Montana Truck Driver Phone Law
Do not let Montana's "no ban" fool you. The federal hand-held rule follows your CDL onto every Montana road (49 CFR 392.82). Montana is still the only state with no statewide texting or handheld ban for regular drivers (a 2025 bill, SB 359, failed again), so the four-wheeler beside you can legally hold and talk. You cannot. A hand-held call is still a federal violation, citable at a roadside inspection and scored against your CSA record, and cities like Billings, Bozeman, and Missoula add their own texting bans inside city limits.
A figure on this page is flagged medium confidence. The hand-held rule is solid, but confirm the exact fine or enforcement detail with the state before you rely on it.
The federal ban applies here first
Federal law rides with your CDL in every state. FMCSA 49 CFR 392.82 bans all hand-held phone use while driving a CMV: no holding it to talk, no dialing more than a single button, no reaching for the phone out of your belted seat. A separate rule (49 CFR 392.80) bans texting and manual data entry. Only hands-free counts as compliant (mounted or in close reach, one-touch or voice, no reaching), and the only exception is calling 911. "Driving" includes sitting at a red light or stuck in traffic; you are clear only once fully off the road and stopped. Penalties run up to $2,750 for the driver and $11,000 for the carrier. It is a CSA serious violation: two convictions in any 3-year period disqualify your CDL for 60 days, three or more for 120 days (49 CFR 383.51).
Montana’s rule for all drivers
Do not let Montana's "no ban" fool you. The federal hand-held rule follows your CDL onto every Montana road (49 CFR 392.82). Montana is still the only state with no statewide texting or handheld ban for regular drivers (a 2025 bill, SB 359, failed again), so the four-wheeler beside you can legally hold and talk. You cannot. A hand-held call is still a federal violation, citable at a roadside inspection and scored against your CSA record, and cities like Billings, Bozeman, and Missoula add their own texting bans inside city limits.
- Hand-held: No state hand-held ban
- Texting: No statewide texting or handheld ban — Montana is the last state with none. A patchwork of city ordinances (Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, Helena) bans texting or handheld use inside their limits; nothing applies on the open highway.
- Fine: No state fine — there is no statewide law to violate. City ordinances set their own penalties (Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, and Helena fine texting or handheld use, commonly around $100 or more locally).
- Points: No state points — there is no statewide law to violate. But federal 392.82 still applies to you everywhere in Montana: a conviction is a CSA serious violation, and two in any 3 years pull your CDL for 60 days.
Montana Truck Phone Law FAQ
Can truck drivers use a phone in Montana?
What is the phone fine in Montana?
Is texting while driving illegal in Montana?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://www.iihs.org/topics/distracted-driving/cellphone-use-laws. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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