Colorado Commercial Drivers License Restrictions

26.01.2020
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On March 16, 2015, Caplan and Earnest attorneys Doug Stevens and Matt Ullrich presented at the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association’s Spring Convention. They covered topics important to ranches and business owners, including, passenger van licensing laws, and the. Many businesses can involve employees operating large passenger vans. Business owners in recreational fields often want to know whether their employees need a to operate large passenger vans to transport guests for excursions, such as for river rafting. According to Colorado law, if a vehicle operator will be driving a van or a bus with a capacity of 16 or more passengers—as designed by the manufacturer—it will need to obtain a Class “C” CDL. The 16-passenger threshold includes the driver. Colorado law designates a Class “C” vehicle as any vehicle intended to carry 16 or more passengers or hazardous waste.

The licenses are for individuals, and business owners must ensure that every employee who will be operating a Class “C” vehicle for any purpose has her own license. Generally, applying for a CDL requires written and behind-the-wheel testing.

Drivers must be 18 or over before obtaining a CDL, and must be 21 or over if they will be operating the vehicle across state lines. Additionally, the vehicle operator will need to have a passenger or “P” endorsement on the CDL, which requires passing a written exam and a full driver skills test. If you have any questions about licensing needs for your operation, please contact me.

Doug Stevens, a litigation attorney and business member of the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association, can be reached at or at 303-443-8010. His legal practice focuses on civil litigation matters, including recreation, general risk management issues, construction, personal injury, trucking, insurance bad faith and coverage, and commercial liability.

Special Driver's Licenses in Colorado Depending on which type of vehicle you want to drive and what you want to do with your vehicle, you may need to obtain a special license in addition to your regular non-commercial driver's license with the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Different classes of licenses and certain endorsements may allow you to drive vehicles over a certain weight, to carry a large number of passengers, or drive for a commercial/professional purpose. On this page you'll find an overview of some of the special license classes you can apply for in Colorado. If you need information on obtaining your regular driver's license, please visit our pages on the following topics:. Commercial Driver's Licenses in Colorado A commercial driver's license (CDL) will allow you to operate vehicles that:. Weigh 26,001 lbs or more.

Are designed to carry at least 16 passengers. Can transport hazardous materials. Can tow large trailers or other vehicles. Some examples of vehicles that require you to hold a CDL include:.

Colorado Commercial Driver's License Restrictions A

Passenger/school busses. Combination trucks and trailers.

Heavy trucks. For more information about applying for a commercial driver's license, please visit our page. Colorado School Bus License Requirements To obtain a school bus endorsement on your CDL in Colorado, you may need to:.

Colorado Drivers License Restrictions

Be at least 21 years old. Have a passenger endorsement. Submit to an annual check on your driver's record.

Have pre-service bus training. Annually participate in 6 hours of in-service training. Pass an annual driving performance test. Pass an annual bus-related written test. Own a current first aid certificate.

Pass a Department of Transportation sanctioned physical. You can access more detailed information in Colorado's School Bus Manual found on DMV.org's appropriately titled. For more information, please contact the. CO Taxi and Limousine (Chauffeur) License Regardless of where you apply, you will be required to submit fingerprints.

For exact information for your area, contact your local county clerk. Additionally, you'll likely need to:.

Maintain a clean driving record. Pass a background check.

Colorado Commercial Drivers License Medical

Colorado Commercial Drivers License Restrictions

Pass a taxi/chauffeur license knowledge test. For taxi information for some of Colorado's larger municipalities, visit the following websites:. Colorado Shuttle Van Driver No special license is required to operate a shuttle van. Each shuttle service does, however, maintain its own requirements, ranging from age, to the ability to lift certain weights, to company training. However, if your shuttle van meets the qualifications of a commercial vehicle, you may need to obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL). Depending on the type of driving you're doing, you may need to obtain a taxi/chauffeur license endorsement.