- All single vehicles with a manufacturer’s weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more;
- All trailers with a manufacturer’s weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, and a combined vehicles’ gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more;
- All vehicles designed to transport 16 or more persons (including the driver). This includes private and church buses;
- All school buses, regardless of size;
- All vehicles used to transport any material that requires hazardous material placarding or any quantity of a material that is classified as a select agent or toxin by the federal government.
Types of Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs)
There are different types – or “classes” – of Commercial Driver’s Licenses that allow drivers to legally operate different types of commercial vehicles. For this purpose, commercial vehicles are divided into three different classes based on their size and weight. Below is a table from the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) that outlines the various CDL classes and the types of vehicles that are authorized by each class of CDL:Types Of Vehicles That Can Be Driven With Each Class Of CDL
Commercial vehicles are divided into 3 size classes: A, B, and C.Exceptions To CDL Requirements In Washington
There are also a number of scenarios that do not require a driver of a large semi-truck or tractor-trailer to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Some of the exceptions to the CDL requirements include: Farmers and Farm Employees who transport farm equipment, supplies, or products – such as trees, lumber, and other wood products – using a farm vehicle are not required to obtain a CDL as long as the vehicle is:- Operated by a farmer or a farm employee;
- Not used to operate a common or contract motor carrier;
- And operated within a 150-mile linear radius of the location of the farm.
Commercial License Permits
The Department of Licensing also issues Commercial License Permits (CLPs) to new drivers who are still learning how to properly and safely operate a semi-truck or other type of commercial vehicle. The CLP system bears some resemblance to the non-commercial driver’s license system that most regular drivers are accustomed to. After a driver obtains a CLP, they are permitted to operate a commercial vehicle provided that they abide by the following restrictions:- The CLP holder is accompanied by a valid CDL holder, who also:
- Has two years experience driving the same type of commercial vehicle;
- Has at least five years of total driving experience;
- Sits in the seat directly beside the driver in order to give proper instruction.
- CLP holders are prohibited from operating a commercial vehicle that is carrying or is classified for hazardous materials.
The Smith System®
This training system is commonly taught to drivers of commercial vehicles, and it seeks to help drivers develop the habit of “driving with traffic instead of against it.” This training system has been around for more than 50 years. The System claims that at least fifty percent (50%) of all Fortune 500 companies use the System for their commercial drivers. The System teaches all truck drivers to follow the Smith-5-Keys™:- Aim High in Steering®: Drivers of large trucks or commercial vehicles should look further ahead than the drivers of other smaller vehicles.
- Get the Big Picture®: Drivers of trucks must see more around their commercial vehicles than other drivers can.
- Keep Your Eyes Moving®: Truck drivers must be more aware of their surroundings than other drivers.
- Leave Yourself an Out®: Truck drivers must always position themselves and their large load in traffic better than other drivers. This means anticipating hazards and allowing themselves a safe “out” to avoid a collision.
Make Sure They See You®: Truck drivers must make themselves more visible to other motorists.
Contact an Experienced Seattle Personal Injury Attorney For Help With Your Claim
If you’ve been injured in Seattle, WA, and need legal assistance, contact Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers. Contact our legal team and schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer today. We proudly serve King County in Washington and it’s surrounding areas. Visit our law office at:
Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
2101 4th Ave 1030 Seattle, WA 98121
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