How a DUI Affects Your CDL in Kentucky
TL;DR: If you hold a commercial driver's license in Kentucky, a DUI is a threat to your livelihood, not just your license. Behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle your limit is 0.04, half the 0.08 that applies to everyone else, and any detectable alcohol on duty can put you out of service for 24 hours. A first DUI conviction disqualifies your CDL for one year, even if you were driving your own personal car off the clock. If you were hauling hazardous materials, it is three years. A second offense at any point in your life is a lifetime disqualification. Kentucky does not issue hardship commercial licenses, so there is no work-around to keep driving for a living during that year. That is why a CDL case has to be fought from day one.
For most drivers a DUI is a serious personal setback. For a commercial driver, it can end a career. I am Matt Farra, and I defend DUI cases in Louisville and across Jefferson County, including cases where a client's CDL and paycheck are on the line. Here is how Kentucky law treats a DUI when you carry a CDL, and why the stakes are so much higher.
A Lower Limit Behind the Wheel
Everyone knows the 0.08 number. Commercial drivers are held to a stricter one. Under KRS 281A.210 and KRS 189A.010, the per se limit while you are operating a commercial motor vehicle is 0.04. On top of that, if you have any measurable amount of alcohol in your system on duty, an officer can place you out of service for 24 hours under KRS 281A.210. A roadside preliminary breath test can be used to help make that call, though under KRS 281A.230 the preliminary result itself is not admissible in court.
A DUI Disqualifies Your CDL Even in Your Personal Car
This is the part that catches good drivers off guard. You do not have to be in the truck for a DUI to cost you your CDL. Under KRS 281A.190 and 281A.210, a DUI conviction disqualifies your commercial license for one year whether you were driving a commercial vehicle or your own personal car on a Saturday night. The 0.04 limit is what applies inside the commercial vehicle, but a conviction under the regular 0.08 limit in your personal vehicle still triggers the same one-year CDL disqualification.
The Disqualification Periods
Here is how Kentucky structures it under KRS 281A.190:
- First offense: one year of CDL disqualification.
- First offense while transporting hazardous materials: three years.
- Refusing the chemical test after a lawful arrest: treated as a major offense, carrying the same one-year disqualification.
- Second offense at any point in your lifetime: lifetime disqualification, though reinstatement may be possible after ten years in certain cases.
These run separately from whatever happens with your regular license. You may be able to get your personal operator's license back after the standard suspension and alcohol classes, but the CDL disqualification stands on its own.
There Is No Hardship CDL in Kentucky
In a regular DUI, Kentucky lets many drivers keep driving through an ignition interlock license under KRS 189A.340. That option restores personal driving privileges only. Kentucky does not issue hardship or specialized commercial licenses. During your disqualification period you cannot legally operate a commercial vehicle at all, which for most CDL holders means no income from driving for the length of the disqualification.
You Still Face the Regular DUI Penalties
The CDL disqualification sits on top of the ordinary DUI consequences, not instead of them. A first DUI in Kentucky is a Class B misdemeanor carrying possible jail, a fine, a license suspension under KRS 189A.070, and a mandatory alcohol program. So a CDL holder convicted of a first DUI is facing the standard criminal penalty and the loss of a commercial livelihood at the same time.
Report It, and Watch Your Job
Kentucky requires you to report a traffic conviction to your licensing agency within 30 days. Beyond that, many employers and DOT-regulated carriers have their own policies, and a driver can face job consequences from the arrest itself, before any conviction. If you carry a CDL, the clock and the paperwork start working against you early.
Why Fighting the Underlying DUI Matters So Much
Because the CDL disqualification flows from the DUI, the defense starts with the DUI itself. If the traffic stop was not lawful, if the testing did not follow Kentucky's procedures, or if the evidence does not hold up, the conviction that would disqualify your license may not stand. There are no guarantees, and every case is different, but for a commercial driver the gap between a conviction and a dismissal is often the gap between keeping and losing a career. That is worth a hard, early look.
Your CDL Is Worth Defending
If you hold a CDL and you have been charged with a DUI in the Louisville area, do not wait. The sooner the stop, the testing, and the paperwork are reviewed, the more can be done. I handle these cases personally, and the first conversation costs nothing. You can learn more about my approach to DUI defense in Louisville at https://farralaw.com/dui-drunk-driving-defense/, or call or text me directly at (502) 314-4499.
Frequently asked questions
What is the BAC limit for a CDL holder in Kentucky?: While operating a commercial vehicle, the per se limit is 0.04, half the 0.08 limit for regular drivers. Any detectable amount of alcohol on duty can place you out of service for 24 hours.
Will a DUI in my personal vehicle affect my CDL?: Yes. A DUI conviction disqualifies your commercial license for one year even if you were driving your own personal vehicle at the time. The CDL disqualification does not depend on being in the truck.
How long is a CDL disqualified after a DUI in Kentucky?: A first offense is a one-year disqualification, or three years if you were transporting hazardous materials. A second offense at any point in your life is a lifetime disqualification, with reinstatement possible after ten years in some cases.
Can I get a hardship CDL to keep working during the disqualification?: No. Kentucky does not issue hardship commercial licenses. An ignition interlock license can restore your personal driving privileges, but not your commercial ones, so you cannot drive commercially during the disqualification.
Does refusing the breath test protect my CDL?: No. Refusing chemical testing after a lawful arrest is treated as a major offense and carries the same one-year CDL disqualification as a conviction, on top of the consequences a refusal brings in the underlying DUI case.
About Matt Farra
Louisville Criminal Defense Attorney • Founder, Farra Law Firm
Matt Farra has been licensed in Kentucky for nearly 20 years, defending clients across Louisville, Jefferson County, and Kentucky in state, district, and federal courts. A native Louisvillian with deep ties to the local legal community, he handles the full range of criminal matters, from DUI and drug offenses to white collar crimes, felony cases, and expungements. Every client at Farra Law Firm works directly with Matt from initial consultation through case resolution.
“I believe every person, no matter their background or the charge against them, deserves a strong, respectful, and aggressive defense.”
— Matt Farra
Credentials & Practice
- Kentucky Bar Association
- J.D., Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law
- Nearly 20 years of Kentucky criminal defense experience
- Native Louisvillian with strong local court relationships
- Practices in Louisville Metro Criminal Court, Jefferson County District & Circuit Court, and Kentucky county courts statewide
- Admitted to U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky (federal practice)
- Justia Lawyer Profile
- Avvo Attorney Profile
Reviewed for legal accuracy by Matthew J. Farra, Founding Attorney, Farra Law Firm. Last reviewed: April 2026.