Texas Truck Driver Phone Law
The federal hand-held ban rides with your CDL in Texas — no holding, dialing, or reaching, even stopped in traffic (49 CFR 392.82). Texas law for everyone else bans only texting, but it's primary: an officer can stop you for that alone (§545.4251), $25 to $99 first offense. Hand-held calling is barred for all drivers in active school crossing zones (§545.425), up to $200.
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).
Texas’s rule for all drivers
The federal hand-held ban rides with your CDL in Texas — no holding, dialing, or reaching, even stopped in traffic (49 CFR 392.82). Texas law for everyone else bans only texting, but it's primary: an officer can stop you for that alone (§545.4251), $25 to $99 first offense. Hand-held calling is barred for all drivers in active school crossing zones (§545.425), up to $200.
- Hand-held: Texting ban only
- Texting: Statewide texting ban, primary enforcement (§545.4251) — an officer can pull any driver over for it alone. No statewide all-driver hand-held ban; hand-held use is barred only in active school crossing zones (§545.425), for drivers under 18 (§545.424), and for school-bus drivers with minors aboard.
- Fine: Texting: $25 to $99 first offense, $100 to $200 for repeats, plus court costs; a texting crash causing serious injury or death is a Class A misdemeanor, up to $4,000 and a year in jail. Hand-held use in an active school crossing zone: up to $200 (§545.425).
- Points: CSA is the real risk to your CDL: hand-held use is a serious violation, and two convictions in any 3-year period disqualify you for 60 days (federal). On your Texas driving record a texting conviction counts as a moving violation; no state license points attach for the general public otherwise.
Texas Truck Phone Law FAQ
Can truck drivers use a phone in Texas?
What is the phone fine in Texas?
Is texting while driving illegal in Texas?
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://codes.findlaw.com/tx/transportation-code/transp-sect-545-4251/. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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