What does 49 CFR 383.7 (Validity of CDL issued by decertified State) require?

Short answer

A CDL issued by a State prior to the date the State is notified by the Administrator that the State is prohibited from issuing CDLs will remain valid until its stated expiration date.

The rule says

"A CDL issued by a State prior to the date the State is notified by the Administrator, in accordance with the provisions of 384.405 of this subchapter, that the State is prohibited from issuing CDLs, will remain valid until its stated expiration date." (49 CFR 383.7)

In plain English

This means that even if a State's CDL program is decertified, any CDLs that were issued before the decertification will still be valid until they expire. This provides a transition period for drivers who hold CDLs from a decertified State, allowing them to continue driving until their CDL expires. However, the State will not be able to issue new CDLs or renew existing ones during the period of decertification.

What to do

• Verify the expiration date of the CDL to determine its validity period.
• Check the status of the State's CDL program to confirm whether it has been decertified.
• Ensure that drivers with CDLs from a decertified State are aware of the transition period and plan accordingly.
• Review company policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the regulations regarding CDLs from decertified States.