§ 20-37.16. Content of license; classifications and endorsements; fees. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 20‑37.16.  Content oflicense; classifications and endorsements; fees.

(a)        A commercialdrivers license must be marked "Commercial Drivers License" or"CDL" and must contain the information required by G.S. 20‑7for a regular drivers license.

(b)        The classes ofcommercial drivers licenses are:

(1)        Class A CDL – AClass A commercial drivers license authorizes the holder to drive any Class Amotor vehicle.

(2)        Class B CDL – AClass B commercial drivers license authorizes the holder to drive any Class Bmotor vehicle.

(3)        Class C CDL – AClass C commercial drivers license authorizes the holder to drive any Class Cmotor vehicle.

(c)        Endorsements. – Theendorsements required to drive certain motor vehicles are as follows:

Endorsement               VehiclesThat Can Be Driven

H                     Vehicles,regardless of size or class, except tank vehicles, when

                        transportinghazardous materials that require the vehicle to be

                        placarded

M                    Motorcycles

N                     Tankvehicles not carrying hazardous materials

P                     Vehiclescarrying passengers

S                     Schoolbus

T                     Doubletrailers

X                     Tankvehicles carrying hazardous materials.

To qualify for any of theabove endorsements, an applicant shall pass a knowledge test. To obtain an H oran X endorsement, an applicant must take a test. This requirement applies whena person first obtains an H or an X endorsement and each time a person renewsan H or an X endorsement. An applicant who has an H or an X endorsement issuedby another state who applies for an H or an X endorsement must take a testunless the person has passed a test that covers the information set out in 49C.F.R. § 383.121 within the preceding two years.

(c1)      Expired.

(d)        The fee for a ClassA, B, or C commercial drivers license is fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each yearof the period for which the license is issued. The fee for each endorsement isthree dollars ($3.00) for each year of the period for which the endorsement isissued. The fees required under this section do not apply to employees of theDriver License Section of the Division who are designated by the Commissioner.

(e)        The requirementsfor a commercial drivers license do not apply to vehicles used for personal usesuch as recreational vehicles. A commercial drivers license is also waived forthe following classes of vehicles as permitted by regulation of the UnitedStates Department of Transportation:

(1)        Vehicles owned oroperated by the Department of Defense, including the National Guard, while theyare driven by active duty military personnel, or members of the National Guardwhen on active duty, in the pursuit of military purposes.

(2)        Any vehicle whenused as firefighting or emergency equipment for the purpose of preserving lifeor property or to execute emergency governmental functions.

(3)        A farm vehicle thatmeets all of the following criteria:

a.         Is controlled andoperated by the farmer or the farmer's employee and used exclusively for farmuse.

b.         Is used to transporteither agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies, both to or froma farm.

c.         Is not used in theoperations of a for‑hire motor carrier.

d.         Is used within 150miles of the farmer's farm.

A farmvehicle includes a forestry vehicle that meets the listed criteria when appliedto the forestry operation.

(f)         For the purposesof this section, the term "school bus" has the same meaning as in 49C.F.R. § 383.5. (1989,c. 771, s. 2; 1991, c. 726, s. 18; 1993, c. 368, s. 4; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994),c. 750, ss. 4, 6; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 695, s. 1; c. 756, s. 5; 1998‑149,s. 5; 2003‑397, ss. 4, 5; 2005‑276, s. 44.1(g); 2005‑349, s.9.)