Lost CDL while Out of State - Please Help!

I always leave a copy on my work file. Having not done that she is probably going to have to go in on Tuesday and obtain a copy.

Surprised her company does not have one on file. They are supposed to.

 

I’m pretty sure for such an important document, that you’d have to appear in person with supporting identification.

 

Does she know her license number? If she's pulled over, she can tell it to the officer and he can look it up and see that it's valid. While he can write a ticket for not having it in her possession, the regulations state that showing proof that you were properly licensed on the day of the infraction (i.e. forwarding a copy of your license to the prosecutor) will dismiss the charge.

As for the company suspending her, that means they won't let her drive their vehicle (and will likely terminate her if she does). In other words, she's stranded. THEY HAVE A COPY of her license in her driver file. They can fax or email that to her, and she then at least has something to show a cop. I'm guessing she told them "I lost my license" and the knucklehead at the company thought it got suspended without listening to anything else she said...heard what they wanted to hear and went into CYA mode. Should have said "my wallet was stolen, and my license was inside...can you fax a copy of my license to (###)###-####?" Best she can do at this point is try again with the company to get a copy faxed or emailed to her to get her home, or find someone who will listen when she says she "misplaced" her license...NEVER say you "lost" it, as the no-thinking pencil pushers stop listening and assume the worst.

 

Ga is not going to issue one to anyone but her. Bus would be cheapest. Unless someone can drive up and get her.
Monday is Memorial Day so it will have to be Tuesday.

 

Whatever she does she cannot drive the truck at all. If she gets pulled over or pulled into a scale house without a license on her she will get her CDL suspended and a big fat fine. It is illegal to operate the vehicle without your license on your person. Her only choice is to wait until she can go to the DMV and get a new one. She will most likely be required to have some other form of ID for the DMV such as a birth certificate and or social card. I really don't think losing your CDL is a common thing due to how important it is to us. Mine very rarely leaves my wallet and I guard that thing like it was one of my kids.

 

Again, if she knows her license number they can look it up. Hell, they can probably look it up with her name and birthday. It is valid, so she's not doing anything illegal, and if you'd read my post earlier you'd know that the regulations clearly state that if you show proof that you were properly licensed on the day of the infraction but simply failed to have it on you at the time, the charge will be dismissed. See footnote 1 in table 2 for §383.51 if you don't believe me. According to the state of GA, her CDL is valid...it just got misplaced between the time they sent it out and her receiving it. SHE HAS A VALID CDL! If she were to be stopped, whatever cop stopped her CAN look it up...but IF they issue a citation, she just has to send proof showing her CDL was valid at the time of the stop. She does that, not guilty verdict entered. The simple fact that it can easily be looked up makes it unlikely that citation would even be written, as the officer at the roadside would know the driver has a valid CDL and the charges are 100% likely to be dismissed prior to court. That reg was written before the current computer databases that could look the info up on the spot complete with a picture of the person associated with the info given to the officer. It is there to punish people who drive a CMV without going through the process of getting a CDL, not those who have a CDL that was misplaced or stolen. As long as her CDL is valid, whether you have it on you or not really isn't all that big of a deal. Sure, it's best to have it with you, but excrement happens...and the regs make an allowance for that.

 

If her company hadn't suspended her, she'd be fine to drive home. The State of GA computers will show the CDL is valid, even if she's never actually received it. They sent it out to her, and as far as they know she has it. If she's stopped, the cop can look her up with her info and see that it's valid.

Like I said, the only hitch is her company suspending her. She's no longer authorized to drive their vehicle, so she'll be fired if she does...not to mention unauthorized use of a vehicle isn't much different than stealing it in some jurisdictions. The company is unnecessarliy placing her in a bind...and if I were her, I'd be making my way up the chain of command at the company looking for a sympathetic ear who will lift the suspension so that she can get home and get this sorted out. Knowing the regulations will help, because the company is just covering their own rear. If she can explain that her CDL is valid...just not in her possession...and it wouldn't hurt to cite the 1st footnote under table 2 of §383.51...even read it to whoever she's talking to...so that she can clear up any misunderstandings many often have regarding the CDL having to be in your possession.