If you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) a Michigan drunk driving conviction will have tough consequences regarding your CDL driving privileges. How can you tell what will be the consequences? The answer of that question will depend on what your prior criminal record is. To be more exact, prior OWI/DUI/Drunk Driving convictions. The exact nature of your current conviction will also have to be determined.
Sanctions for a Non-Commercial Driver’s License
If your current conviction is a first offense drunk driving, or if you have a prior drunk driving conviction that is more than ten years old, you are facing having your driver’s license being suspended for 30 days. After the 30-day suspension, you will have a restricted license for 150 days. You will get six points on your driving record.
If this is at least your second drunk driving conviction, and this means anywhere in the United States, your license will be revoked for at least one year. Your license will remain revoked until you have a hearing and you are allowed to drive again. If this is your third offense drunk driving, you will be allowed to have a hearing sometime between one and five years.
Sanctions for a Commercial Driver License
If your current conviction is a first offense drunk driving, or if you have a prior drunk driving conviction that is more than ten years old, your CDL license will be suspended for at least one year. Unfortunately, this suspension applies even if you are not driving a vehicle that is commercial at the time of your drunk driving charge.
Things get even tougher for you if this is your second drunk driving arrest within seven years. Under these circumstances, your CDL will be suspended for at least ten years! Just like with the first CDL conviction, it doesn’t matter if you were driving a commercial vehicle. If you have convictions in other states, this will also probably cause you to face second offense CDL punishments. If your license is revoked, you will not be able to do any commercial driving. You will have no choice but to have a restoration hearing that grants you getting your CDL license back. The chance of you willing at this hearing is tough, and you will need a very skilled lawyer by your side to get your CDL back at that hearing.
For a first offense drunk driving, you may petition to get your CDL back after one year. If you have a second offense, you will have to wait for ten years before you can petition the court.
Suspension and Revocation Differences
When you are facing a suspension, your license will be given back to you automatically when the suspension period is over. The only thing you will need to do is pay a fee at the Secretary of State to get your license back. You will also not have to appear at a driver license restoration hearing. If your license has been revoked, you have no right at all to drive. You will not be allowed to drive for any purpose at all. The only way to get your driving privileges back is to have a hearing where paperwork is filed. You will appear at the hearing and there will be testimony. If you lose at your hearing, you have to wait another year before you can get another hearing.
1. The .04 Zero-Tolerance Standard (MCL 257.625m)
While standard drivers are measured against a .08 BAC limit, CDL holders are subject to a much stricter threshold.
The Rule: If you are operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), you can be charged with an OWI if your BAC is .04 or higher.
The “Out of Service” Order: Under 2026 Michigan State Police protocols, any commercial driver found with a BAC as low as .015 will be immediately placed “out of service” for 24 hours. This alone can lead to immediate termination by your carrier.
2. The “Any Vehicle” Trap
A common misconception is that your CDL is only at risk if you are driving your rig.
The Reality: In Michigan, a conviction for DUI or Drunk Driving in your personal vehicle—your car, truck, or even a motorcycle—will result in a mandatory one-year suspension of your commercial privileges. There are no restricted CDL permits. If you lose your personal license for 30 days, you lose your livelihood for a year.
3. Lifetime Disqualification: The Second Offense
For professional drivers, there is no such thing as a “slap on the wrist” for a second mistake.
Two Strikes and Out: A second conviction for an alcohol-related driving offense—regardless of how many years have passed since the first—triggers a lifetime disqualification of your CDL.
Implied Consent: Refusing a chemical test (breath or blood) counts as a “strike.” A first refusal carries a one-year disqualification; a second refusal at any point in your life can end your career permanently.
4. Mandatory Employer Notification
Under federal and Michigan law, you are required to notify your employer within 30 days of any traffic conviction, regardless of the vehicle you were driving. Furthermore, if your license is suspended, revoked, or canceled, you must notify your employer by the end of the next business day. Failure to do so is a separate legal violation that Shawn Haff can help you navigate.
5. High-Stakes Crimes and CDL Permanence
Certain felony convictions carry even heavier weight for CDL holders. Convictions for Criminal Sexual Conduct, Domestic Violence, or Retail Fraud and Shoplifting involving a motor vehicle can result in long-term or permanent disqualification from holding a commercial license, as these are viewed as major offenses under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) guidelines.
Questions Regarding CDL DUI
Attorney Shawn Haff would be happy to speak with you if you have any questions about CDL DUI issues. Shawn will take the time to address your questions and make sure you are given answers that are satisfying for you. Do not hesitate to Call Shawn now at 616-438-6719. The Call is free. Will you be?