HB4374 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 17380 LNS 30805 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4374

Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. Barbara Hernandez

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/6-507

from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-507

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle without obtaining a commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit if the commercial motor vehicle weighs less than 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight rating and is equipped with hydraulic brakes, air brakes, or any other system that complies with the federal motor carrier vehicle safety standards.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Section 6-507 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/6-507) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-507)

Sec. 6-507. Commercial Driver's License (CDL) or Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) required.

(a) Except as expressly permitted by this UCDLA, or when driving pursuant to the issuance of a commercial learner's permit and accompanied by the holder of a CDL valid for the vehicle being driven, or under subsection (a-1); no person shall drive a commercial motor vehicle on the highways without:

(1) a CDL in the driver's possession;

(2) having obtained a CLP or CDL;

(3) the proper class of CLP or CDL or endorsements or both for the specific vehicle group being operated or for the passengers or type of cargo being transported; or

(4) a copy of a medical variance document, if one exists, such as an exemption letter or a skill performance evaluation certificate.

(a-1) A person may drive a commercial motor vehicle without obtaining a license or permit under this Section if the commercial motor vehicle weighs less than 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and is equipped with hydraulic brakes, air brakes, or any other system that complies with the federal motor carrier vehicle safety standards. This subsection does not apply to a person who drives a commercial motor vehicle that is capable of transporting 16 or more passengers or that is transporting hazardous materials and are required to be placarded.

(a-5) A CLP or CDL holder whose CLP or CDL is held by this State or any other state in the course of enforcement of a motor vehicle traffic code and who has not been convicted of a disqualifying offense under 49 C.F.R. 383.51 based on this enforcement, may drive a CMV while holding a dated receipt for the CLP or CDL.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by this Code, no person may drive a commercial motor vehicle on the highways while such person's driving privilege, license, or permit is:

(1) Suspended, revoked, cancelled, or subject to disqualification. Any person convicted of violating this provision or a similar provision of this or any other state shall have their driving privileges revoked under paragraph 12 of subsection (a) of Section 6-205 of this Code.

(2) Subject to or in violation of an "out-of-service" order. Any person who has been issued a CLP or CDL and is convicted of violating this provision or a similar provision of any other state shall be disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle under subsection (i) of Section 6-514 of this Code.

(3) Subject to or in violation of a driver or vehicle "out of service" order while operating a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded. Any person who has been issued a CLP or CDL and is convicted of violating this provision or a similar provision of this or any other state shall be disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle under subsection (i) of Section 6-514 of this Code.

(b-3) Except as otherwise provided by this Code, no person may drive a commercial motor vehicle on the highways during a period which the commercial motor vehicle or the motor carrier operation is subject to an "out-of-service" order. Any person who is convicted of violating this provision or a similar provision of any other state shall be disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle under subsection (i) of Section 6-514 of this Code.

(b-5) Except as otherwise provided by this Code, no person may operate a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver or hazardous materials of a type or quantity that requires the vehicle to be placarded during a period in which the commercial motor vehicle or the motor carrier operation is subject to an "out-of-service" order. Any person who is convicted of violating this provision or a similar provision of any other state shall be disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle under subsection (i) of Section 6-514 of this Code.

(c) Pursuant to the options provided to the States by FHWA Docket No. MC-88-8, the driver of any motor vehicle controlled or operated by or for a farmer is waived from the requirements of this Section, when such motor vehicle is being used to transport: agricultural products; implements of husbandry; or farm supplies; to and from a farm, as long as such movement is not over 150 air miles from the originating farm. This waiver does not apply to the driver of any motor vehicle being used in a common or contract carrier type operation. However, for those drivers of any truck-tractor semitrailer combination or combinations registered under subsection (c) of Section 3-815 of this Code, this waiver shall apply only when the driver is a farmer or a member of the farmer's family and the driver is 21 years of age or more and has successfully completed any tests the Secretary of State deems necessary.

In addition, the farmer or a member of the farmer's family who operates a truck-tractor semitrailer combination or combinations pursuant to this waiver shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties and restrictions with respect to Sections 6-514 and 6-515 of this Code applicable to the driver who possesses a commercial driver's license issued under this Code, except that the driver shall not be subject to any additional duties or restrictions contained in Part 382 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations that are not otherwise imposed under Section 6-514 or 6-515 of this Code.

For purposes of this subsection (c), a member of the farmer's family is a natural or in-law spouse, child, parent, or sibling.

As required under the Code of Federal Regulations 49 CFR 390.39, an operator of a covered farm vehicle, as defined under Section 18b-101 of this Code, is exempt from the requirements of this Section. However, for drivers of any truck-tractor semitrailer combination or combinations operating as a covered farm vehicle, the driver must successfully complete any tests the Secretary of State deems necessary. When operating any truck-tractor semitrailer combination as a covered farm vehicle, the exemption applies only to persons age 21 or older, if operating the vehicle in interstate driving, and to persons at least 18 years of age, if operating the vehicle in intrastate driving. The Secretary may adopt rules necessary to implement this Section.

(c-5) An employee of a township or road district with a population of less than 3,000 operating a vehicle within the boundaries of the township or road district for the purpose of removing snow or ice from a roadway by plowing, sanding, or salting is waived from the requirements of this Section when the employee is needed to operate the vehicle because the employee of the township or road district who ordinarily operates the vehicle and who has a commercial driver's license is unable to operate the vehicle or is in need of additional assistance due to a snow emergency.

(c-10) A driver of a commercial motor vehicle used primarily in the transportation of propane winter heating fuel or a driver of a motor vehicle used to respond to a pipeline emergency is waived from the requirements of this Section if such requirements would prevent the driver from responding to an emergency condition requiring immediate response as defined in 49 C.F.R. Part 390.5.

(d) Any person convicted of violating this Section, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(e) Any person convicted of violating paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Section, shall have all driving privileges revoked by the Secretary of State.

(f) This Section shall not apply to:

(1) A person who currently holds a valid Illinois driver's license, for the type of vehicle being operated, until the expiration of such license or April 1, 1992, whichever is earlier; or

(2) A non-Illinois domiciliary who is properly licensed in another State, until April 1, 1992. A non-Illinois domiciliary, if such domiciliary is properly licensed in another State or foreign jurisdiction, until April 1, 1992.

(Source: P.A. 98-176 (see Section 10 of P.A. 98-722 and Section 10 of P.A. 99-414 for the effective date of changes made by P.A. 98-176); 99-57, eff. 7-16-15; 99-607, eff. 7-22-16.)