Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers | March 16, 2025 | Truck Accidents
Driving a commercial truck requires special skills and knowledge. Therefore, a driver must obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, or other large commercial motor vehicle.
The requirements for CDLs are strict for a reason – commercial truck accidents cause catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. CDL requirements help reduce the risk of truck accidents by ensuring drivers receive the education and experience they need to operate a truck safely.
Florida Requirements for Commercial Driver’s Licenses
The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Administration (FMVSA) sets requirements for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). Florida’s requirements for CDLs comply with the federal requirements.
CDLs are divided into three classes determined by he type of vehicle you operate and the loads you carry. The CDL classes in Florida are:
Class A Florida Commercial Driver’s License
A Class A CDL allows you to operate a truck weighing over 26,001 pounds and towing a trailer or unit weighing over 10,000 pounds.
State law requires you to pass the following tests for a Class A CDL:
- General knowledge exam
- On-road test
- Combination vehicles exam
- Pre-trip inspection exam
- Air brakes exam, if applicable
- Basic vehicle control exam
If you haul hazardous materials or need other endorsements, you must pass any tests required for those endorsements. Many endorsements have other requirements in addition to the CDL requirements.
Class B Florida Commercial Driver’s License
A Class B CDL allows you to drive a straight truck or bus weighing more than 26,001 pounds. You must pass the same skills and knowledge tests required for a Class A CDL.
Class C Florida Commercial Driver’s License
A Class C CDL allows you to operate a truck or bus that weighs less than 26,001 pounds and carries hazardous substances or 16 or more people, including the driver. The same skills and knowledge tests are required for a Class C CDL as a Class A and B license.
What Endorsements Are Available for Commercial Driver’s Licenses in Florida?
Several endorsements are available for CDLs that allow drivers to operate various vehicles and transport specific loads. The endorsements include:
- Passengers (P) – Needed to transport more than 15 people.
- Tank Vehicles (N) – Needed to drive a tank vehicle hauling liquified gases and other liquids.
- Placarded Hazmat (H) – A requirement for drivers transporting hazardous materials requiring a special placard, such as flammable liquids.
- Double/Triple Trailers (T) – A requirement to operate a truck with two or three trailers instead of one. Florida does not permit triple-trailers.
- Combination H & N (X) – Needed to transport hazardous materials in a tanker truck.
- School Bus (S) – School bus drivers must have this endorsement.
Endorsements ensure that drivers have additional knowledge required in specific situations. A driver may have more than one endorsement to their CDL.
What Should I Do After a Truck Accident in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
Truck accidents usually result in injuries that require emergency medical services. Therefore, accident victims may be unable to take the recommended steps after a traffic accident because of their injuries. Likewise, truck accident scenes are often extremely dangerous. Therefore, an accident victim may be unable to document the scene by taking photographs and videos.
Therefore, accident victims should focus on the following steps to protect their health and rights after a truck accident:
- Call 911 to report the crash and request EMS and first responders.
- If possible, move to a safe location. Truck accidents can cause explosions and fires.
- Do not admit fault or discuss the accident details at the scene.
- Do not refuse medical treatment at the accident scene. Generally, it is best to go to the hospital to be checked by a doctor.
- Document your economic and non-economic damages by keeping copies of all documents, receipts, invoices, and other information related to the accident.
- Follow through with your treatment plan. Work with your physicians and specialists to determine the best treatment for your injuries.
- Do not give statements to insurance adjusters or trucking company representatives without consulting an attorney.
- Do not post information online or speak to news agencies.
Contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Truck accident cases are complex personal injury claims. The trucking company and its insurance provider aggressively defend these claims to avoid large settlements. You need attorneys with experience handling commercial truck accidents because they have the resources, skills, and knowledge to investigate and pursue complex cases.
Contact the Truck Accident Law Firm of Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help
For more information, please contact an experienced truck accident lawyer at Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
We proudly serve Fort Lauderdale, Clermont, and its surrounding areas:
Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
633 S Andrews Ave Ste 401, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 361-3997
Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
1655 E Hwy 50 ste 316, Clermont, FL 34711
(352) 77-33866