Introduction to Commercial Driving
This guide is for Pennsylvania CDL holders who want to understand how speeding violations can impact their commercial driving privileges and what steps to take to protect their license and livelihood. Commercial drivers face tougher consequences for traffic violations, including speeding tickets. Many commercial drivers wonder: Can you lose your CDL for speeding? The answer is yes, and the consequences can be severe. Even a single mistake can put your CDL privileges at risk, leading to license suspension or even loss of your ability to work. Understanding the rules that apply to commercial driving is essential for all CDL holders who want to protect their careers and avoid the serious consequences that can come from a traffic violation. Excessive speeding for CDL drivers is defined as going 15 mph or more over the speed limit in either a commercial or personal vehicle.
Key Points
- Yes, if you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Pennsylvania, you can lose your commercial driving privileges for speeding 15 mph or more over the speed limit. This follows federal FMCSA rules and Pennsylvania law.
- Drivers can lose their CDL privileges for a minimum of 60 days for two excessive speeding violations within three years. A third excessive speeding violation in a three-year period carries a 120-day CDL suspension.
- Two serious traffic violations in three years can cause a 60-day CDL suspension. Three serious violations in three years can lead to 120 days off the road.
- Speeding tickets in your personal car can still affect your CDL if they are serious violations, add points to your record, or cause your license to be suspended.
- Speeding convictions can cause a significant increase in your insurance premiums—often 10–15% over three years.
- Paying a speeding ticket means you admit guilt. This adds points to your record, requires you to tell your employer, and can cause serious consequences with no chance to fight.
- You must report all traffic violations to your employer, even if they happen in your personal vehicle.
- The Shelton Firm in Lancaster, PA, helps CDL drivers with speeding and other motor vehicle charges. They offer free case reviews.
Can You Lose Your CDL for Speeding in Pennsylvania?
Yes, you can lose your CDL for speeding in Pennsylvania. This applies even if you get a ticket while driving your personal car. Federal FMCSA rules apply to you as a driver, not just the vehicle you drive. Pennsylvania also enforces these rules with its own point system and penalties.
Not all speeding tickets cause you to lose your CDL, but speeding 15 mph or more over the limit is serious (Excessive speeding for CDL drivers is defined as going 15 mph or more over the speed limit in a commercial or personal vehicle.). This is called excessive speeding (Excessive speeding for CDL drivers is defined as going 15 mph or more over the speed limit in a commercial or personal vehicle.). One ticket may not cause you to lose your CDL right away. But if you get a second ticket within three years, you face a 60-day suspension. Drivers can lose their CDL privileges for a minimum of 60 days for two excessive speeding violations within three years. A third excessive speeding violation in a three-year period carries a 120-day CDL suspension.
If your driver license is suspended because of speeding tickets, your commercial driving privileges are also suspended. Your CDL is suspended until your driver license is reinstated. This is considered a driver’s license suspension, and it affects both your personal and commercial driving privileges.
Paying a speeding ticket is the same as pleading guilty. Once you pay, the ticket goes on your record and counts toward losing your CDL. Think carefully before paying.
Next, let’s review the specific rules for CDL drivers regarding speeding in Pennsylvania and under federal law.
CDL Rules for Speeding (Federal and Pennsylvania)
CDL drivers follow special rules that are stricter than regular drivers. Knowing these rules helps protect your license.
- Federal law through FMCSA sets rules for serious traffic violations and disqualifications. These rules apply nationwide and are tracked in a national system. A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is a type of commercial license required to operate commercial vehicles, and violations such as speeding can jeopardize your commercial driver’s license CDL and your livelihood.
- Pennsylvania law works with federal rules. The state adds points for speeding and can suspend your regular driver’s license. This can also affect your CDL.
- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has withdrawn a proposed Speed Limiter Mandate, so local posted speed limits are strictly enforced for all commercial license holders.
- A commercial motor vehicle usually means a big truck or bus. But FMCSA rules apply to you as a CDL holder, no matter what vehicle you drive.
- Serious traffic violations include speeding 15 mph or more over the limit (Excessive speeding for CDL drivers is defined as going 15 mph or more over the speed limit in a commercial or personal vehicle.), reckless driving, and other dangerous acts. Multiple violations lead to losing your CDL. Fines for commercial drivers for excessive speeding can reach thousands of dollars, which is significantly higher than fines for standard drivers.
- Pennsylvania CDL holders must report certain traffic convictions to their employer within 30 days, even if the ticket was in a personal vehicle.
- Pennsylvania uses a point system. Too many points can cause your license to be suspended, which also suspends your CDL.
Next, let’s look at what counts as excessive speeding for CDL holders.
What is “Excessive Speeding” for CDL Holders?
Excessive speeding means driving 15 mph or more over the posted limit (Excessive speeding for CDL drivers is defined as going 15 mph or more over the speed limit in a commercial or personal vehicle.). This applies whether you are in a commercial truck or your personal car.
