A dump truck fits in the category of a big truck that is regulated by commercial driver's license laws. These laws have been standardized by federal law, although there are additional requirements which differ by state. The truth is, these big trucks carry weights of 26,000 to 80,000 pounds and can be a danger to the roadways if they are in the hands of unqualified or irresponsible drivers. That's why the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act established those federal regulations in 1986. As a result, all dump truck drivers must have a dump truck license which shows they have met the basic standards for driver safety and knowledge of their vehicles by passing the required written and driving tests. There is also a national database for tracking the safety records of commercial truck drivers and penalizing them for multiple unsafe driving practices.