Drivers license

[Jackrabbit379]

I went to the DPS office yesterday, to renew my license.
The lady told me that the license is good for 5 years now.
:eek2: :angryblue:
Why did they do that? Used to, you paid $30 for 3 years, and $60 for 6 years.
I renewed my license in 2003, and it expired this month. Now it's only for 5 years.
I didn't ask why. I guess I didn't think to ask. :roll3:

Do yall know why they did that?

[Rev.Vassago]

I believe that is a state issue. In Wisconsin, the CDL is good for 10 years.

[Jackrabbit379]

I believe that is a state issue. In Wisconsin, the CDL is good for 10 years.

10 years? :eek2: Dang!
It must be a 'Texas thing'. I just assumed it was the FMCSA. Thanks, Rev. That would be a question for the safety man.
Would have been a good question to ask her at the counter, but I didn't think to ask. :angryblue:

[Creek Jackson]

I went to the DPS office yesterday, to renew my license.
The lady told me that the license is good for 5 years now.
:eek2: :angryblue:
Why did they do that? Used to, you paid $30 for 3 years, and $60 for 6 years.
I renewed my license in 2003, and it expired this month. Now it's only for 5 years.
I didn't ask why. I guess I didn't think to ask. :roll3:

Do yall know why they did that?

How much did it cost for a 5-year renewal? That may answer the "Why did they do that?".

[Malaki86]

WV's is 5 years, cost is $43.75 + endoresement fees

[Snowman7]

Your background check approval letter for a hazmat endorsement is good for 5 years. When you renew your liscence the approval letter has to be good thru the next CDL renewel date. So maybe they changed it to match up with the approval letter dates so that your not always caught in between hazmat letters. Actually if you needed hazmat you would not even be able to get a six year renewal cause the background check is only good for 5 years and if you got the three year you would have to pay for another background check in three years because you would only have 2 years left on your approval letter. I know clear as mud right?

[Jackrabbit379]

How much did it cost for a 5-year renewal? That may answer the "Why did they do that?".

$60.
It still costs the same, but we lost a year. :lol: :angryblue:

[Windwalker]

FL is 6 years. Not long ago, AZ was 20 years... Did you know that in that time, you could go completely blind? :eek2:

[Jackrabbit379]

20 years. Good grief. :eek2:
That would be a deal where your license is older than your truck. :lol:


I emailed our safety man about it. Here is his reply. I asked him why we lost a year on our license.

1st – we need a color copy of your renewed license for your DOT file.

2nd – They are the Government, they do things like that for any reason they feel necessary. Our license is issued by the state, not the federal government, so it is probably based on something state initiated. As to what that is I have no information. What I do know about this aspect is that a drivers license is the main identification means for many aspects including the driving privilege, and that it is a revenue generator for the state and making it renewable in 5 years instead of 6 could generate that amount of money per capita sooner.

Our safety man uses big words, and at the same time, he is very enthusiastic :lol: He's a good guy, though. He's one of us. He actually used to drive for a living himself. (worked his way up)
Anyhow, I'm guessing he is trying to say that they changed the regs on our license, because they wanted to and they can. :lol:

[wanderingson]

In Wisconsin, the CDL is good for 10 years.

You sure about that rev? I live in WI too, renewed my CDL in 06, and it is good until 2014. Maybe something changed in WI since I renewed? I think the regular licenses are good for 8 yrs as well.

My cost for the 8 yr CDL was $64. Not too bad

[Myth_Buster]

§384.233 Background records checks.

(a) The State shall comply with Transportation Security Administration requirements concerning background records checks for drivers seeking to obtain, renew, transfer or upgrade a hazardous materials endorsement in 49 CFR Part 1572, to the extent those provisions impose requirements on the State.

(b) The State shall comply with each requirement of 49 CFR 383.141.

Q: How often must a driver be fingerprinted and qualified under this rule?

A: Generally, you must renew your HME every five years, although some states may require more frequent reviews. You will be required to submit new fingerprints at the time of renewal of the endorsement.

TSA: FAQ (http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/hazmat/faq.shtm)

If states expect to keep their Federal Grants and ability to issue CDLs they will have to renew HM endorsed drivers every five years.

Be safe.

[Rev.Vassago]

You sure about that rev? I live in WI too, renewed my CDL in 06, and it is good until 2014. Maybe something changed in WI since I renewed? I think the regular licenses are good for 8 yrs as well.