Examples in Pennsylvania:
- Driving 70 mph in a 55 mph work zone on Route 30
- Driving 80 mph in a 65 mph zone on the PA Turnpike
- Driving 60 mph in a 45 mph zone in Lancaster County
Speeding violations carry significantly heavier consequences for CDL holders than for standard drivers because of the higher safety standards they must meet.
These are serious violations under FMCSA rules.
Lower speeding, like 5 to 10 mph over, may add points but usually is not a serious violation.
Speeding in work zones or school zones can make the ticket more serious. Combining speeding with other bad driving can also increase the risk to your CDL.
Remember the 15 mph rule. If your ticket shows you were 15 mph or more over, it is serious. If you are over 15 miles over the limit consult a Traffic Lawyer immediately. Click here for more information about how a traffic lawyer can help.
Now, let’s see how many speeding tickets it takes before you lose your CDL.
How Many Speeding Tickets Before You Lose Your CDL?
FMCSA has a “two strikes, three strikes” rule over three years:
- Two serious violations in three years (two convictions for serious traffic offenses within a three year period) = 60-day CDL suspension. Drivers can lose their CDL privileges for a minimum of 60 days for two excessive speeding violations within three years.
- Three serious violations in three years (three serious traffic offenses within a three year period) = 120-day CDL suspension. A third excessive speeding violation in a three-year period carries a 120-day CDL suspension.
The three year period is measured from the date of conviction, not when you got the ticket.
It does not matter if the ticket was in a commercial or personal vehicle. What matters is that you are a CDL holder and committed a serious violation (Excessive speeding for CDL drivers is defined as going 15 mph or more over the speed limit in a commercial or personal vehicle.).
Pennsylvania can also suspend your CDL for other serious offenses like DUI or leaving the scene of an accident. Penalties escalate with each repeat violation: a second offense (second conviction) within the three year period results in a longer suspension, and a third offense (third conviction) can lead to even harsher penalties or revocation.
One ticket might not cause a suspension, but it puts you at risk if you get another.
Let’s explore how speeding tickets impact your CDL privileges and your career.
CDL Privileges and Speeding Tickets
Your CDL privileges are directly tied to your driving record, and a speeding ticket can have a much bigger impact than you might expect. For commercial drivers, a traffic violation—especially a serious traffic violation like excessive speeding (Excessive speeding for CDL drivers is defined as going 15 mph or more over the speed limit in a commercial or personal vehicle.)—can quickly lead to suspension or revocation of your CDL. This is true whether you’re driving a commercial vehicle or your personal vehicle. Every speeding ticket you receive is reported and can add up, putting your CDL privileges and your job at risk. That’s why it’s so important for CDL holders to always be aware of the speed limit, avoid excessive speeding, and take every traffic ticket seriously.
Impact on Employment
Employers often check your full driver’s record, including personal vehicle tickets. Multiple tickets can impact your employment and may lead to job termination.
Insurance Consequences
Every speeding ticket you receive is reported and can add up, putting your CDL privileges and your job at risk. Insurance rates often see a significant increase after a serious speeding conviction, typically rising 10–15% over three years, making you more expensive to insure.
Next, let’s compare the impact of speeding in a commercial truck versus your personal car.
Speeding in a Commercial Truck vs. Your Personal Car
Some drivers think speeding in their personal car won’t affect their CDL. This is wrong and dangerous.
- Speeding 15 mph or more in a commercial truck is a serious violation.
- Speeding 15 mph or more in your personal car is also a serious violation and counts against your CDL.
- If your regular driver’s license is suspended, you cannot drive any commercial vehicle until it is reinstated.
- Employers often check your full driver’s record, including personal vehicle tickets. Multiple tickets can impact your employment and may lead to job termination.
Violations increase your Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores, raise insurance premiums, and can lead to job termination. Click here to read an article techniques police use to track your speed.
You must report all traffic violations to your employer, even if they occur while driving your personal vehicle. Click here to review the Penndot Speeding fine scale, which tells you how much the fine is depending on the limit of the road and your speed.
Let’s see how a speeding conviction can affect your job and insurance.
How a Speeding Conviction Affects Your Job and Insurance
A speeding conviction affects more than just your license.
Impact on Employment
- It appears on your motor vehicle record (MVR), which employers and insurance companies see.
- Many trucking companies have strict rules and may fire or suspend drivers after one serious violation.
Insurance Consequences
- Insurance rates often see a significant increase after a serious speeding conviction, typically rising 10–15% over three years, making you more expensive to insure.
- Owner-operators may face higher premiums or lose contracts because of speeding tickets.
Protecting your CDL protects your job and income.
Next, let’s discuss why you shouldn’t just pay a CDL speeding ticket.
Why You Shouldn’t Just Pay a CDL Speeding Ticket
Paying a ticket is easy but risky.
- Paying means you admit guilt.
- The conviction goes on your record immediately.
- It triggers points, employer reporting, and insurance hikes.
- CDL drivers cannot usually avoid points by taking traffic school.
- Federal anti-masking laws generally prohibit CDL holders from using traffic school or court supervision to avoid conviction records.
Instead of simply paying, consider whether you can challenge the ticket in court to protect your CDL.
Before paying, consider fighting the ticket or getting legal help.
Let’s look at your options for protecting your CDL after a speeding ticket.
Options to Protect Your CDL After a Speeding Ticket
If you get a speeding ticket, you can fight it. For CDL holders, fighting traffic tickets and other traffic offenses is especially important to protect your license.
Here are the steps you can take:
- Plead not guilty and ask for a hearing in court.
- Consider defenses such as questioning the speed measurement, officer’s observations, or paperwork errors.
- Consult an attorney who may help negotiate a reduced charge below the 15 mph threshold to avoid serious violation status.
- Pay attention to deadlines. Don’t ignore tickets or miss response dates.
- Keep records of your tickets and driving history to help your defense.
Remember, two serious traffic offenses within a three-year period can result in a 60-day disqualification of your CDL.
If you are facing CDL Disqualification, Click here for info on how a Driving ticket lawyer in Pennsylvania can protect your license.
If you’re facing a CDL disqualification, you may be able to appeal.
Appealing a CDL Disqualification
If you find yourself facing a CDL disqualification, you may have the right to appeal the decision. The appeal process usually starts with a request for an administrative review, which must be filed within a specific timeframe after you receive notice of your disqualification. During the appeal, you’ll have the opportunity to present evidence and explain the circumstances that led to your disqualification. The outcome will depend on the facts of your case and how well you can demonstrate your eligibility to retain your commercial driver’s license. Because the rules and procedures can be complex, it’s wise to consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial driver’s license law. An experienced attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation, represent you during hearings, and give you the best chance of overturning a disqualification so you can get back to driving a commercial vehicle.
Next, let’s see what you need to do to re-qualify for your CDL after a disqualification.
Re-Qualifying for a CDL
After a CDL disqualification period ends, you’ll need to go through a re-qualification process before you can legally drive a commercial vehicle again. This typically means visiting your local driver licensing office in person to apply for a new CDL. Before you can re-qualify, the disqualification must be officially lifted, and you may need to provide proof that you’ve met all requirements, such as paying fines or completing any mandated courses. The process can involve paperwork, fees, and sometimes additional testing, depending on the reason for your disqualification. Working with a commercial driver’s license attorney can make the process smoother by ensuring you have all the necessary documentation and understand each step. With the right support, you can regain your CDL and return to commercial driving as soon as possible.
How The Shelton Firm Helps CDL Drivers in Pennsylvania
The Shelton Firm in Lancaster, PA, specializes in motor vehicle law. They help with issues related to your commercial driver’s license (CDL) and your regular driver license, including assisting CDL drivers with speeding tickets and other violations.
The Shelton Firm can:
- Review your ticket and charges
- Check your driving history for other serious violations
- Understand your employer’s policies
- Determine if your ticket counts as a serious violation
- Fight to keep serious speeding convictions off your CDL record
They offer free case reviews. Contact them quickly to protect your CDL.
FAQ: CDL Speeding and License Loss
Does a speeding ticket in another state affect my Pennsylvania CDL?
Yes. States share traffic violation info. Out-of-state tickets can count against your Pennsylvania CDL if serious.
You can hire a lawyer in the state where you got the ticket to help fight it.
How long does a serious speeding violation affect my CDL?
Serious violations count for three years for CDL disqualification.
Points may drop off sooner, but violations stay for three years for federal rules.
Removing a conviction is very hard. It’s better to avoid convictions.
Do I have to tell my employer about a speeding ticket?
Yes. You must report traffic violation convictions to your employer within 30 days, even if the ticket was in your personal car.
Some employers want to know about tickets even before conviction. Check your company rules.
Click here to review the FMCSA rule about notifying employers.
What if I already have one serious violation?
If you have one serious violation, a second one can cause a 60-day suspension.
Don’t plead guilty without exploring your options.
A lawyer can help you understand your risk and defend your case.
Can I get my Pennsylvania CDL back after suspension?
After suspension ends, you must make sure your regular license is valid and follow PennDOT rules to get your CDL back.
Your employer may have extra rules before you can return to work.
A traffic lawyer can help with reinstatement and avoiding future problems.
Conclusion
Commercial driving is a profession that demands strict adherence to the law and a clean driving record. For CDL holders, even a single speeding ticket can have far-reaching consequences, including license suspension or loss of CDL privileges. Understanding the regulations that govern commercial drivers and the impact of traffic violations is essential for protecting your career. If you do face a disqualification, remember that you have options—appealing the decision or re-qualifying for your CDL with the help of an experienced attorney. By staying informed, taking every violation seriously, and seeking legal guidance when needed, commercial drivers can protect their driving record, maintain their CDL privileges, and continue operating commercial vehicles safely and legally.