commercial motor vehicle
A commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is a heavy truck, big bus, or placarded vehicle.
A vehicle is a CMV for CDL purposes in four cases. It is rated at 26,001 pounds or more, alone or as a combination that tows more than 10,000 pounds. It seats 16 or more including the driver, or it hauls hazardous materials that need placards.
Also called: CMV
Why it matters on the CDL test
Questions ask which vehicles count as a CMV, which rules apply only in a CMV, and how CMV convictions affect your CDL.
Appears in 222 test questions
See 9 questions on the Texas testDiffers by state
The federal thresholds are printed the same everywhere. New York counts '15 or more passengers excluding the driver', which is the same 16. California also makes any 3-axle vehicle over 6,000 pounds, and any vehicle carrying more than 10 passengers, a CMV. New York, California, North Dakota, Rhode Island and Wisconsin classify by the greater of the rating, registered weight or actual weight, not the rating alone.
Does not mean: Not every work truck: the CDL definition starts at the thresholds above; FMCSA safety rules reach lighter trucks (from 10,001 pounds).
Example: The landscaping truck is light, but with the heavy equipment trailer hooked on, the combination becomes a CMV.
In other languages
- Español
- vehículo automotor comercial
- Русский
- коммерческое транспортное средство (CMV)
- Українська
- комерційний транспортний засіб (CMV)
Related terms
Where it comes from
- TX CDL manual, you must have a CDL to operate (26,001 lb, 10,000 lb towed, 16 passengers, placards)
- NY CDL manual, 1.1 commercial motor vehicles and 1.2 weight classification by the greater weight
- NY CDL manual, 1.2 NYS VTL weight classification rule
- CA CDL manual, who needs a CDL (3-axle over 6,000 lb; more than 10 passengers)
- 49 CFR 383.5 (CMV definition for CDL) and 390.5 (CMV for safety rules)
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