29 CFR 1910 · General Industry · Subpart R

1910.266(g)(4): Valid License for Logging Vehicle Operators

By Black Belt Safety Editorial Team Official text as of October 15, 2026 Data updated November 6, 2026 3 min read

In plain words:

Employers must make sure every person who operates a vehicle in a logging operation holds a valid operator's license for the class of vehicle they are driving.

Key takeaways

  • 1910.266(g)(4) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
  • OSHA cited it 1 times in the last 3 years, in 1 inspections, with $5,281 in current penalties.
  • 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
  • Related part: 1910.266(g) Vehicles (4 citations).
  • Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.

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1citations, 3 years
$5,281current penalties
1inspections
1linked deaths
In this article
  1. What this rule covers
  2. Official text
  3. Injuries linked to this rule
  4. Where and how often it was cited
  5. Free toolbox talk
  6. OSHA interpretation letters
  7. Related parts of this rule
  8. Get your crew competent
  9. Frequently asked questions
  10. About this page

What this rule covers

29 CFR 1910.266(g)(4) is one requirement inside 1910.266 Logging operations, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart R). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.

Official text

(4) The employer shall assure that each vehicle operator has a valid operator's license for the class of vehicle being operated. 1 citations

Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.266.

See every company cited for this rule.

Export the list: 1 inspections cited 1910.266(g)(4) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.

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Injuries linked to this rule

1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.266(g)(4).

Employee is fatally injured when driving truck that overturn
2025-02-10 · Fatal · PIEDMONT, AL

At 4:15 p.m. on February 10, 2025, Employee #1 was working for a logging companyoperating a semi-truck attached to a trailer. The trailer was loaded with logs descending downhill when Employee #1 reportedly lost control causing the truck to flip over. The cab of the…

Where and how often it was cited

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OSHA interpretation letters

None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.266(g)(4).

Related parts of this rule

Get your crew competent

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Frequently asked questions

Do logging vehicle operators need a license?

Yes, each operator must have a valid operator's license.

Does any license work?

No, the license must be for the class of vehicle being operated.

Who is responsible for checking this?

The employer must assure each vehicle operator is properly licensed.

About this page

Sources

3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.

Written and reviewed by

Black Belt Safety Editorial Team

Site Safety Officer and Safety Professional

OSHA 30 · CPR · USACE CQM

Written and reviewed by the Black Belt Safety team. Every post is checked against the OSHA standard or agency source it cites.

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