DUI / DWI (CDL Holder)
A DUI Can End Your Driving Career.
CDL holders face stricter limits and harsher consequences.
Legal Help for CDL Holders Charged With DUI / DWI.
Get advice from an attorney before you speak to anyone or miss a hearing deadline.
Tell us what happened. A legal plan rep will call you back.
Get a free callback about your DUI / DWI
Legal plans as low as $1 per day.
Note: Legal plans are not free services. They are affordable prepaid legal solutions provided by licensed attorneys.
Stricter Rules, Higher Stakes
Federal rules set a blood alcohol limit of 0.04% while driving a commercial vehicle, half the usual limit. A DUI conviction, or refusing a test, can disqualify you from holding a CDL even if you were in your own car.
Many DUI matters involve two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate motor vehicle agency hearing, and the deadline for the second one is often only days. An attorney can help you understand both.
- Criminal DUI / DWI charges involving a CDL holder
- Motor vehicle agency license hearings and their deadlines
- Chemical test refusals and implied consent questions
- Understanding disqualification periods and reinstatement
- Drug and alcohol testing program questions for drivers
Cost Comparison
Typical ranges. Attorney fees vary by state and case.
What a DUI Can Mean for Your CDL
Disqualification
A first conviction generally brings at least a one-year CDL disqualification (three years if hauling hazardous materials), and a second can bring a lifetime one.
Lower Limit
The limit is 0.04% in a commercial vehicle and 0.08% otherwise, and a refusal can be treated like a conviction.
Hearing Deadlines
Requests to challenge a suspension often must be made within days of the arrest.
Employer Reporting
Drug and alcohol violations can be reported to the FMCSA Clearinghouse and require a return-to-duty process.
How the Process Typically Works
Call as soon as you can
Tell us your state, your arrest date and any hearing deadline on your paperwork.
Understand the two tracks
An attorney explains the criminal case and the license process, and how each affects your CDL.
Protect what you can
Your attorney advises you on responding, so you keep your options open.
How a Drivers Legal Plan Helps
Attorney Access
Talk to a provider law firm about covered legal matters. Call as often as you need.
One Flat Monthly Rate
No retainer and no hourly billing for covered matters. Plans from $32.95/month.
Your Spouse Is Covered
The Drivers Legal Plan extends to your spouse, so both of you can use it.
Act Before Deadlines
Ticket, hearing and appeal windows are short. Getting an attorney involved early keeps your options open.
Coverage details, limits and exclusions vary by state and plan terms, and a plan does not guarantee any outcome. A rep will explain what applies to you. This page is general information, not legal advice.
CDL DUI / DWI Questions, Answered
Yes. Under federal rules a DUI conviction can disqualify you from holding a CDL whether you were driving a commercial vehicle or not.
0.04% while operating a commercial vehicle. Most drivers face a 0.08% limit in a personal vehicle, and even a smaller reading can lead to an out-of-service order at work.
Federal rules set a minimum one year for a first offense (three years if hauling hazardous materials) and a lifetime disqualification for a second. States may impose additional penalties.
Coverage for DUI and criminal matters is subject to plan terms and state rules. A legal plan rep can explain exactly what applies to you before you enroll.
How to Get Started
Submit Your Details
Tell us your state and what happened so we can match you with the right legal solution.
A Legal Rep Will Contact You
A legal plan representative will call you, answer your questions and explain how the plan applies to your situation.
Speak with a Provider Lawyer
Get connected with an attorney in your state for advice and ongoing legal support.
Don't Face a DUI Alone
Get answers before your hearing deadline passes. Request a free callback from a legal plan rep.
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