Bill > HF527

Introduced Session

Under current law, the department of public safety (DPS), in consultation with the department of transportation, is authorized to adopt motor carrier safety rules consistent with federal motor carrier safety regulations. Federal regulations require a person to be at least 21 years old in order to be licensed as a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver (49 C.F.R. §391.11), with limited exceptions. DPS is authorized to adopt rules authorizing a person who is at least 18 years of age, but under 21 years of age, to be licensed to operate a CMV in interstate commerce if the person holds a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) and is authorized under federal law to operate a CMV in interstate commerce. In addition, rules adopted by DPS concerning driver age qualifications do not apply to drivers for private and for-hire motor carriers which operate solely intrastate except when the vehicle being driven is transporting a hazardous material in a quantity which requires placarding. The minimum age for the exempted intrastate operations is 18 years of age. This bill strikes the age qualifications exception for drivers transporting a hazardous material in a quantity which requires placarding, thus making DPS rules concerning driver age qualifications inapplicable to persons who hold a CDL while driving a CMV for private and for-hire motor carriers, which operate solely intrastate, to transport hazardous material. Current law specifies that the age requirements under Code section 321.449 do not apply under Code section 321.450 (hazardous materials transportation regulations) to retail dealers of fertilizers, petroleum products, and pesticides and their employees while delivering fertilizers, petroleum products, and pesticides to farm customers within a 100-mile radius of their retail place of business. The bill strikes this provision, thereby applying the age requirements under Code section 321.449 to such persons. The bill does not amend Code section 321.180(2)(f), which provides that a commercial learner’s permit is not valid for the operation of a vehicle transporting hazardous materials. In general, rules adopted by DPS for CMV drivers still apply to a CMV driver engaged exclusively in intrastate commerce to transport hazardous materials requiring a placard (see Code section 321.449(4)(a)).

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Withdrawn. H.J. 635. (on 03/12/2025)

Official Document