of title 49, United States Code. “(b) Status Report.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 9, 1999], the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the status of the implementation of this section.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 31311
Title 49, Transportation
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110