My cost for the 8 yr CDL was $64. Not too bad

It's quite possible. Mine hasn't been renewed since 2000, so a lot could have changed since then.

TSA: FAQ (http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/hazmat/faq.shtm)

If states expect to keep their Federal Grants and ability to issue CDLs they will have to renew HM endorsed drivers every five years.

Be safe.

Apples and oranges, Mike. It is possible to let the HM endorsement expire before the CDL does. I know - I've done it before in the past. So the reg you posted that requires a recertification of HM endorsement is in no way applying to the renewal of the CDL.

[SickRick]

My "original issue" (last month) had a 2017 (8 year) expiration. When I added my HM endorsement, it went down to 5 years.

So far, with original issue, duplicate issue, Passenger, Tanker, Doubles/Triples and Hazmat (with fingerprint and bg check) I've got $211 into my CDL costs at the license bureau - for a license whose cost gave me 8 YEARS, and I LOST 3 years of that by adding the HM. Add to that the $132 for my TWIC, and the government "got me" for almost $350 in the last 2 months to get fully licensed.

PITY it's USELESS here in Ft. Lauderdale, as NO ONE HIRES from down here - much less RECENT SCHOOL GRADUATES (oh yeah, tack on another $1,875 for school - bringing the total cost for a Class A CDL (fully endorsed) & TWIC, with a Certificate of Completion from a well respected County Vo-Tech 9 week course to $2,218.

And, with a CLEAN MVR, clean criminal history, no DUI's EVER - I'm STILL UNEMPLOYABLE...

What a GREAT COUNTRY we live in. And people thing SOCIALISM is the answer? More like REVOLUTION...

Rick

And folks wonder why I'm thinking of buying a truck, getting "newbie" 500 mile insurance, and chasing freight myself locally - until I can get on with a larger carrier (or get the right insurance to get my own MC#)...

[Myth_Buster]

It's quite possible. Mine hasn't been renewed since 2000, so a lot could have changed since then.



Apples and oranges, Mike. It is possible to let the HM endorsement expire before the CDL does. I know - I've done it before in the past. So the reg you posted that requires a recertification of HM endorsement is in no way applying to the renewal of the CDL.

I don't see it that way, if a person has a CDL with a "H" or "X" endorsement the CDL will have to expire when the hazmat endorsement is no longer valid. If a CDL list a "H" or "X" endorsement it is could be argued the endorsement was valid.

I don't see states listing an expiration date for the endorsement and CDL seperately.

Be safe.

[Rev.Vassago]

I don't see it that way, if a person has a CDL with a "H" or "X" endorsement the CDL will have to expire when the hazmat endorsement is no longer valid. If a CDL list a "H" or "X" endorsement it is could be argued the endorsement was valid.

I don't see states listing an expiration date for the endorsement and CDL seperately.

Be safe.
My Wisconsin D/L had an expired H endorsement for several years. A DMV search showed that the endorsement was not valid.

[LBF]

Hey jackrabbit.

you notice how your "safety man" did a lot of writing that basically said he didn't have a clue?

You'd think it would be his business to know exactly what his own jursidiction is doing with driver's licences dontcha think?

Don't be fooled with the long winded BS of a crappy "safety man" He should know exactly what happened, or have a telephone number to a DOT supervisor to find out.

Othewrwise, he ain't no "safety man" Good buddy, former driver, or not.

I have no patience for frauds

[Orangetxguy]

Your background check approval letter for a hazmat endorsement is good for 5 years. When you renew your liscence the approval letter has to be good thru the next CDL renewel date. So maybe they changed it to match up with the approval letter dates so that your not always caught in between hazmat letters. Actually if you needed hazmat you would not even be able to get a six year renewal cause the background check is only good for 5 years and if you got the three year you would have to pay for another background check in three years because you would only have 2 years left on your approval letter. I know clear as mud right?

That was pretty much the explaination given to me by TXDPS when I did my Texas license. They tried to get the Hazmat check adjusted to their licensing schedule, but that was a "no go"....according to the clerk there in Orange.

[GatorsDontSweat]

FL is 6 years. Not long ago, AZ was 20 years... Did you know that in that time, you could go completely blind? :eek2:

You could also go to prison... for murder. :clap:

Oklahoma is only 3 years, regardless of endorsements.

[doubleclutcher]

In NY ITS $40 enhanced cdl its good for 2013 but i could have gotten it till 2017 $120 thats with M endorsement (metal coil)