Commercial Motor Vehicle Definition
A commercial vehicle is any registered motor vehicle that is used to transport people or property either for hire, compensation, or profit, and has a gross vehicle weight rating, gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more.
What is a Commercial Motor Vehicle?
Commercial motor vehicles transport people and products around the country and include vehicle Classes 3-8, with Class 1 and 2 considered light-duty vehicles.
Commercial Motor Vehicle Examples
Examples of commercial motor vehicles include pickup and box trucks, semi-tractors, step vans, motorcoaches, buses, and trailers.
Commercial Motor Vehicle Regulations
There are several regulations related to commercial motor vehicles, including those associated with the vehicle, the driver, and the goods being transported, with the most commonly affecting fleets being:
Commercial Motor Vehicle Registration and Requirements
Any commercial motor vehicle must be registered with the state in which it operates, unless it is involved in interstate travel, which requires registration with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Drivers must also obtain a commercial driver’s license before operating these types of vehicles.
What is a Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspection?
In order to comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the FMCSA, commercial motor vehicles must be regularly inspected to ensure the safety of the vehicle, the driver, and those they share the road with. The FMCSA requires all commercial vehicle drivers to perform a pre-trip inspection, which includes checking the fluid levels, mirrors, headlight and taillights, wipers, tires, and suspension, as well as ensuring any cargo is secured. At the end of the day, drivers must also fill out a post-trip inspection, which can include any needed repairs or corrective actions.
There are also required periodical inspections that must be performed by a qualified inspector, usually on an annual basis. DOT inspectors or those from state agencies, as well as qualified law enforcement officers, can also stop drivers and perform roadside inspections, placing them out of service if they come upon any safety issues.
What is a Commercial Motor Vehicle License?
The operation of commercial motor vehicles requires drivers to obtain a commercial driver’s license, or CDL. In order to obtain a CDL, drivers must obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) that authorizes them to practice on public roads as long as a qualified CDL holder is sitting next to them in the vehicle. Drivers must then take an entry-level driver training course. The final step is passing a three-part skills test, which includes the vehicle inspection test, the basic controls test, and the road test.
Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety
In 1986, Congress enacted the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act to improve highway safety by eliminating dangerous commercial motor vehicles and unqualified, unsafe drivers from the roads. This act created a set of minimum requirements for both obtaining and retaining a CDL, while also prohibiting drivers from holding more than one CDL. More than a decade later, the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act was passed, creating the FMCSA, a separate administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation that works to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. The FMCSA has since passed a number of rules and regulations related to hours of service, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle inspections, and transporting hazardous materials.
Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training
As of February 2022, all individual who are either obtaining a CDL for the first time, upgrading an existing Class B CDL to a Class A, or obtaining a passenger, school bus, or hazmat endorsement for the first time must complete Entry-Level Driver Training, according to the FMCSA. The training incorporates both theory and behind-the-wheel instruction, including basic operation (control systems, pre-/post-trip inspections, shifting, backing/docking, etc.), safe operating procedures (distracted driving, speed management, extreme driving conditions, etc.), advanced operating practices (skid control, jackknifing, etc.), vehicle systems and reporting malfunctions, and non-driving activities (handling/documenting cargo, environmental compliance issues, hours of service requirements, etc.).
Does LifeSaver Mobile Work with Commercial Motor Vehicles?
Phone distraction applies to all commercial drivers, regardless of if the vehicle they operate is company owned or not. These can be commercial motor vehicles or not – LifeSaver Mobile operates as a distracted driving solution for all commercial drivers, and many of our fleet customers do own and operate commercial motor vehicles.
