As a commercial driver, you may be tempted to nudge your vehicle a little faster — especially after your trip hits the eight, nine or 10-hour mark. But the consequences of speeding with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) can be quite serious.
License suspension and revocation
Under Georgia law, drivers with a CDL can face suspension or loss of a CDL due to speeding violations. You can receive a speeding ticket driving 15 mph or more above the speed limit. Receiving as few as two of these tickets within a few years can result in suspension or loss of a CDL. If you have your license revoked or suspended, you cannot drive commercial vehicles.
Penalties for operating commercial vehicles without a license include court fines and even jail time. In addition to these penalties, your CDL may acquire demerit points.
Demerit points
Most states employ a point system that assigns demerit points, also called penalty points, to your driver’s license. The Georgia Point System charges anywhere from two to six points per conviction. A driver who reaches 15 points within two years will face license suspension.
CDL drivers who receive a speeding ticket may receive more demerit points for an offense than other drivers. Reducing points on your license can take years if you have multiple offenses. Additionally, CDL drivers can’t reduce points through driver improvement courses that are available for other drivers.
Employment risks
Think you’re off the clock? Think again. Receiving a speeding ticket while driving your personal vehicle can also affect your CDL privileges. Amassing speeding tickets in your personal vehicle is a red flag for employers and can impact your employment status.
If you have multiple speeding offenses on your record, it’s an indicator to employers — present and future — that you may not be a safe, responsible commercial driver. Even receiving one serious speeding ticket as a commercial driver can lead to termination and difficulty getting a new job.
While speeding can be a serious offense for any driver, speeding as a commercial driver yields severe consequences and even affects current and future employment. Don’t let a long drive tempt you to speed. After all, extra time on the road means less time dealing with the consequences of a CDL speeding ticket.
