Understand the major federal regulation areas that govern CDL licensing, driver qualification, enforcement, adjudication, conviction reporting, CDLIS recordkeeping, and state compliance.
This page gives a plain-language orientation to the CDL regulatory structure. Use it to understand the major parts, then use the Cross-Reference Tool for section-level references and role-specific filtering.
These regulation categories are the backbone of CDL licensing, enforcement, reporting, and compliance.
Part 383 addresses CDL standards, driver responsibilities, testing, endorsements, restrictions, and disqualification rules.
Part 384 addresses state responsibilities for CDL program compliance, conviction reporting, CDLIS records, and the prohibition on masking convictions.
Part 390 includes general applicability, definitions, and baseline requirements used across the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
Part 391 addresses driver qualification rules, including physical qualification, driver files, and eligibility standards for commercial motor vehicle operation.
Part 392 addresses rules for the safe driving and operation of commercial motor vehicles.
CDL regulations are not isolated references. They affect roadside enforcement, citation documentation, adjudication, conviction reporting, SDLA action, and driver history review.
These sections are frequently relevant to CDL enforcement, adjudication, reporting, recordkeeping, and compliance questions.
Major offenses, serious traffic violations, and other disqualification categories.
View eCFRApplication, certification, and licensing procedures for CDL and CLP holders.
View eCFRState notification responsibilities involving CDL disqualifications.
View eCFRState reporting requirements for certain traffic violation convictions.
View eCFRCDLIS recordkeeping requirements and driver record availability.
View eCFRRestrictions on masking, deferring, or diverting certain CDL-holder convictions.
View eCFRStart with the role most relevant to your work, then move into the filtered Cross-Reference Tool.
Roadside, citation, CMV, and CDL-holder enforcement references.
ViewDisposition, conviction, adjudication, and reporting references.
ViewCharge review, masking, conviction, and disposition references.
ViewState licensing, CDLIS, reporting, and compliance references.
ViewTraining, education, testing, and compliance reference pathways.
ViewLicensing, endorsements, restrictions, testing, and disqualification references.
ViewThis page is a plain-language orientation. Authoritative regulatory language should always be verified through the current eCFR or official FMCSA resources. For section-level navigation, use the CDL Cross-Reference Tool.