A commercial driver’s license, or CDL, is a resource that can be used to maintain the job you have now or get a better job in the future. This is a license that you have to study for in some situations as well as take a driving test. There are mandates by the state and federal government that you must adhere to with certain jobs that require a CDL. If you don’t maintain a good driving record, then you could lose your CDL. Getting a DUI is one of the things that could cost you that license, and in turn, it could cost you the job you have.
Although you might have a DUI on your record, there is still a chance that you can get your CDL in the first place. However, getting a job with a company that requires it might be a little more difficult. Most companies may not want to hire someone who has been convicted of drinking and driving, particularly if the conviction is recent. Some companies look at your record for the previous three years of driving. If there is a DUI on your record in this time, then the company likely won’t hire you. Other companies may hire you after a year of having the charge on your record, however. You need to speak with someone in management at the company to find out what the regulations are. In some states, your CDL will be in suspension after the DUI. You can still apply for one in the first place after a DUI conviction once the suspension of your license is lifted.
As with most legal situations, information varies with each state. You may do well to find a trusted attorney who can walk you through the steps of getting your driving record clear and making sure you are eligible for your CDL. One of the consequences of having a DUI is that you will pay higher insurance premiums. Your attorney can try to get the charge reduced to a misdemeanor if it is a felony so that the fines won’t be as high and so that the punishment won’t be as harsh. This could help you when it comes to applying for a job involving driving as well.