California CDL Inormation

Transport cargo which originated from another state.
Transport cargo destined outside of California.
Transport any hazardous substance or waste. (49 CFR 171.8)
Other Rules

You are required to comply with federal hours of service regulations when you are involved in INTERstate commerce. You are considered to be involved in interstate commerce when the cargo you transport:

Originates out of state.
Is destined out of state.
Consists of hazardous substances or wastes. (49 CFR 171.8)
Any combination of the above.
Driver's Record Of Duty Status
The California Highway Patrol is authorized to develop additional safety and driving regulations. (VC §§34501 and 34501.2)

A driver's record of duty status must be used to record all of the driver's hours. Drivers of commercial vehicles must be in compliance with the hours of service requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 49, §395.8 and the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 13, §§1201_1213.

A driver's record of duty status, in duplicate, must be kept by each driver and each co-driver while driving, on duty but not driving, or resting in a sleeper berth. The record of duty status must be presented for inspection immediately upon request by any authorized CHP employee, any regularly employed and salaried police officer, or deputy sheriff. There may be instances when you do not need to maintain a record of duty status.

Condition Federal (Interstate commerce) California (Intrastate commerce)
Driving time You may not drive for more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty. You may not drive for more than 12 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty.
On duty time You may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty following 10 hours off duty. You may perform work, except for driving, after being on duty for 14 hours. You may not drive after having been on duty for 15 hours. You may perform work, except for driving, after being on duty for 15 hours.
Multiple day on duty time limitations You are not eligible to drive after having been on duty for 60 hours in a 7-day period. However, if a motor carrier has commercial motor vehicles operating 7 days a week, the driver is not eligible to drive after having been on duty for 70 hours in an 8-day period. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty. You are not eligible to drive after having been on duty for 80 hours in any 8 consecutive day period or if transporting farm products after having been on duty 112 hours in any consecutive 8-day period.
Off duty time After driving for 11 hours or being on duty 14 hours you may not drive again until you have had 10 consecutive hours off duty. Exception: If the truck is equipped with a sleeper berth, this 10 hours may be broken up into 2 periods provided neither is less than 2 hours. After driving for 12 hours or being on duty 15 hours, you may not drive again until you have had 8 consecutive hours off duty. Exception: If the truck is equipped with a sleeper berth, this 8 hours may be broken up into 2 periods provided neither period is less than 2 hours.
Adverse driving condition You may drive an additional 2 hours if you encounter adverse weather conditions which were not apparent at the start of the trip. You may drive an additional 2 hours if you encounter adverse weather conditions which were not apparent at the start of the trip.
Regardless of the adverse conditions, you are not allowed to drive for more than 14 hours or after having been on duty more than 15 hours.

NOTE: The changes to hours of service (HOS) rules do not affect bus drivers, at this time. For up-to-date HOS rules, visit www.fmcsa.dot.gov or www.chp.ca.gov.

A driver's record of duty status, in duplicate, must be kept by each driver and each CO-driver while driving, on duty but not driving, or resting in a sleeper berth. The record of duty status must be presented for inspection immediately upon request by an authorized CHP employee, any regularly employed and salaried police officer, or deputy sheriff. There may be instances when you do not need to maintain a record of duty status.

Accident Reporting
Every driver involved in an accident which results in death, injury, or property damage over $750 must, within 10 days, report the accident on form SR 1 to DMV. The report forms are available at DMV and CHP offices.

You or your authorized representative must submit the Report of Traffic Accident (Form
SR 1) within 10 days of the accident whether you caused the accident or not and even if the accident occurred on private property. This form is required in addition to any other report made to or by the police, CHP, or your insurance company if the accident resulted in any damage over $750 and/or an injury or death. If you do not report the accident to DMV, your driving privilege will be suspended.

California law states that you must notify your employer within five days if you have an accident while driving your employer's vehicle. (VC §16002) However, your employer may require you to notify him or her immediately.

Financial Responsibility Requirements
Motor Carriers of Property. Most commercial vehicles transporting property are under the regulation of the Department of Motor Vehicles, whose liability and property damage requirements are listed below. The following limits do not apply to pickup trucks as defined in VC §471 and two-axle daily rental trucks with a GVWR less than 26,001 pounds when operated in noncommercial use.

Transporting general freight exclusively in vehicles under 10,000 pounds GVWR: $300,000 combined single limit.
Transporting general freight in vehicles having a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or more: $750,000 combined single limit.
Transporting petroleum products in bulk on the highways: $500,000 for injury or death of one person, $1,000,000 for injury or death to two or more persons, $200,000 for damage to property, or $1,200,000 combined single limit.
Transporting oil, hazardous materials or waste: combined single limit of $1,000,000.
Transporting hazardous substances, compressed gas, liquefied compressed gas in cargo tanks, portable tanks, or hopper-type vehicles with capacities in excess of 3,500 water gallons; or transporting Class A or B explosives, poison gas, or highway route controlled quantities of radioactive materials: combined single limit of $5,000,000.
Information on transporting hazardous materials or wastes may be obtained from the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the CHP.

NOTE:Not all coverage requirements are listed in this section. For questions related to motor carriers, call the DMV Motor Carrier Permit Branch at (916) 657-8153.

Financial responsibility may be maintained by one of the following:

An MCP Certificate of Insurance (DMV 65).
A surety bond.
Qualifying as a self-insurer.
Whenever DMV determines or is notified that a motor carrier's certificate of insurance or surety bond will lapse or end, DMV will suspend the permit. (VC §34630[c]) To avoid permit suspension, ask your insurance provider to submit evidence of valid liability coverage.

Proof Of FR Before A Driving Test

Drivers must show evidence of financial responsibility prior to taking the driving test. In addition to the list above, evidence is also met if the vehicle(s):

Displays a CAL-T number issued to highway carriers by the PUC.
Displays the CA number issued by CHP and DMV for the Motor Carrier Permit.
Is owned, or leased by, or under the direction of, the United States or any public entity (displays "E" plates).
Displays motor carrier numbers (MC #) issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). The MC # constitutes evidence.

Goto California Department of Motor Vehicles for more information