Having a police officer pull you over for speeding, always leaves a negative mark on your day. Other consequences can also leave a lasting impact, such as increases in your insurance rates. If you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you could face additional penalties that impact your career.
How a traffic violation impacts truckers
If you receive one speeding ticket, you will likely not have any disciplinary actions taken against you. You would still be required to inform your employer about this incident, however. Committing a serious traffic offense, whether in your personal vehicle or the company’s truck, will result in corrective measures being taken. Serious traffic offenses include the following violations:
- Speeding 15 mph over the limit
- Reckless driving
- Illegal lane changes
- Tailgating
If you perform one of these unlawful actions, you could have points added to your driving record based on how severe the offense was. Committing a second serious traffic violation in three years will result in your losing your CDL for 60 days at a minimum. Performing a third offense means losing your CDL for 120 days or more.
Employers will look at your driving history
Each illegal maneuver you perform is added to your driving history. Most trucking companies will evaluate the risk of hiring you based on your track record. Truckers with more offenses on their record will increase the organization’s insurance rates. This means that each violation could jeopardize your current and future employment.
Because each subsequent incident could result in the loss of your license, it is crucial to maintain safe driving practices. However, if you do receive a ticket for a serious violation, it is wise to contact an attorney.
