Section 32-6-49.40
(Effective February 7, 2020) Intrastate Class A commercial driver license for applicants 18 to 21 years of age.
(a) The Legislature finds that current economic conditions are such that the number of individuals willing and qualified to operate commercial vehicles is insufficient in relation to the volume of freight available, and that it will be advantageous, consistent with Commercial Driver License safety rules, for this state to issue Class A commercial driver licenses to persons who have reached the age of 18 years and have not yet reached the age of 21 years and who otherwise meet the requirements imposed by state and federal law to obtain a commercial driver license for use only in intrastate commerce.
(b)(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency shall issue Class A commercial driver licenses to persons who have reached their 18th birthday but have not yet reached their 21st birthday and are otherwise qualified for a commercial driver license, with such operation being restricted to intrastate commerce and the ability to obtain a Class A CDL Tank Vehicle endorsement. Such individuals are not eligible for Haz-Mat or passenger endorsements. Any person possessing a Class A commercial driver license shall comply with all state and federal laws and safety regulations.
(2) Any individual who is at least 18 years of age but has not reached 21 years of age is prohibited from operating oversize or specially configured loads that require permitting by the Alabama Department of Transportation.
(c) All applicants shall be familiar with and governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations at 49 CFR 380, Subparts E, F, and G, and 49 CFR 382 through 397, inclusive.
(d) Nothing in this section allows the issuance of any commercial driver license in violation of federal law. This section applies only where federal law allows the states a field of operation or authorizes a variance from applicable federal standards.
(e) If federal law is amended to permit persons who have not yet reached the age of 21 years to operate a commercial vehicle in interstate commerce with a Class A commercial driver license, this state shall adopt rules, restrictions, and eligibility requirements as are necessary to permit interstate travel.
(Act 2019-249, §§1-5.)