Wisconsin DMV ready for new Federal CDL requirements

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will implement new Federal requirements for drug and alcohol status compliance and will downgrade Commercial Driver Licenses (CDL) for noncompliance beginning September 15, 2024.

Through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMSCA) new Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Status Checks, state DMVs will be notified when CDL drivers do not pass their drug or alcohol testing. When Wisconsin DMV’s new CDL verification system goes live September 15, all Wisconsin CDL drivers who are not in federal compliance will have their commercial driving privilege downgraded until they clear their record with FMCSA. With a license downgrade, operating a commercial vehicle is illegal. The commercial driver’s regular driving privilege will not be impacted.

“Our absolute #1 priority is safety on Wisconsin’s roads,” DMV Administrator Tommy Winkler said. “Our project team worked for the past year to develop DMV’s path toward compliance with these new federal regulations. Among all states, Wisconsin DMV is one of the first driver licensing agencies to go live with this change.”

The formal Federal rule notes that beginning November 18, 2024, all state driver licensing agencies will be required to remove the commercial driving privileges from the driver license of an individual subject to the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driving prohibition. Wisconsin DMV’s compliance with the final rule will help keep unsafe drivers off the road.

Wisconsin CDL drivers with the federal “prohibited” status will have their CDL Classes downgraded (i.e., become invalid)until they can comply with the Return to Duty (RTD) process. Drivers who receive a downgrade letter from DMV should work with their employer and their Substance Abuse Professional to complete the RTD process. Once the prohibited driver completes the RTD process with FMCSA, Wisconsin DMV will be notified and automatically release the downgrade which returns their CDL status to valid.

More information regarding this rule and process can be found online at the https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov