2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 1 - Driver's License › Section 56-1-2100. Commercial driver license; contents; classifications of vehicles.

(A) The commercial driver license must be marked "Commercial Driver License" or "CDL", and must be, to the maximum extent practicable, tamper proof. It must include, but not be limited to, the following information:
(1) the name and residential address of the person;
(2) the person's unobstructed photograph;
(3) a physical description of the person including sex, height, and weight;
(4) date of birth;
(5) a number or identifier considered appropriate by the Department of Motor Vehicles;
(6) the person's signature;
(7) the class or type of commercial motor vehicles which the person may drive together with any endorsements or restrictions;
(8) the name of this State; and
(9) the dates between which the license is valid.
(B) The holder of a valid commercial driver license may drive all vehicles in the class for which that license is issued and all lesser classes of vehicles except motorcycles. Vehicles which require an endorsement may not be driven unless the proper endorsement appears on the license. Commercial driver licenses may be issued with the following classifications, endorsements, and restrictions:
(1) Classifications:
(a) Class A: A combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of twenty-six thousand one pounds or more provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle being towed is in excess of ten thousand pounds.
(b) Class B: A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand one pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of ten thousand pounds gross vehicle weight rating.
(c) Class C: A single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that are not Class A or B vehicles but either designed to transport sixteen or more passengers including the driver, or are required to be placarded for hazardous materials under 49 C.F.R. Part 172, subpart F.
(2) Endorsements are added to commercial driver licenses as required under Part 383.153 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
(3) Restrictions are added to commercial driver licenses as required under Part 383.153 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
(C) Before issuing a commercial driver license, the department must obtain a driving record through the Commercial Driver License Information System, the National Driver Register, and from each state in which the person has been licensed.
(D) Within ten days after issuing a commercial driver license, the department must notify the Commercial Driver License Information System of that fact, providing all information required to insure identification of the person.
(E) Upon payment of a fee of twenty-five dollars and any fee assessed by any associated federal agency, a commercial driver license for which there is no associated HAZMAT endorsement issued by the department expires eight years from the date of issue. Upon payment of a fee of fifteen dollars and any fee assessed by any associated federal agency, a commercial driver license for which there is an associated HAZMAT endorsement issued by the department expires five years from the date the applicant passed the Transportation Security Administration threat assessment.
(F) A person applying for renewal of a commercial driver's license must complete the application form required by Section 56-1-2090(A), and provide updated information and required certifications. Every applicant must take and pass the written test for hazardous material endorsement to obtain or retain the endorsement. The person also shall submit to and pass a vision test.
HISTORY: 1989 Act No. 151, Section 2; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1353; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 124; 1998 Act No. 258, Section 22; 2000 Act No. 265, Section 1; 2005 Act No. 42, Sections 7, 8, eff May 3, 2005; 2010 Act No. 216, Section 4, eff June 7, 2010; 2014 Act No. 274 (H.5014), Section 1, eff June 9, 2014; 2019 Act No. 86 (H.3789), Section 5, eff November 24, 2019; 2022 Act No. 148 (H.4319), Section 4, eff May 11, 2022.
Effect of Amendment
2019 Act No. 86, Section 5, rewrote (E).
2022 Act No. 148, Section 4, in (A)(2), substituted "unobstructed photograph" for "color photograph".