Earning your Class A CDL is a big deal. It’s hard work, and it practical tests, written test, doctors visits, and everything else involved can take a lot of time. And if you have an Iowa CDL, you can be forced to retake every aspect of your certification at any time.
According to an article published by Landline, the holder of an Iowa Class A CDL can be forced to retest by any law enforcement officer or private citizen in Iowa or any other state for any reason. All that’s needed to submit a request to the state to require a retest is the name of the person submitting the request. No reason or justification is required.
The driver doesn’t even need to be told why the request is being made, all they have to be told is the name of the person who filed the request.
Deb Carney, a compliance officer with Iowa’s DOT Office of Driver Services says that between July of 2012 and July of 2013, a total of 142 retest requests were submitted. Of those, only 22 were made by law enforcement officers.
Iowa isn’t the only state that has a regulation like this, California, Florida and Michigan have similar, but slightly different policies.
Next Story: DOT Seeks Feedback on Four-Year Plan
Source: landline
Rich Charles says
Just reinforces what IOWA means,Idiots Out Wondering Around! Maybe they ought to make it the same for automobile drivers as well, and all we need to do is give their license plate number.Bet this law would change real fast when politicians names start getting submitted every week
Moose says
Well said.
OUTLAW says
No private citizen should have that right! That’s the trouble right now … too many bosses who know more about what should be happening than what the driver is doing. That’s like you telling my wife how to cook a meal in my house over television with no feedback. “I know the button says danger but let’s push it anyway and see what happens”!
Charli says
We all need webcams in our trucks,and push a bill to legalize cars to do the same THRUOUT U.S. !!
WHy this isn’t a law already is beyond me!!! JUST ONE DAY OF VIDEO WOULD BE ENOUGH PROOF!!!
driving pro says
NO..the last thing we need is more Cameras and less privacy.
Danny says
Exactly, are you kidding me? Cameras in trucks?!?! I’m sick of big brother watching over us as it is that’s all we need more cameras! This IOWA law is the most insane thing I’ve heard all day! How about they require like some said reg driver license to be open to this type of BS, while we at it lets leave all licensing open to re-taking it start with Lawyers who most likely crafted such a idiotic law, why stop there doctors are next!
IOWA one F’up place!
Russ says
What the hell is wrong with these states? Don’t they have anything else better to do???CDL license cost a fortune to get and keep. I don’t believe in retest unless you do a major violations. Or you accumulate points. Private citizens have no rights to have Anybody retested. Iowa , California and Michigan can take it and shove it!!!!
hittman306 says
its plain to see the the general public thinks they can drive better than us but you give them a truck and they cant get it in gear much less drive it down the road
baxter says
hell they can’t even put their own car into gear and drive
Chris says
If drivers boycotted delivering to states like this, I bet the laws would change within weeks. As a non driver it would get my attention when grocery stores started becoming empty, it sounds too risky to drive in places where anyone can submit that you have to retest – and jeopardize your livelihood! With all the idiots on the road with attitude problems and all the stories you hear about employers mistreating drivers, it seems like another tool to mistreat drivers with.
No wonder drivers are gettin frustrated, along with this article I received a story about a driver shooting four of five of the previous co-workers he listed as people who deserved to die.
I thought of becoming a driver but from what I hear about working conditions I think it make take the truckers organizing and finally taking a stand.
Dave says
I agree, and also along with this article and the one you mentioned about a driver shooting, there’s the article on the very top of the page where ATA whining about shortage of drivers due to retiring. It’s also the laws strangling the whole industry and ATA should stand up and fight these laws wherever and whenever. It’s in the best interest of the industry that they represent.
Da Beef says
“Earning your Class A CDL is a big deal. It’s hard work, and it practical tests, written test, doctors visits, and everything else involved can take a lot of time.”
Is it? I was one of the first in the country to switch from the old “chauffeur’s” license to the CDL (1990)
It wasn’t hard then and if a 2 week wonder at a trucking school can get one it is not hard work now…
Speaking of which…. what kind of ignoramous contractually obligates (enslaves) himself for thousands of dollars for a 2 week crash course?
Steve Bell says
The test is way easier than driving a truck in the real world….Any working driver should be able to pass that test far easier than making his first stop..
Tim says
I do not think it matters how easy it is. If it is that easy, then it is a waste of my valuable driving, sleeping or downtime. I think what upsets me would be that some idiot in a car who gets upset that I am taking to long making a safe turn, or backing into a lot that requires me to start in a street, can decide to request I take a retest. If I do something wrong and my company or a DOT officer requests it is one thing, but some idiot who knows nothing about me, my life or anything about the trucking industry or driving big rigs should not be able to do so.
Tanya Bons says
There are people driving trucks that shouldn’t be, there is no question about that BUT there are also lots of drivers who are safe, confident and respectful behind the wheel – why should these guys and gals submit to a CDL driving test to meet someone’s curiosity. Stop messing with CDL holders every chance you get – the more you mess with them the fewer there will be. Some day you might go to the store and have to sit and wait while the store’s stock ships in. Keep taking advantage of truck drivers and it WILL catch up to you.
Drive safe!
