SB318 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Donnie ChesteenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Transportation, Class A restricted CDL, issued to applicants aged 18 years but under 21 years, restriction limits, operation of commerical vehicles within state lines

Summary

SB 318 would let Alabama issue Class A commercial driver licenses to 18- to 20-year-olds for intrastate use only, with safety rules and a plan to allow interstate use if federal law changes.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to issue intrastate Class A CDLs to applicants who are at least 18 but under 21, provided they meet all requirements. License holders must follow all state and federal safety regulations, including specific FMCSA rules. If federal law later allows under-21 drivers to operate interstate, the state would create rules to permit interstate travel. The bill is structured to fall under constitutional exemptions related to local funding and is expected to have a small annual fiscal impact.

Who It Affects

• Young adults aged 18–20 who want to drive commercially within Alabama and meet the license requirements.
• Trucking companies and workers involved in intrastate freight who would gain access to a younger pool of CDL drivers.
• The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (and other licensing/regulatory bodies) responsible for issuing and enforcing the restricted Class A CDL and related safety rules.
• Local governments and taxpayers, who are indirectly affected by the bill’s compliance with Amendment 621 and its estimated small fiscal impact.

Key Provisions

• Section 2 authorizes the issuance of Class A CDLs to persons 18 through 20 years old for intrastate travel only, for those who are otherwise qualified and must comply with state and federal laws.
• Section 3 requires applicants to be familiar with and governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR Parts 382-397 and Subparts E, F, G).
• Section 4 states that no CDL may be issued in violation of federal law; the act applies only where federal law allows the state to operate or vary from federal standards.
• Section 5 provides that if federal law changes to permit under-21 interstate CDL operation, Alabama will adopt rules to permit interstate travel.
• Section 7 notes the bill is excluded from local-funding approval requirements under Amendment 621 because the expected fiscal impact is under $50,000 annually.
• Section 8 sets the act to become effective on February 7, 2020.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Commercial Driver License (CDL)