49 C.F.R. § 391.15

Disqualification of drivers

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(a) General. A driver who is disqualified shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle. A motor carrier shall not require or permit a driver who is disqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle.

(b) Disqualification for loss of driving privileges. (1) A driver is disqualified for the duration of the driver's loss of his/her privilege to operate a commercial motor vehicle on public highways, either temporarily or permanently, by reason of the revocation, suspension, withdrawal, or denial of an operator's license, permit, or privilege, until that operator's license, permit, or privilege is restored by the authority that revoked, suspended, withdrew, or denied it.

(2) A driver who receives a notice that his/her license, permit, or privilege to operate a commercial motor vehicle has been revoked, suspended, or withdrawn shall notify the motor carrier that employs him/her of the contents of the notice before the end of the business day following the day the driver received it.

(c) Disqualification for criminal and other offenses—(1) General rule. A driver who is convicted of (or forfeits bond or collateral upon a charge of) a disqualifying offense specified in paragraph (c)(2) of this section is disqualified for the period of time specified in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, if—

(i) The offense was committed during on-duty time as defined in § 395.2 of this subchapter or as otherwise specified; and

(ii) The driver is employed by a motor carrier or is engaged in activities that are in furtherance of a commercial enterprise in interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce.

(2) Disqualifying offenses. The following offenses are disqualifying offenses:

(i) Driving a commercial motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. This shall include:

(A) Driving a commercial motor vehicle while the person's alcohol concentration is 0.04 percent or more;

(B) Driving under the influence of alcohol, as prescribed by State law; or

(C) Refusal to undergo such testing as is required by any State or jurisdiction in the enforcement of § 391.15(c)(2)(i) (A) or (B), or § 392.5(a)(2).

(ii) Driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence of a 21 CFR 1308.11 Schedule I identified controlled substance, an amphetamine, a narcotic drug, a formulation of an amphetamine, or a derivative of a narcotic drug;

(iii) Transportation, possession, or unlawful use of a 21 CFR 1308.11 Schedule I identified controlled substance, amphetamines, narcotic drugs, formulations of an amphetamine, or derivatives of narcotic drugs while the driver is on duty, as the term on-duty time is defined in § 395.2 of this subchapter;

(iv) Leaving the scene of an accident while operating a commercial motor vehicle; or

(v) A felony involving the use of a commercial motor vehicle.

(3) Duration of disqualification—(i) First offenders. A driver is disqualified for 1 year after the date of conviction or forfeiture of bond or collateral if, during the 3 years preceding that date, the driver was not convicted of, or did not forfeit bond or collateral upon a charge of an offense that would disqualify the driver under the rules of this section. Exemption. The period of disqualification is 6 months if the conviction or forfeiture of bond or collateral soley concerned the transportation or possession of substances named in paragraph (c)(2)(iii) of this section.

(ii) Subsequent offenders. A driver is disqualified for 3 years after the date of his/her conviction or forfeiture of bond or collateral if, during the 3 years preceding that date, he/she was convicted of, or forfeited bond or collateral upon a charge of, an offense that would disqualify him/her under the rules in this section.

(d) Disqualification for violation of out-of-service orders—(1) General rule. A driver who is convicted of violating an out-of-service order is disqualified for the period of time specified in paragraph (d)(2) of this section.

(2) Duration of disqualification for violation of out-of-service orders—(i) First violation. A driver is disqualified for not less than 90 days nor more than one year if the driver is convicted of a first violation of an out-of-service order.

(ii) Second violation. A driver is disqualified for not less than one year nor more than five years if, during any 10-year period, the driver is convicted of two violations of out-of-service orders in separate incidents.

(iii) Third or subsequent violation. A driver is disqualified for not less than three years nor more than five years if, during any 10-year period, the driver is convicted of three or more violations of out-of-service orders in separate incidents.

(iv) Special rule for hazardous materials and passenger offenses. A driver is disqualified for a period of not less than 180 days nor more than two years if the driver is convicted of a first violation of an out-of-service order while transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.), or while operating commercial motor vehicles designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver. A driver is disqualified for a period of not less than three years nor more than five years if, during any 10-year period, the driver is convicted of any subsequent violations of out-of-service orders, in separate incidents, while transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, or while operating commercial motor vehicles designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver.

