AB 578

This bill expands an exception from the commercial driver license (CDL)

requirement for certain use of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) by farmers.

Under current law, the definition of “commercial motor vehicle” includes a

single vehicle or combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating,

registered weight, or actual gross weight (generally, the weight of vehicle while

carrying a full load) of 26,001 or more pounds inclusive of a towed unit with a gross

vehicle weight rating, registered weight, or actual gross weight of more than 10,000

pounds.

A person may not, in general, operate a CMV without a valid CDL. Current law,

however, provides several exceptions from the CDL requirement allowing, for

example, fire fighters, law enforcement officers, and rescue squad members who hold

valid operators' licenses other than CDLs to operate CMVs under specified

circumstances. Another current exception allows farmers to use a CMV without

holding a CDL if all of the following apply: 1) the use is within 150 miles of the

operator's farm; 2) the CMV is used to transport agricultural products, farm

machinery, or farm supplies, including hazardous materials requiring placarding, to

or from a farm; and 3) the CMV is operated and controlled by a farmer.

This bill eliminates requirement 1) from the CDL exception for farmers and

family members or employees of a farmer, except when transporting hazardous

materials. Thus, under this bill, a farmer or family member or employee of a farmer

may use a CMV without holding a CDL if the CMV is used to transport agricultural

products, farm machinery, or farm supplies to or from a farm and the CMV is

controlled by a farmer. Current law pertaining to transporting hazardous materials

requiring placarding would remain unchanged.