North Carolina CDL- Driver Safety Guidelines

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles issue the CDL driver’s licenses to individuals who will operate a vehicle with a weight greater than 26,000 pounds. The Commercial Driver’s License is available to men and women who are older than 21 years of age and who currently hold a valid North Carolina driver’s license. It is a special license used by those who will work for another company in most cases, although there are numerous scenarios in which the license may be required.

What is the CDL in North Carolina?

There are several types of commercial driver’s licenses available in North Carolina. Follow this link to download a PDF guide detailing more information about the CDL licenses, the types and much other detailed information. It is important to understand all rules and regulations of a North Carolina CDL driver’s licenses before applying for it.

Types of Commercial Licenses in North Carolina

The three available types of CDL licenses available in North Carolina:
Commercial Class A driver’s licenses are available to drivers operating a combination of vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds. Commercial Class B licenses are available for single vehicle operation of a vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, and vehicle towing of a vehicle not to be greater than 10,000 pounds. Finally there is the Class C Commercial license . This license is used for drivers who will operate vehicles that cannot be included in Class A or Class B, but it used to transport 16 passengers or more. It can also be used for those who will be transporting hazardous materials.
Any driver wishing to obtain a CDL class driver’s license must first be mandated through a CDL “learner’s permit”: https://www.dmvcheatsheets.com/dmv/learners_permit . This permit is valid for a period of six months, and two permits in a two year period can be granted. If the permit expires past 30 days all of the written portion of the tests must be retaken.

Staying Safe on the Road

Operating any type of vehicle can be a dangerous activity; however there are far greater risks to your safety, and the others on the road, when you are operating a commercial vehicle. It is even more essential that you learn the guidelines of staying safe as a driver of a commercial vehicle.
Safety guidelines that you should always follow include:

• Know the safety of your vehicle before you leave. Check the tires, brakes, safety gauges, cargo securement and trailer security.
• At the end of your shift, make note of the condition of the vehicle. A motor vehicle inspection report should be filled out and provided to the motor carrier to ensure that all others driving after you are as safe as possible.
• You must maintain control over your vehicle at all times. Maintaining control of the vehicle means that you can stabilize acceleration, steering, stopping and backing the vehicle. You should never roll back when the vehicle is started.
• Always wear your seatbelt. It isn’t a question: seatbelts save lives and are needed to be worn at all times. Fastening the seatbelt should be one of the very first things that you do when you get inside of your commercial vehicle.
• Holding the steering wheel firmly is also something that you should get used to doing. Have a nice, firm grip on the steering wheel at all times keeps you in control.
• Backing up is a dangerous activity, especially in a larger vehicle. Do this as little as you possibly can.
• Always look for traffic beside you, in front of you and behind you before accelerating or changing lanes. Remember that large trucks and cars alike have blind spots. You want to take extra precaution to ensure safety! Keep the mirrors adjusted properly, and if the vehicle does not have blind spot detectors, consider adding them!
• Always let drivers know of your intentions, whether it is to turn or to change lanes or something else. There are many tools on the vehicle that enable you to give these alerts, and when you use them everyone is a little bit safer.
• Follow all rules of the road. This includes obeying speed limits even when it might seem okay to go just a little bit faster. The rules of the road are in place for a reason, and it is your responsibility to follow them and keep everyone on the roads as safe as possible.

Safe Driving is your Choice

If you are not following all of the safety guidelines in place you are risking your safety, and that of so many other innocent people. There are penalties for those who do not follow the rules of the road and strive to keep themselves and others safe, and this can mean revocation of your CDL driving privileges. It is your responsibility to stay safe and by following these guidelines you are taking the first steps toward doing just that.