The Jensen Defense

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently reviewed Wisconsin’s commercial driver license (CDL) program and found a number of discrepancies between Wisconsin statutes and federal regulations. 

In an effort to address these discrepancies, and improve Wisconsin’s compliance with the federal regulations, Wisconsin’s biennial budget bill included several legislative changes related to commercial driver licenses.  All changes take effect January 1, 2010.  It is important that all CDL holders are aware of these changes as they are, in some cases, quite substantial. 

“One of the biggest changes,” notes DMV Citations and Withdrawals Section Chief, Erin Egan, “is that Wisconsin CDL drivers will be subject to a two-year disqualification of their CDL if the DMV receives notice from another jurisdiction for failing to appear to contest a citation, failure to pay a judgment entered against the person or failing to comply with the penalties imposed by a court.”  She noted that disqualifications will be reduced to thirty days when notice of compliance is received.  “This is a change that drivers must be aware of as it would affect their ability to hold a CDL.”  Egan stressed that there are other changes regarding the areas of administrative suspensions, out-of-service orders and some that would affect new residents applying for a CDL. 

More information about the changes in store for CDL holders can be found at the DMV Web site.