Why Licensing Matters After a Tow Truck or 18-Wheeler Crash
Driving a tow truck, semi, or other commercial vehicle in Texas isn’t the same as driving a pickup. These massive machines require specialized training, certification, and federal compliance. That’s why the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 created uniform standards nationwide. Before that, drivers could get behind the wheel of big rigs with minimal oversight — and wrecks were far more common.
Today, commercial drivers must meet strict licensing, medical, and safety standards. When they don’t, and companies look the other way, innocent people pay the price in devastating collisions across Loop 410, IH-35, and other Bexar County highways.
CDL Classes and Endorsements in Texas
Not every Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is created equal. In Texas, the type of CDL a driver needs depends on the weight, size, and purpose of the vehicle. When drivers operate outside their license class or endorsement, they put everyone on Texas roads — from San Antonio commuters to Bexar County families — at risk.
Texas CDL Classes
- Class A CDL – Required for trucks weighing 26,001 pounds or more when towing trailers that weigh over 10,000 pounds. This is the standard license for 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, and long-haul heavy rigs commonly seen along IH-35, I-10, and Loop 410.
- Class B CDL – Covers vehicles over 26,001 pounds towing 10,000 pounds or less. This includes cement trucks, dump trucks, garbage trucks, large tow trucks, and city buses — vehicles that frequently operate inside San Antonio neighborhoods like Alamo Heights, Stone Oak, and Southtown.
- Class C CDL – For vehicles that don’t fit into A or B, such as those carrying 16+ passengers (school buses, charter buses) or transporting hazardous materials. These vehicles often travel on Texas highways and residential streets, posing unique risks if drivers aren’t properly licensed.
CDL Endorsements
In addition to classes, Texas requires drivers to carry endorsements that show they’ve received training for specialized jobs. These endorsements are crucial in accident cases because they show whether a driver was legally qualified for the load or passengers they were carrying.
- T – Double/Triple Trailers: Extra-long rigs seen on highways like IH-10 through Bexar County.
- P – Passenger Vehicles: For buses, vans, and shuttles carrying groups of people.
- N – Tank Vehicles: For trucks hauling liquids or gases, such as fuel or chemicals.
- H – Hazardous Materials (HazMat): For transporting explosives, flammable liquids, or toxic cargo.
- X – Tank + HazMat Combination: For tankers carrying dangerous chemicals through San Antonio’s industrial corridors.
- S – School Bus Endorsement: Requires additional testing to protect children across Texas school districts.
Why Endorsements Matter in Texas Accident Cases
Every endorsement comes with extra knowledge and skills testing, but some companies ignore these requirements to save money. If a driver is operating without the right endorsement, both the driver and their employer can be held legally responsible under Texas law when a crash occurs.
For example:
- A tanker driver without an “N” or “X” endorsement causes a fuel spill on Loop 1604 → clear liability for both the driver and employer.
- A bus driver without a “P” endorsement injures passengers in downtown San Antonio → lawsuit against both the driver and the company that hired them.
- A tow truck operator with only a Class C CDL hauls vehicles weighing far beyond the license limit → company liability for negligence per se.
The Problem of Licensing Fraud in Texas
Not every Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) on Texas roads is legitimate. Unfortunately, licensing fraud remains a persistent problem that endangers drivers across San Antonio, Bexar County, and the South Texas corridor. Common violations include:
- Fake documents: Some drivers use counterfeit paperwork to obtain a CDL after their license was revoked for DUIs or safety violations.
- Cheating knowledge and skills tests: Fraud rings have helped drivers illegally pass CDL exams without proving competence.
- Multiple CDLs under different names: Holding more than one CDL is illegal under federal law, but some drivers exploit this to hide prior suspensions.
When unqualified or fraudulent drivers slip through the cracks, they create ticking time bombs on Texas highways. On IH-35, Loop 410, and US-281, a single unlicensed or unfit driver behind the wheel of a 40-ton truck can cause chain-reaction crashes, catastrophic injuries, or even wrongful deaths.
Medical Certification and Safety Standards in Texas
A CDL is only part of the equation. Drivers in Texas must also carry a valid DOT Medical Certificate proving they are physically and mentally fit to operate large vehicles. These medical requirements exist because commercial driving is high-stress, high-risk work that pushes the body to its limits.
