Abbreviation: CDLIS
Commercial Driver's License Information System
The national database maintained by AAMVA that stores CDL information for all U.S. commercial drivers, enabling states to share driver records.
CDLIS ensures that a driver can hold only one CDL from one state at a time and that violations in one state can be seen by other states.
What CDLIS tracks and why it matters
CDLIS is operated by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) and stores CDL information for every commercial driver in the U.S. When a state issues, transfers, or modifies a CDL, it updates CDLIS. This enables the one-CDL, one-state rule — a driver cannot hold valid CDLs from two states simultaneously. When someone applies for a CDL in a new state, CDLIS is queried to detect and cancel or transfer any existing CDL from another state.
CDLIS and cross-state violation visibility
CDLIS enables states to see each other's CDL violations and disqualifications. A DUI conviction in one state is visible to the driver's home state CDL agency through CDLIS. This cross-state visibility is why CDL holders are required to report out-of-state traffic convictions to their home state licensing agency within 30 days. Even without a self-report, the conviction is likely to appear through CDLIS. Convictions not reported and not caught through CDLIS are a compliance risk for both the driver and the carrier during a DQ file audit.
Last updated: June 4, 2026
When this definition matters
This term usually matters when a driver, owner-operator, or small carrier is deciding whether a federal rule applies, preparing a compliance file, or checking a state CDL step. Use this definition as a starting point, then confirm the controlling requirement in the official source listed below before making a licensing, hiring, dispatch, or recordkeeping decision.
The related terms above are included because they often appear in the same compliance workflow. Reviewing them together can prevent common mix-ups, such as treating a state licensing step as a federal carrier obligation or confusing a driver record with a separate employer record.