Can You Get a CDL with a DWI in Texas?

The stakes are always high when it comes to DWI in Texas, but if you already have a DWI on your record, that conviction doesn’t just complicate your driving privileges — it can follow you into the trucking industry long after your case closes. Motor carriers run background checks before handing over the keys to an 80,000-pound rig, and a DWI conviction can raise immediate red flags with dispatchers and hiring managers alike. Naturally, that leaves many people asking: can you get a CDL with a DWI?

Yes, you can technically get a CDL with a DWI in Texas — under certain circumstances. However, all DWI convictions for CDL holders can lead to disqualification periods, increased insurance costs, and sometimes extreme difficulty finding employment within the trucking industry.

Don’t risk your commercial driving career by handling a DWI charge alone. At Thiessen Law Firm, we understand that your CDL isn’t just a license; it’s your livelihood. Led by Mark Thiessen, a triple board-certified attorney recognized as the best DWI lawyer in Houston, our team has secured 160+ Not Guilty verdicts and thousands of dismissals while helping commercial drivers protect their careers and futures.

Call us today at (713) 864-9000 for a free consultation, and let us fight to protect your commercial driving privileges.

Can you get a commercial driver’s license with a DWI?

The short answer is yes, but “yes” comes with strings attached. Both federal law and Texas DPS treat CDL holders differently than regular drivers when it comes to DWI, and the consequences don’t disappear just because your conviction happened off the clock, in your own truck, on your day off. CDL holders are also held to a stricter legal BAC limit of 0.04 blood alcohol concentration while operating a commercial vehicle, compared to the standard 0.08 limit for regular drivers.

Under federal regulations, a DWI conviction counts against your CDL even if you weren’t driving a commercial vehicle at the time, which surprises a lot of drivers who assume their personal life and their work life are separate when it comes to licensing.

Continue reading: What happens if you get a DWI with a CDL in Texas?

Rules for first DWI offense

A DWI in Texas first offense typically triggers a one-year CDL disqualification, or three years if you’re hauling hazardous materials under a hazmat endorsement. It doesn’t matter whether you were behind the wheel of your rig or your own car when it happened.

Once your disqualification period ends, you can typically apply to reinstate your CDL, but the conviction stays on your record and follows you through every background check a motor carrier runs from that point forward.

Rules for multiple DWI offenses

This is where things get serious. A second DWI conviction results in a lifetime CDL disqualification under federal law. Some drivers may become eligible for reinstatement after 10 years, but that’s not automatic or guaranteed, and it depends heavily on the specifics of your case and Texas’s own reinstatement process.

Beyond the disqualification itself, multiple convictions make you a liability in the eyes of every trucking company in the state. Insurance premiums climb, background checks get flagged, and many carriers simply won’t take the risk of hiring a driver with more than one DWI on record, regardless of how the disqualification period shakes out.

Rules for aggravating factors

Not all DWIs are treated equally. If your blood alcohol concentration was 0.15 or higher, or if there were aggravating factors involved, Texas prosecutes the case more aggressively, and you may hear it referred to as an aggravated DWI.

These elevated charges come with harsher DWI penalties across the board, from steeper fines to longer license suspensions, and they compound the CDL consequences you’re already facing. The higher the charge, the more ammunition a prosecutor has, and the more your commercial driving career is on the line.

How long do you have to wait to get a CDL after DWI?

The wait time depends on two separate clocks running one after the other: your standard driver’s license suspension, then your federal CDL disqualification period. Your regular license suspension typically runs 90 days to two years depending on the specifics of your case, and you have to resolve that first before any CDL-specific process can begin.

Once your regular license is reinstated, the federal disqualification period still applies on top of that (one year for a first offense, or lifetime for a second), meaning the total time before you’re legally driving commercially again is often longer than either number suggests on its own.

How to reinstate a CDL after a DWI

Reinstating your CDL after a DWI starts with getting your regular driver’s license back in good standing, since Texas won’t process a CDL application while your standard license is still suspended. To get there, you’ll typically need to complete the following:

Paying all your reinstatement fees
Completing a DWI education program
Installing an ignition interlock device (if required by the court)
Maintaining SR-22 insurance for a specified period
Serving any mandatory waiting periods

Once you’ve gone through the regular license reinstatement and your federal disqualification period has run its course, you can begin the process of applying for your CDL. Given how easily one missed step or misunderstood deadline can add months to this timeline, most drivers in this position benefit from having an attorney who knows the Texas reinstatement process manage the paperwork and deadlines on their behalf.

FAQs

What disqualifies you from getting a CDL in TX?

The most common disqualifiers include certain criminal convictions like DWI or drug offenses, using a vehicle to commit a felony, and a pattern of serious traffic violations. Failing to meet the DOT physical requirements for medical certification can also disqualify an applicant, as can lacking a valid driver’s license or the required endorsements for the vehicle class you’re applying to operate. Age matters too: you generally need to be at least 21 to drive interstate commercial routes, even though intrastate driving allows for drivers as young as 18.

How many DWIs disqualify you from getting a CDL?

A single DWI conviction typically results in a temporary disqualification rather than a permanent bar, usually one year, or three years if you hold a hazmat endorsement. A second DWI conviction, however, triggers a lifetime CDL disqualification under federal law, regardless of whether either offense happened in a commercial vehicle. Some drivers become eligible to apply for reinstatement after 10 years, but that path isn’t automatic or guaranteed.

How long after a DWI can I get a CDL?

For a first offense, you’re generally looking at a one year federal disqualification period on top of whatever time it takes to complete your state license suspension and reinstatement requirements. For a second offense, the disqualification is typically for life, with limited reinstatement eligibility only after 10 years in certain cases. The exact timeline depends heavily on the specifics of your case, which is why many drivers consult an attorney early to understand where they stand.

What’s the best way to avoid CDL disqualification for a DWI?

The simplest and most effective way to protect your CDL is to never get behind the wheel after drinking, whether you’re in your rig or your own car. Since federal disqualification rules apply to any DWI conviction, on or off duty, in a commercial vehicle or not, there’s no scenario where drinking and driving is worth the risk to your livelihood. If you’re ever unsure whether you’re under the influence, the safest move is to call a rideshare, a coworker, or a cab rather than gamble with your CDL.

Head to our guide on how to beat a DWI in Texas to learn more.

Recently received a DWI with a CDL in Texas? Call us ASAP.

Whether you’re wondering “Can you get a CDL with a DWI?” or fighting to keep your existing commercial license, having the right lawyer on your side can make all the difference. Time is critical too, since you only have a limited window to request ALR hearings and fight your license suspension before it defaults against you.

And if you’re on the lookout for the right DWI attorney in Houston, then certified ACS-CHAL Lawyer-Scientist Mark Thiessen should catch your eye. Mark is a perennial Texas Super Lawyer and a triple board-certified criminal lawyer.

Here at Thiessen Law Firm, we do everything we can to make sure our clients come out on the other side of a DWI as untouched as they possibly can. If you’ve received a DWI charge with a CDL, don’t hesitate — get help NOW. Call Thiessen Law firm at (713) 864-9000 or contact us online to request your free consultation.

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