Understanding CDL Legal Plans: Safeguarding Your Commercial Driving Career

What is CDL Legal Plan?

Commercial drivers and contractors need to be protected by a CDL legal plan. Commercial truckers and contractors are constantly threatened by criminal, commercial license points and job threatening issues such as inspections, vehicle and equipment violations and criminal citations. These challenges can take place when the driver is driving the rig, at a commercial inspection or even at the repair garage. Most commercial trucking insurance plans do not cover the dedicated, high hourly truck rate of the trucking contractor. Most trucking companies and commercial contractors do not have the time, dedicated legal support and top trucking accident attorneys on-call to protect them from losing their commercial driver’s license and their lucrative job. Unfortunately, most commercial truckers and commercial contractors do not have legal protection that they need.
The truth is that many commercial CDL truck drivers are forced to represent themselves in any legal matter which arises due to the time and money involved in hiring an attorney to represent them, in addition to the cost of litigation. Many attorneys who handle traffic matters for commercial drivers tend to be select in the cases they handle and the cases they decline to accept. This approach leaves many commercial truckers without legal representation. Your ability to work as a commercial truck driver should not depend on your ability to find a lawyer who will take your case.
The CDL point systems in each state can vary heavily , and the penalties for having too many points and CDL violations can put your personal livelihood and business in jeopardy. Having the right representation and legal assistance can help to ease some of the burdens that come hand-in-hand with being a commercial trucker. For example, if you’re subject to the points system in Illinois and accumulate too many points, you may be penalized with suspension, which can allow an Illinois trucking company to terminate employment or suspend you from the job.
A CDL Legal Plan provides protection for every commercial trucker on the road against criminal traffic tickets, municipal ordinances, vehicle/equipment violations and even protection from having your license suspended. Some CDL Legal Plans only provide partial criminal defense services. Firms such as DOT and Federal Law Group offer comprehensive representation for any commercial truck driver in all 50 states. Together with other members of the organization, DOT and Federal Law Group protects drivers when and where they need it most.
Direct legal representation will allow drivers to pay attention to the road and focus on their jobs, rather than legal matters that could interfere with their ability to work. A comprehensive legal program will remove the uncertainty and protect your commercial driver’s license and livelihood. When you choose to drive a commercial truck, you put yourself at risk, but you don’t have to risk your future. Whether you drive trucks for a living, have a CDL for personal use, or drive for a family owned and operated business, you deserve protection.

Benefits of a CDL Legal Plan

In an industry that is perpetually challenging to navigate, one thing that is certain is that the odds will be against you sometime, somewhere. So how can you reduce the odds of not being able to successfully defend yourself for a CDL violation? Some drivers or owner/operators think the key is to fight each and every ticket. However, most law enforcement officers follow their training when it comes to assessing violations. So the driver isn’t really getting a fair shake in most cases. Your best strategy is to hire an attorney that has the experience and time to take your case all the way through the process.
The primary benefits of having a Commercial Driver’s License Legal Plan are:
Most people are unaware of how many points they have on their license until it is too late. When a driver receives a citation, the fine is not the only concern. There are also points assessed against your license. Recently, Kyger Trucking Company lost an otherwise solid driver due to numerous points accumulated and a subsequent suspension. The driver had no idea until called into the safety department. It was too late the damage was done.
In general, all carriers have a CSA profile. The profile includes frequently updated REAL-WORLD data on carrier safety performance. Carriers are scored on seven categories of performance known as BASICs or Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories. In addition, CSA data is utilized by law enforcement officers for pre-pull inspection screenings, which includes a message that directs the officer to conduct an inspection, which will check on the carrier’s SMS data. Companies are listed on a percentile-based ranking and rated as "Satisfactory Unfit", "Marginal", "Conditional" and "Unsatisfactory". Carriers with an "Unsatisfactory" rating may be ordered out of service. Additionally, CSA scores are sent to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. They are used as a benchmark for government interventions. In short, a successful challenge to a citation can improve the carrier’s CSA profile.

Legal Issues For CDL Drivers

Commercial Driver’s License holders are subjected to a distinct set of regulatory and legal obligations due to their unique employment. These obligations can be more onerous than a non-commercial license, and can even include contract or employment disputes with a private 3rd party. While the following list is not comprehensive, it does provide a good outline of the types of situations a CDL driver may face – not all of which occur while on the road:
Traffic violations – The most common of all issues that face CDL holders. It is important to understand that you can lose your CDL through accumulation of traffic violations. In Ohio, for example, the points are as follows:
Accidents – Accidents can be particularly devastating for a CDL holder, especially if the accident involves property damage. Depending on the terms of your contract with a trucking company, you could also be liable for a goods theft, whether or not you caused the accident.
Employment disputes – One of the unique twists for truckers is the range of hours. These are more rigorously regulated than for other drivers, and even a minor infraction can get a driver suspended. It is not uncommon for this to become the basis for other wrongful termination claims, such as lack of safe equipment or malicious reporting / supervision.
Regulatory compliance – There are several regulations specific to truck drivers, overseen by both the DOT and the EPA. Violations can result in significant fines that a legal plan can often help with.

