For a Pennsylvania truck driver, a first offense DUI carries some very tough penalties. This includes up to 6 months jail time, up to $5,000 fines, 1-year personal driver’s license suspension and 1-year commercial driver’s license disqualification (suspension). Being unable to drive would be crushing. Many trucker drivers lose their career after the first charge because they find it nearly impossible to find work with a DUI on their record.
And it doesn’t matter if the DUI truck drivers are arrested while driving the commercial vehicle or their own personal car at the time of the arrest. The penalty is the same — affecting both personal driver’s license and commercial driver’s license.
But did you know that a second DUI conviction for PA truck drivers could mean losing your CDL license for LIFE? Yes life! Loss of CDL = Loss of employment. A DUI is a criminal conviction and stays on your permanent record.
Warning: CDL holders must be aware that the legal limit of Blood Alcohol Content for commercial drivers while in a commercial vehicle is .04% which is half of the normal limit which is .08% as stated according to PA State Law.
This applies to any Commercial Driving License holders such as truck drivers, automotive technicians who do emission checks on commercial venicles, different classes of CDL drivers, company drivers, long haul drivers, dock workers and others.
If you are a CDL license holder and have been charged with a DUI, don’t drive yourself into a bigger hole. Call The McShane Firm at 1-866-McShane. We will fight for your rights and for your employment. We have helped many CDL drivers keep their license.
Justin McShane
PA DUI attorney Justin J. McShane is the President/CEO of The McShane Firm, LLC - Pennsylvania's top criminal law and DUI law firm. He is the highest rated DUI attorney in PA as rated by Avvo.com. Justin McShane is a double Board certified attorney. He is the first and so far the only Pennsylvania attorney to achieve American Bar Association recognized board certification in DUI defense from the National College for DUI Defense, Inc. He is also a Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Approved Agency.