Alabama passes bill to lower age for intrastate commercial truck drivers

Vote comes same week FMCSA says it’s considering similar interstate program

Posted May 20, 2019

Alabama became the 49th state to pass legislation allowing drivers under the age of 21 to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate in intrastate commerce.

The move comes the same week that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced a request for public comments about a pilot program intended to allow drivers ages 18 to 20 to obtain their CDLs to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce.

All prospective new drivers within Alabama are required to meet training and testing guidelines established by FMCSA and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency before obtaining their CDLs. Under-21 drivers will continue to be forbidden from operating a CMV transporting hazardous material in the state.

Hawaii is now the only state in the country that does not allow 18-year-olds to operate a CMV in intrastate commerce at age 18.

If signed into law by the Alabama governor, the bill would take effect on February 7, 2020.

J. J. Keller's Entry-Level Driver Training Manual: Obtaining a CDL teaches students the basics of safe driving techniques and complies with FMCSA's new entry-level driver training rule.

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