Commercial vehicles are generally held to higher safety standards than regular passenger cars, and this includes the requirement for drivers to possess a specific type of license. In Utah, as is the case in every other state, commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) are broken into different classes based on the size and type of vehicle in question. Each class comes with its own set of requirements and restrictions.
Learning about how CDLs work isn’t just useful for aspiring truck drivers. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Salt Lake City involving a commercial vehicle, the type of license the driver held and whether they were properly qualified to operate that vehicle can be directly relevant to your personal injury claim.
CDL Classes in Utah
Utah issues three classes of commercial driver’s licenses. The class a driver needs depends on the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle they intend to operate and whether they’ll be towing anything behind it.
CDL classes include:
- Class A CDL: Required for any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, as long as the vehicle being towed weighs more than 10,000 pounds. This covers tractor-trailers and most large semi-trucks.
- Class B CDL: Required for single vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, or for towing a vehicle that weighs less than 10,000 pounds. This typically includes vehicles like dump trucks and box trucks.
- Class C CDL: Required for vehicles that don’t fall into Class A or Class B but are designed to carry 16 or more passengers (including the driver) or are used to transport hazardous materials that require placarding.
A driver who holds a Class A license is generally authorized to operate Class B and Class C vehicles as well. However, the reverse is not true. A Class C holder cannot legally drive a vehicle that requires a Class A or B license.
CDL Endorsements and Restrictions
Beyond the basic license class, Utah requires additional endorsements for certain types of cargo or vehicles. These endorsements involve separate testing and must be listed on the driver’s CDL before they can legally perform the associated work.
Common endorsements include:
- H endorsement for hauling hazardous materials
- N endorsement for operating tank vehicles
- P endorsement for carrying passengers
- S endorsement for driving school buses
- T endorsement for operating double or triple trailers
- X endorsement, which is a combination of the H and N endorsements for hauling hazardous materials in tank vehicles
Drivers can also have restrictions placed on their CDL that limit what they’re allowed to do. For example, a restriction might limit a driver to operating vehicles with automatic transmissions only.
What Impact Could a CDL Classification Have on My Truck Accident Claim?
If you’ve been hurt in an accident involving a commercial vehicle in Utah, the driver’s CDL status is one of the first things worth investigating. For example, a driver who was operating a vehicle outside the scope of their license class was likely doing so illegally. That fact alone can be an indicator of negligence in a personal injury case.
The trucking company may also face liability in this situation. Carriers are required to verify that every driver they put on the road holds the proper license and endorsements for the vehicle they’ll be operating. If they knowingly allowed an unqualified driver behind the wheel, for instance, they can potentially be held responsible for any resulting accident.
Contact Feller & Wendt, LLC To Schedule a Free Consultation With a Salt Lake City Truck Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a truck accident in Utah, the driver’s qualifications and licensing history could strengthen your claim. You may be entitled to substantial compensation for both your economic and non-economic damages, including for your pain and suffering.
Reach out to an experienced Salt Lake City truck accident lawyer with Feller & Wendt, LLC today to schedule a free consultation and for help determining your legal rights and options.
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