Got a CDL and Facing a DUI in Illinois? What Commercial Drivers Must Know
If you hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), a DUI arrest in Illinois can put far more than your freedom at risk — it can threaten your career. Even if the DUI occurred in your personal vehicle and not while on the job, Illinois and federal regulations impose strict penalties that apply only to CDL holders.
Understanding how DUI laws impact your CDL is critical to protecting your license, your livelihood, and your future.
Two Separate DUI Cases — Both Can Affect Your CDL
Every Illinois DUI involves two independent legal processes, and either one can result in CDL disqualification:
Statutory Summary Suspension (SSS)
This administrative suspension begins automatically if you fail or refuse chemical testing.
Criminal DUI Case
This is the court case where guilt or innocence is determined.
A CDL holder can lose driving privileges from either process — even if the other is dismissed.
DUI BAC Limits for CDL Drivers in Illinois
Illinois law enforces different blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits depending on the vehicle:
.08 BAC — Personal vehicle
.04 BAC — Commercial vehicle
Importantly, CDL penalties apply regardless of which vehicle you were driving at the time of arrest.
What Happens to Your CDL After a DUI?
You face a mandatory one-year CDL disqualification if you:
Fail a breath, blood, or urine test
Refuse chemical testing
Plead guilty or are found guilty of DUI
Even receiving court supervision does not protect your CDL.
Transporting hazardous materials?
A DUI can result in a three-year CDL disqualification. A second DUI conviction can lead to lifetime CDL revocation.
What About Your Regular Driver’s License?
Your personal driving privileges are affected by the Statutory Summary Suspension:
First DUI (No prior DUI or supervision in 5 years)
Failed test → 6-month suspension
Refused test → 1-year suspension
Second DUI
Failed test → 1-year suspension
Refused test → 3-year suspension
Suspensions typically begin 46 days after arrest, unless blood or urine testing delays notice.
Can You Drive During a Suspension?
In many cases, yes — but with limitations.
You may qualify for a Monitored Device Driving Permit (MDDP) allowing limited personal driving with a breath device.
Federal law strictly prohibits driving a commercial vehicle during CDL disqualification, even with a permit.
Can a CDL DUI Suspension Be Fought?
Yes — and acting quickly matters.
A skilled DUI defense attorney can file a Petition to Rescind the Statutory Summary Suspension, potentially stopping it entirely. Common defenses include:
Lack of probable cause for the stop
Improper or unreliable chemical testing
Failure to provide a timely hearing
However, even if the suspension is rescinded, a DUI conviction can still trigger CDL disqualification — making defense strategy crucial from day one.
Why Court Supervision Isn’t a Win for CDL Holders
For most drivers, court supervision is a favorable outcome.
For CDL holders, it still results in a one-year CDL disqualification.
The only true way to protect your CDL is to:
Win at trial, or
Negotiate a reduction (such as DUI to reckless driving)
Call AKL LEgal, LLC CDL & DUI Defense Attorneys Before Time Runs Out
When your CDL is on the line, you only get one chance to defend it.
Attorney Alan Lenczycki brings over 18 years of DUI and criminal defense experience representing CDL drivers across Lake County, McHenry County, and Cook County. AKL Legal, LLC knows how to fight aggressively to protect your license and your career.
Call (847) 262-9888 today for a confidential consultation — before your suspension takes effect.
Learn more about CDL violations:
Traffic Tickets for Illinois CDL Drivers