Michael says
In my younger days, well, let’s just say I had a triple digit Peterbilt and not much sense. When I went to renew my CDL, they told me I was going to have to take a test. No problem, I thought, since I drive a truck for a living, I ought to do fine on the CDL exam, right? Well, yeah, I did, but the tests I had to take started all the way at high school driver’s ed, and worked up. There was crap on some of those tests I STILL haven’t seen in 15 years of trucking.
bellsnoel says
Well I can understand law enforcement requiring retesting. That being said I think anyone requesting a retest should be required to pay a fine if the driver in question passes his retest. Or a fee to have a retest done, that way most people would would think twice before harassing a cdl driver. At this point truck drivers have a target on their backs. And most drivers are playing the blame game when Most issues on the road come from regular drivers ignoring basic rules of the road and a few cdl drivers too. I have had more problems with regular drivers than truck drivers and that’s a stone cold fact. Regular drivers should be required to do retests as well.
Johnny Edwards says
As a former 18 yr law enforcement officer AND a current CDL holder, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt truck drivers are, with some exceptions, better drivers than those who drive regular vehicles. I issued more citations to drivers of regular vehicles than 18 wheelers. I think the public’s frustration with truck drivers stem from having to share the road with truck drivers from Mexico. Thanks NAFTA!
jim4781205 says
Thanks for the comments on behalf of US Truckers!
Ron says
The Ohio Highway patrol didn’t want me “retested” they just told the the state of Michign in 2006 “that I was a danger to the other drivers on the highway”. So by their false statement made by them. Michigan pulled my CDL for good. After driving for 38 years,and the stress which caused me to have a heart attack from the accident I was on “forced retirement’ at 62. I’m glad I don’t have to deal with dishonest police officers no more…they can hide their dishonesty behind their badge,besides there are to many to be able to be able to fight back. Your considered a “troublemaker if you fight the police’s lies.”Equal Justice” is court is a joke.
driving pro says
One door closes, another opens. Do yourself a favor and let it go. Move on and forgive. Good things are coming your way.
Alex Rolli says
Good, one danger off the road.
Darren says
You must be from Iowa Alex?
baxter says
best of luck to you ronny. hope you find somethin that you love just as much as truckin
Brant says
I suspect any private person can do that to any driver. The common reason probably is a driver who has got along too much in age or has a medical condition such as diabetes causing blackouts. I also suspect this applies to all states. A complaint about this is much ado about nothing. There’s a lot more to complain about that needs complaining about like the silly HOS rules. A driver should be limited to 3500 miles a week/700 miles a day, but get to set his own times, electronically monitored. The only thing in the log book should be his name, hub miles and dates. Local drivers should be paid by the hour.
Rich says
We should all be paid hourly and fall under the Federal wage/hour guidelines this would fix many problems, as all too soon we all may be on electronic monitoring of some kind.
Danny says
No thanks! Well, I guess if your a company driver I can see why would you want to be paid hourly but if you are independent no way!
Robin says
and they wonder why there is a driver shortage.
Steve Bell says
There is No Driver Shortage….If there was driver pay would be going up and and trucking companies would be poaching each other’s drivers …With offers of more better pay and better conditions….
Look around they are still getting drivers to work for half of the week for no pay at all…And mileage pay about where it was 20 years or more ago…Everything else has gone up and up…but not driver pay….
Supply and demand….As long as you will do it for free…why should they they pay me anything at all???
If any of the big carriers actually needed more drivers …More drivers than they are getting at the currant rate…All that they would have to do is advertise a lousy 10 CENT ..Rate Increase and they would be swamped with applications….
They don’t because they don’t have to….You are working 100 or more hours a week now for what they are paying you….Staying out for weeks at a time….And they get to keep the money!!
Just like there is never going to be a big enough truck for a shipper….There will never be a driver who will work cheap enough….
Danny says
I agree, this BS about driver shortage is just that BS! Rates are going down while everything else is going up! Hell I just saw a guy book a load from FL-CA for $$2000 not only is he driving for free but that dick will lose about $500-$1000
Say NO to cheap loads!
chris says
If all us truck drivers said no,the country would buckle, and give us what we need…. and deserve
chris
Wayne says
Move out of those states is you have a CDL there. Or quit driving. They will keep passing these laws left and right until we say “No More!” I don’t get this country! I was born here and I guess I was taught differently than everyone else, but this is supposed to be the land of the free, home of the brave and actually it couldn’t be more of the opposite.
jim4781205 says
I agree, this retest thing is another finger in the eye.
baxter says
couldn’t say it any better wayne. god bless
Nick says
Aren’t we already tested everyday with logbooks and other crap. So John, was upset that I cut him off while getting on the highway. Maybe he should of slowed down or speed up, instead he decided to stay at the ass end of my trailer, and now I have to slow down and run off the road, or speed up and cut this dumb ass off. I forgot, no matter the situation, it is my fault.
ron says
Maybe you need to learn who has the right of way, if he is already on the highway and you are getting on, then it is not his job to accommodate you getting on the highway period…
YOU are part of the problem if you think so. Maybe you need to Retest
26 Yrs OTR Driver
jim4781205 says
Laws of retest only take more drivers off the road and many of them will be forced into retirement. This not only cripples the industry but allows the DOT officer in question to act as judge, jury and executioner. This law is a direct insult to drivers nation wide and impedes a drivers ability to perform any better. This is compared to going into a office and dumping a desk over and throwing the person out, to ruin someones career because you think them to be incompetent. The Federal DOT is a loaded gun of useless laws, this being 1, that infringe on a drivers lively hood. All drivers should be upset over this law and seek it’s removal from the books.
Kevin J.Reidy says
The individual calling for a re-test should be held liable for every single cost associated with it; time, travel, equipment rental, lost income, everything, otherwise this seems ripe for abuse by anyone with an agenda.
Ron says
So if the driver fails the test’s will the government keep him for the rest of his life? Same goes for the sleep apena….