Choosing the Best CDL Legal Plan

When it comes to protecting your commercial driving career, not all legal plans are created equal. Knowing what to look for in a legal plan can be the triumphant difference between keeping your job and losing your livelihood. Before plunking down the money and committing to a legal company, there are several factors that you should consider:
Coverage Options A good CDL legal plan should cover far more than just speeding tickets. Look for a plan that covers: Also, check to see if a company offers a plan that covers a spouse or dependent driver. This could be beneficial if your significant other shares in your company’s driving responsibilities.
Quality Service Most companies are not equal. Find out what other members are saying about various companies. Online review and social media sites can be very helpful in terms of making comparisons and determining the quality of service.
Price Consider what you are being charged and how much this affects your bottom line. Could you save more than you spend? Would it be more cost prohibitive to go with the cheapest package if it doesn’t cover you in the way that you need?
Compare Costs & Benefits Getting a great price is all well and good, but make sure that you are not sacrificing quality services for a cheap plan. The more affordable plans may also be the ones that don’t hold up in court, letting you down when you need them the most. By carefully evaluating the coverage options, cost, and reputation of a plan, you can be confident knowing that you are choosing the CDL legal plan that will benefit you the most.

How CDL Legal Plans Function

CDL legal plans operate on a rather simple premise: that for a set fee, commercial drivers can pay a monthly premium for a range of services intended to protect their livelihoods and interests; services often beyond the traditional letter-writing service offered by many standard litigation firms. Like most insurance plans, these are paid out of the driver’s pay-check over the course of the month or pay period. Payment is typically made by automatic deductions from the driver’s pay.
When activated, services offered under these plans typically include:
Calling ahead with availability for a consultation. Here a driver collects documentation and his identification, and schedules an appointment for a consultation with an attorney who is familiar with the specific legal issues that the driver faces.
Providing representation as needed. Following a consultation, a driver may find that he still needs advice about his situation , or that he must appear in court to contest a ticket or fight a repair report or some other kind of citation which could affect his employment. His plan may extend to cover representation by an attorney who is experienced.
Monitoring and reminding CDL legal plan members can often receive confirmation calls from their attorneys concerning developments in their cases. Additionally, there may be a system in place for alerting members to special developments or changes in the law or other aspects of the industry.
Notifying a member of referral options outside of plan coverage. In case a driver’s situation is not included under the terms of his legal plan, a lawyer in most cases will contact them about referral options at other attorney’s offices.
Representing a family member. A commercial driver’s plan may also extend to his immediate family members, benefiting his spouse, children or others.

Legal Plans: Features and Pricing Comparison

When evaluating CDL legal plans, it’s essential to compare them on a variety of factors, including features, costs, and scope of coverage. While the right moment to sign a long-term contract is before issues arise, it’s also crucial to select a plan that meets your needs.
Key Features
CDL legal plans should prioritize customer support and provide a range of features. From the very first call to client service to making plans for the next hearing in the case, excellent support can make all the difference in keeping peace of mind. Ask potential providers if they offer: Does the company guarantee that an experienced attorney will be in charge of your case, and what qualifications does the attorney possess? In addition to experience, is the attorney up to date on the latest laws and practices in your state? Will the attorney be on call or available during the day to address questions and concerns, or is the company or service offering a call center? Finally, how easy is it to get a copy of the company’s attorney contract, policy booklet, or terms and conditions? When you find discrepancies between the features provided and what’s advertised, you may have grounds to dispute the terms of the contract or terminate the agreement altogether.
Cost Overview
The price of CDL legal plans varies widely from company to company, so it’s important to obtain quotes from multiple providers. Compare the cost of different plans side by side to determine which is the best option for your financial situation. ATLA makes it easy to see the differences between plans directly on the website. Most companies charge a flat annual fee for service, although the amount can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the case, geographic region, and availability and extent of coverage. Here’s a brief rundown of the types of plans you might find: While group plans are a great way to save money and gain access to valuable legal services, keep in mind that you won’t be as covered as you would be under an individual plan. Group plans are beneficial if you’re part of an association like owner-operators, but they may not be the best fit for a company driver, who would do better under an individual plan. In addition to the cost and extent of coverage, consider the amount of coverage too. Premiums for basic coverage are typically low. Do the math and determine how much you’d spend on your own fees for tickets, accidents, and non-commercial violations before you sign anything. When you compare the various options available to you, you can determine which plan fits your budget, while also providing the coverage benefits that you need. Consider the total investment you’ll make in your plan, compared to the total coverage benefits provided to you. This will help you find the best value for your investment.

True Success Stories of CDL Legal Plans

CDL Legal Plan Success Stories
While statistics and testimonials from legal aid organizations can be helpful in illustrating the value of these plans, real-life examples are worth their weight in gold. The son of a small business truck driver was faced with a new wife, a new child and a $2800.00 judgment against him for a simple traffic charge. He had tried to fight the ticket on his own but lost. With the judgment, his income was attached. He was at risk of losing his job and losing his home . Because he was a member of my firm’s CDL legal plan, we were able to obtain a dismissal of his case due to lack of evidence. Our client went from facing a possible home foreclosure to being awarded over $1500.00 in a countersuit for damages from the false judgment claim which allowed him to pay off the credit card fees he had incurred while unsuccessfully trying to fight the original traffic ticket. This converted his judgment into a bank attachment. He was ecstatic to have this judgment overturned. There are countless other stories of individuals whose lives have been helped by having access to a good attorney.