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A driver’s license is essential for most adults. That’s why having your driving privileges revoked can be so devastating. Of course, the consequences of a suspension vary for most people. This is particularly true for commercial drivers. In addition to a license loss, these individuals will face severe employment implications for a CDL license suspension in Massachusetts.
If you’re a commercial driver whose license has been revoked, you need to understand your rights. There aren’t many options available once a suspension is in place, but this isn’t true for everyone. Speaking with an attorney will give you a better idea of how to move forward. Until then, it’s imperative to understand what a suspension means for your job opportunities.
How Will a CDL License Suspension Affect Your Employment?
It’s an unfortunate fact, but license suspensions typically have a significant effect on a person’s employment. This is why Massachusetts offers hardship licenses to many people who have had their driving privileges revoked. Unfortunately, these consequences go beyond a mere inability to commute to and from the job site for commercial drivers.
Here are some of the most significant effects you can expect:
- CDL requirement: Many jobs that involve commercial driving require CDL licensure. Without a license, you simply won’t be eligible for these positions.
- Job loss: Even if you already have a job, the loss of your CDL license can make you ineligible to continue working in certain positions.
- Insurance considerations: Even after you’re able to drive commercially again, insurance rates for yourself or your employer can be greatly impacted by having you behind the wheel.
- Impacted driving record: Even after your suspension period expires, the revocation will remain on your driving record. You’ll also have a criminal record if your suspension was related to OUI. Both these can come up in employment background checks.
- Reinstatement requirements: Even after your CDL suspension is over, you’ll need to meet certain requirements for reinstatement. Impacts on your employment will continue until these are complete.
Clearly, the implications of CDL license suspension on employment opportunities in Massachusetts are severe. Even after you get your license back, the ramifications of a suspension can last a lifetime. This is why it’s so important to have legal representation when you’re facing such outcomes.
Can You Get a CDL Hardship License in Massachusetts?
CDL license suspension penalties are severe. This is especially true since commercial drivers are held to higher standards than others. For instance, most people face OUI charges if they have a blood alcohol content of 0.08%. However, commercial drivers are considered inebriated at only 0.04%. With such severe consequences, you might think that a hardship license was a possibility.
After all, other drivers can get hardship licenses in Massachusetts for work purposes. Unfortunately for commercial drivers, this isn’t the case for a CDL license. While you may be able to get a Class D hardship license for operating a passenger vehicle, there are no CDL hardship licenses in Massachusetts. This makes avoiding a suspension all the more important.
What Are Your Options Once Your CDL Is Suspended?
While a CDL hardship license isn’t an option, you may have other avenues of recourse. Unfortunately, these are few and far between. In some cases, your only option may be to wait out the suspension and complete all reinstatement requirements. The saddest part about this is that your suspension doesn’t even have to be related to something done in a commercial vehicle.
Additionally, a CDL can be suspended for more than just OUI. Suspensions can stem from speeding, leaving the scene of an accident, refusing a breathalyzer, and other violations. With so many variables, it’s hard to say what your options are in a given situation. This is why you should consider speaking with a defense attorney before doing anything.
Avoiding a CDL License Suspension
Even if your CDL suspension stems from a one-time mistake that will never happen again, the RMV doesn’t have discretion in these cases. These suspensions are mandatory under federal law. It’s not even possible to get a CDL disqualification hearing unless you’re disputing the accuracy of an RMV record. As such, avoiding a suspension is your best option.
If a possible suspension stems from criminal charges, an attorney may be able to help you avoid a conviction. Discuss your case with a legal professional to learn about your options. Contact us today at The Law Office of Brian Simoneau by calling (508)-625-5776. We’ll help you fight to avoid the most severe employment consequences of CDL suspension in Massachusetts.