(e) Disqualification for violation of prohibition of texting while driving a commercial motor vehicle—

(1) General rule. A driver who is convicted of violating the prohibition of texting in § 392.80(a) of this chapter is disqualified for the period of time specified in paragraph (e)(2) of this section.

(2) Duration. Disqualification for violation of prohibition of texting while driving a commercial motor vehicle—

(i) Second violation. A driver is disqualified for 60 days if the driver is convicted of two violations of § 392.80(a) of this chapter in separate incidents during any 3-year period.

(ii) Third or subsequent violation. A driver is disqualified for 120 days if the driver is convicted of three or more violations of § 392.80(a) of this chapter in separate incidents during any 3-year period.

(f) Disqualification for violation of a restriction on using a hand-held mobile telephone while driving a commercial motor vehicle—

(1) General rule. A driver who is convicted of violating the restriction on using a hand-held mobile telephone in § 392.82(a) of this chapter is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for the period of time specified in paragraph (f)(2) of this section.

(2) Duration. Disqualification for violation of a restriction on using a hand-held mobile telephone while driving a commercial motor vehicle—

(i) Second violation. A driver is disqualified for 60 days if the driver is convicted of two violations of § 392.82(a) of this chapter in separate incidents committed during any 3-year period.

(ii) Third or subsequent violation. A driver is disqualified for 120 days if the driver is convicted of three or more violations of § 392.82(a) of this chapter in separate incidents committed during any 3-year period.

[37 FR 24902, Nov. 23, 1972] Editorial Note:For Federal Register citations affecting § 391.15, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 21 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1976–2025 · leading case: Morris v. JTM Materials, Inc.

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Morris v. JTM Materials, Inc. (2002) texapp “See 49 C.F.R. § 391.15 (c)(1)®, (2) (2000) (defining a disqualifying offense under the FMCSR as driving a commercial motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or certain controlled substances and amphetamines); Id.”

Used Equipment Sales, Inc. v. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Federico F. Pena, Secretary of (1995) cadc · cites it 3× “See 49 C.F.R. § 391.15 (a) (“a motor carrier shall not .”

United States v. Delgado (2008) ca9 “11 ; 49 C.F.R. § 391.15 ; 49 C.F.R. § 395.3 ; 49 C.”

L.S.F. Transportation, Inc., A/K/A L.S.F. Trucking, Inc., Petitioner/cross-Respondent v. National Labor Relations Board, (2002) ca7 “49 C.F.R. § 391.15 LSF’s continued erroneous insistence that it was merely following DOT regulations when it terminated Kawa, without displaying any letter much less policy or regulation mandating it, has further cast doubt upon the credibility and legitimacy of its explanation.”

Guidry v. National Freight, Inc. (1997) texapp “See 49 C.F.R. § 391.15 (a), (c)(2) (1996).”

Gibson v. Hand (2001) indctapp · cites it 2× “Code § 9-24-15-10 provides: "Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an individual may not receive a restricted driver's license to operate a commercial motor vehicle if the individual's driving privileges are suspended for an alcohol or drug violation under IC…”

Bartja v. National Union Fire Insurance (1995) gactapp “McConico also testified that he lost control of his personal car when a tie end rod broke.”

Valadez v. CSX Intermodal Terminals, Inc. (2018) cand “Being at fault in a preventable accident, alone, is not grounds for disqualification under 49 C.F.R. § 391.15 . Similarly, in O'Connor , drivers could work as little as they wanted, so long as they gave at least one ride every 180 days or every 30 days, depending on the platform…”

Usery v. Tamiami Trail Tours, Inc. (1976) ca5 “31, 49 C.F.R. 391.15, 49 C.F.R. 392.5, 49 C.F.”

American Trucking Associations, Incorporated v. Federal Highway Administration United States Department of Transportatio (1995) ca4 “04 percent or more); 49 C.F.R. § 391.15 (prohibiting commercial motor vehicle operators from driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .”

Poole v. JB Hunt Transport, Inc. (1997) fladistctapp “See generally Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, 49 C.F.R. § 391.15 (1997) (listing conduct that disqualifies drivers).”

United Transportation Union Local 1589 v. Suburban Transit Corp. (1995) ca3 “25 , a Department of Transportation regulation requiring motor carriers to review annually their drivers’ records to ascertain whether any of their drivers are disqualified to drive a motor vehicle under 49 C.F.R. § 391.15 . Suburban cannot contend that the arbitrator’s award…”

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