Page 24 - Driving Commercial Vehicles Manual

chapter 1 — getting your driver’s licence

- We’ll conduct a vision and medical screening. You’ll be asked questions
fast fact relating to your medical health — you must disclose any known medical
conditions.
The licensing process to
obtain a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 3. You’ll receive your learner’s licence after successfully completing all of
driver’s licence, a heavy Step 2, unless you have a medical condition that requires pre-approval.
trailer endorsement, house The learner’s licence is valid for one year and allows you to practise driving
trailer endorsement or an with a supervisor. The supervisor must be at least 19 years old and hold
air brake endorsement the appropriate licence for the vehicle you’re practising on (for example,
is conducted entirely in hold a Class 1 driver’s licence if you’re practising on a Class 1 tractor-trailer
English. You must be able to combination). The supervisor must sit beside you or immediately behind
communicate in both spoken and to the right if there’s no seat beside the driver’s seat.
and written English without
assistance. When operating a bus, taxi, ride-hailing vehicle or ambulance with a
learner’s licence, no passengers permitted other than your supervisor
and other learners being trained to operate the same class of vehicle
and who hold the same class of learner’s licence.
4. Practise with an appropriately licensed driver and/or attend a driver
training school.
5. When you’re ready, phone your driver licensing office to schedule your
road test. Be sure to ask about the type of vehicle you must bring for your
road test. You should also ask how your vehicle must be loaded.
6. Take your road test, which includes a pre-trip inspection test (and an air
brake pre-trip inspection test if your vehicle has air brakes).
Note: You must bring the same type of identification you used to apply
for your learner’s licence (Step 2) and the fee for your road test.

fast fact 7. Pay the fee for your new driver’s licence. You’ll receive a temporary licence
after you pass all your licensing tests. You’ll also be given a Driver’s
Medical Examination Report form.
For more information
on medical and vision 8. Take the medical form to a B.C.-licensed physician who knows your
standards, contact medical history. The doctor who examines you completes the form and
RoadSafetyBC. For the sends it to RoadSafetyBC. RoadSafetyBC will determine whether you’re fit
phone number, see chapter to drive commercial vehicles.
13, for more information.
Note: The doctor’s fee for completing a routine medical form is not
covered by the Medical Services Plan of B.C., ICBC or RoadSafetyBC.

How to apply for a heavy trailer endorsement

A heavy trailer endorsement (code 20) for a Class 4 or 5 driver’s licence allows
you to tow trailers of any weight provided that neither the truck nor trailer has
air brakes. To apply for the endorsement:

1. Study the applicable chapters of this guide to prepare for the knowledge
test.
2. Apply for a learner’s licence at a driver licensing office.
- You’ll need to present one piece of primary and one piece of secondary
identification as listed (see inside of back cover)
- You’ll need to pay the knowledge test fee and take the knowledge and
road signs tests
- We’ll conduct a vision and medical screening. You’ll be asked questions
relating to your medical health — you must disclose any known medical
conditions.

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