ARKANSAS a OKLAHOMA

must provide an employment history of at least l0 years.

Premium Quality fl N OCT. 27. 1986, President ReaV gan signed into law the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, mandating tougher training, testing and licensing procedures for commercial motor vehicle drivers, a move supported by the National Private Trucking Association.

Lumber Half Pak HIL.

The new law is geared at eliminating multiple driver licenses, which have been used in the past by truck drivers to spread driving violations among several licenses, thus avoiding detection and staying behind the wheel.

But all that is set to change for drivers of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating in excess of26,001 pounds, or drivers who transport hazardous materials in quantities requiring the vehicle to be placarded (regardless of weight class).

Effective July I of this year, it is illegal for a commercial driver to have more than one driver license. While there are a fgw temporary exceptions, drivers who hold licenses issued by states other than their home state must surrender these to the state(s) that issued them. Any commercial drivers holding licenses from other than their home state are in violation offederal law and can be fined up to $2.s00.

Commercial drivers also must report any moving violation convictions to their home state of licensing and totheir employer. They must notify their employer if their drivers license has been suspended, revoked or canceled, or if they are disqualified. When applying for a new driving job, commercial drivers lf you would like more information on the requirements of the new driver's licensing requirements, give us a call.

Those who employ commercial drivers may not allow an employee to operate a commercial motor vehicle if the employer knows that the employee's driver license has been suspended, revoked. or canceled. that he has been disqualified, or that he has more than one drivers license (except in those cases where temporary exceptions are allowed).

A new "federal disqualification" has begun. A commercial driver now can be disqualified by the U.S. Department of Transportation (and then be unable to legally drive a commerical vehicle) for a minimum period, up to three years or longer, depending on the violation.

The U.S. Secretary of Transportation must issue regulations by July 15, 1988, to establish minimum standards for commercial driving, including written and driving tests. fitness requirements, classes of commercial driver licenses. and information to be contained on the commercial motor vehicle drivers license. The license will be issued by the home state of the commercial driver.

Any commercial driver who has more than one drivers license should keep the home state license and return the rest.

License shoutd be sent to the state motor vehicle office listed on the license with a note saying: 'l am returning my license. Please change your records to show that I no longer hold an active license in your state."

For their own protection, drivers should keep a copy of the note or letter.

Handi-cut/ Home Ctr. Brds. Half Pak Pf.L. and PW.