HB361 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Russell BedsoleRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Commercial driver licenses, updated to conform to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations

Summary

HB361 updates Alabama's commercial driver license rules to align with FMCSA regulations, adds a human trafficking ban, changes testing and fees, and tightens load-securement rules for metal coils.

What This Bill Does

Aligns state CDL rules with FMCSA changes by updating testing, endorsements, and reporting requirements, including allowing third-party testing and waivers for certain tests and removing some driver violation reporting requirements. Repeals the steel coil transport certification requirement and adds new load-securement certification and training rules for transporting metal coils, with enforcement provisions and penalties for violations. Creates new fees for commercial licenses and learner permits, adds a school bus license fee and limits, and expands license content requirements (tamper-proof features, photo, endorsements, and class designations). Adds a human trafficking ban that can lead to life-time disqualification for certain trafficking offenses, strengthens reporting requirements to employers and the Department of Public Safety, and sets an effective date of October 1, 2024 (with local-expenditure rules addressed by exemptions).

Who It Affects

• Commercial drivers in Alabama (current CDL holders, CDL applicants, and CDL learners) who would face new or revised testing rules, new or modified endorsements, updated reporting duties, and potential disqualifications including trafficking-related provisions.
• Employers, motor carriers, and entities involved in metal coil transport (and the agencies that regulate them) who would face new load-securement standards, certification and training requirements, updated reporting to DPS, and new penalties for violations.

Key Provisions

• Sections 32-6-49.5, 32-6-49.8, 32-6-49.10, 32-6-49.11, 32-6-49.19, 32-9A-2, and 32-9A-4 amended to conform Alabama law to FMCSA regulations, including deleting a driver violation reporting requirement and deleting the school bus driver fee and written test waiver; revising CDL/learner permit fees; adding a human trafficking ban; and repealing the steel coil transport certification requirement.
• Notification requirements: a driver must notify the DPS within 30 days of certain convictions; must notify employer within 30 days; applicants must provide 10 years of prior employment and reasons for leaving, with an employer allowed to request additional information.
• Testing and qualifications: allows general and third-party testing; may waive certain tests (including waivers for school bus drivers); requires testing for hazardous materials endorsements; requires surrender of out-of-state licenses when issuing a Alabama CDL; and sets renewal/testing procedures.
• License content and classifications: CDL forms must be tamper-proof and include name, address, photo, description, birth date, endorsements/restrictions, state name, validity dates, driver signature, and vehicle classes; defines Class A, B, and C with corresponding weight and seat/occupancy rules; endorsements mirror federal rules (e.g., H, K, T, P, S, N, X).
• Load securement and metal coils: establishes certification and standards for proper load securement of metal coils and requires DPS-approved standards and certification by carriers and drivers; imposes training and enforcement requirements and outlines penalties for violations.
• Disqualification and penalties: outlines various disqualification periods for offenses (DUI, leaving the scene, felonies, out-of-service orders, hazardous materials incidents, and rail crossing violations), including life disqualifications for trafficking-related offenses; sets fines and possible imprisonment for violations.
• Fees and funding: new fee structure for CDLs, learner permits, and school bus licenses; fees deposited into the Highway Traffic Safety Fund; license renewals require updated information and, for hazardous materials endorsements, additional testing.
• Effective date and local funding note: becomes effective October 1, 2024; state constitutional provisions about local expenditures are navigated via specific exceptions in the bill.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles & Traffic