Disqualifying medical conditions include:
- Sleep apnea → causes fatigue and late-night crashes on IH-10 near Boerne or Seguin.
- Uncontrolled diabetes → can trigger blackouts on Loop 1604 feeder roads.
- Poor vision → leads to lane-change and blind-spot wrecks in downtown Brownsville traffic.
- Serious heart conditions → increase risk of sudden incapacitation on highways.
If a trucking company ignores expired medical cards or fails to pull drivers off the road after medical disqualifications, that negligence can form the basis of a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in Texas courts. These cases often involve punitive damages, since the company knowingly put unsafe drivers behind the wheel.
Why CDL Rules Matter in 18 Wheeler Accident Cases
When investigating tow truck, dump truck, or 18-wheeler crashes in Texas, our 18 wheeler attorneys at Ried Pecina Trial Lawyers frequently uncover CDL violations that directly prove liability. Examples include:
- Wrong license class: A driver operating a heavy wrecker with only a Class C CDL.
- Expired or fraudulent CDLs: Outdated or illegally obtained licenses that should have barred the driver from working.
- Unverified endorsements: Tanker drivers hauling chemicals without an “N” or “X” endorsement.
- No medical clearance: Employers allowing drivers with expired or falsified medical cards to keep working.
Every one of these violations strengthens a victim’s case. By proving a driver was never qualified to operate a commercial vehicle in the first place, we hold both the driver and the trucking company accountable. This strategy often leads to higher settlement values or jury verdicts, ensuring victims receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, long-term care, pain and suffering, and more.
Bottom Line
Texas CDL rules exist to protect the public. When companies and drivers cut corners — through fraudulent licenses, ignored medical disqualifications, or skipped endorsements — the consequences land on innocent motorists. Our truck accident lawyers near me make sure those responsible pay the price, not the victims.
Call a Truck Accident Attorney
If you’ve been hit by a tow truck, cement mixer, garbage truck, or 18-wheeler, you need a truck accident lawyer who understands federal trucking regulations and Texas CDL requirements. Our personal injury lawyers know how to expose violations and fight back against powerful trucking companies.
Call us today at (210) 893-0000 for a free consultation. We represent truck accident victims across San Antonio, Bexar County, and South Texas.
How Texas Enforces CDL Standards
Texas enforces CDL rules through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), working alongside the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These agencies run constant monitoring programs, including:
- Weigh stations & checkpoints on IH-35, I-37, and Loop 410 where trucks are pulled for license and safety inspections.
- Random roadside inspections verifying CDLs, medical certifications, logbooks, and endorsements.
- Immediate suspensions for certain violations, including DWI/DUI while driving a commercial vehicle, fraudulent CDLs, or refusal to provide records.
When a truck accident happens, DPS inspection reports and enforcement records often become critical evidence in Texas lawsuits, showing exactly where a company or driver violated safety laws.
The Hidden Risks: Tow Trucks and CDL Loopholes
CDL discussions often focus on 18-wheelers, but tow trucks in Texas frequently require a Class B CDL because of their weight and towing capacity. Unfortunately, some companies try to exploit loopholes:
- Misclassifying drivers as non-commercial operators to avoid CDL training and testing costs.
- Using outdated endorsements for towing hazardous or oversized loads through neighborhoods.
- Small operators cutting corners, believing “nobody checks” smaller wreckers.
These shortcuts create rolling hazards on Bandera Road, Culebra, and the 1604 feeder roads. A single overloaded tow truck driven by an unqualified operator can cause chain-reaction wrecks that leave victims with life-changing injuries.
Why CDL Investigations Strengthen Truck Accident Claims
Every CDL violation tells a story:
- Wrong license class? The driver was never qualified.
- Expired medical card? The company risked lives knowingly.
- No endorsement? The truck should never have been on the road.
By pulling CDL records, DPS citations, and FMCSA compliance histories, we build cases that go beyond “the driver was careless.” We prove the driver should never have been behind the wheel at all. That’s what moves cases from low settlement offers to high-value recoveries.
Call Ried Pecina Trial Lawyers
If you were hit by a tow truck in Brownsville or anywhere in Texas, don’t assume it was just “an accident.” It may have been the result of a CDL violation, fraudulent license, or company negligence.
Call (210) 893-0000 today for a free consultation with our Texas truck accident lawyers. We fight for victims across Bexar County, the Hill Country, and South Texas.
