Page 8 - Georgia Commercial Drivers Manual 2020

1SECTION : INTRODUCTION
proper CDL group and endorsement(s) neces-
sary to operate the CMV.
• The CDL holder must at all times be physically
present in the front seat of the vehicle next to
the CLP holder or, in the case of a passenger
vehicle, directly behind or in the first row be- •
hind the driver and must have the CLP holder
under observation and direct supervision.
The issuance of a CLP is a precondition to
the initial issuance of a CDL. The issuance of a
CLP is also a precondition to the upgrade of a
CDL if the upgrade requires a skills test. The
CLP holder is not eligible to take the CDL
skills test in the first 14 days after initial
issuance of the CLP. If you change CLP
Class or add one of 3 endorsements (P-S-N)
your initial issuance changes.
Each person applying for a commercial or
noncommercial instructional (learner’s) permit
for Class A, B, C, or M driver’s license shall pay
the applicable license fee prior to attempting the
knowledge test for the instructional (learner’s)
permit sought. If said person fails to achieve a
passing score on the knowledge test, the license
fee paid shall be considered a testing fee and
retained by the department. Any person failing
to achieve a passing score on the knowledge test
for an instructional (learner’s) permit shall pay
the applicable license fee on each subsequent
attempt until successful, at which time the fee
shall be his or her license fee.
You will have to take one or more knowledge
tests, depending on what class of license and
what endorsements you need. To qualify for a
license permit, a person must obtain a passing
score on all knowledge tests required for that
class. The CDL knowledge tests are all multiple-
choice and include:
• The general knowledge test, taken by
all applicants.
• The passenger transport test, taken by
all bus driver applicants. The passenger
transport skills test must be taken and
passed by all applicants in order to ob-
tain this endorsement.
• The air brakes test, which you must take
if your vehicle has air brakes, including
air over hydraulic brakes.
• The combination vehicles test, which is
required if you want to drive combina-
tion vehicles.
• The hazardous materials test, required
if you want to haul hazardous materials
as defined in 49 CFR 383.5. In order to
obtain this endorsement you are also re-
quired to pass a Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) background check
(go to https://universalenroll.dhs.gov for
additional information). (NOTE: This en-
dorsement is not eligible to be on the CLP.)
• The tanker test required if you want to
haul a liquid or gaseous materials in a
tank or tanks having an individual rated
capacity of more than 119 gallons and an
aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gal-
lons or more that is either permanently
or temporarily attached to the vehicle
or chassis.
6 2019-2020 GEORGIA COMMERCIAL DRIVERS MANUAL
• The doubles/triples test, required if you
want to pull double or triple trailers.
(NOTE: This endorsement is not eligible
to be on the CLP.)
The School Bus test required if you want
to drive a school bus. The school bus
skills test must be taken and passed by
all applicants in order to obtain this en-
dorsement.
The passing score for all knowledge tests is
80%. CDL Permits will be issued for 180 days
and may be renewed for an additional 180 days.
If a CDL is not obtained during this time
frame, the applicant must retake all ap-
plicable knowledge tests.
With the exception of adding the Passenger
(P) endorsement or the School Bus (S) endorse-
ment, a driver who already has the required
license class may add the endorsement(s)
after passing written tests requisite to the
endorsement(s) being applied for. To obtain a
Passenger (P) or School Bus (S) endorsement,
the driver must pass both CDL knowledge and
skills tests.
If you do not have the license class required
for an endorsement but are seeking that class
while also seeking the endorsement, the en-
dorsement is only granted if the knowledge
test for the endorsement is passed and all
other requirements for the license class also
are met.
If you fail an endorsement test, but have
otherwise passed the knowledge tests for the
license class, you can still take the applicable
skills tests. If you pass the skills tests, you
should be given the appropriate license, but
without the endorsement. You can then retake
the endorsement test later without further skills
testing except for obtaining a P or S endorse-
ment (P and S endorsements require a skills test
be performed in a bus).
Upon request the examiner will provide you
with your score for each knowledge test taken.
All test material is derived from the CDL Driv-
ers Manual.
After you have passed the knowledge test(s)
for a license class, you then must pass the skill
tests. No class of CDL or CDL upgrade is grant-
ed solely on the basis of passing the knowledge
tests. If a driver fails one or more of the knowl-
edge tests required for a license class, you must
retake and pass the failed test(s) before taking
the skills tests. The retest waiting period is:
• 1st failure and subsequent failures - two
days
Knowledge test failures also affect the retest
waiting period for skills test.
Current active Duty Military, Guard and Re-
serve members or military personnel that have
not been out of the military more than one (1)
year can apply for a Military Skills Test Waiver.
Please visit the DDS website at dds.georgia.gov
to download the Military Skills Test Waiver
application.
1.2.2 – Skills Tests
Each person applying for a Class A, B, or C
commercial driver’s license shall pay the ap-
plicable license fee at the time that he or she
schedules his or her appointment for said
skills test. If said person fails to appear for his
or her scheduled skills test appointment the
license fee paid shall be considered a testing
fee and retained by the department. Pursuant
to O.C.G.A. §40-5-25 and DDS Rule 1-1-.10(7), the
$50.00 Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Road
Skills Test fee is now required for each testing
attempt. All fees retained by the department
pursuant to this Code section shall be remitted
to the general fund.
If you pass the required knowledge test(s),
you can take the CDL skills tests. There are
three types of general skills that will be tested:
pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, and
on-road driving. You must take these tests in
the type of vehicle for which you wish to be
licensed. Any vehicle that has components
marked or labeled cannot be used for the Pre-
trip Inspection Test.
The CLP cannot be held for more than one
term (180 days) without requiring retesting of
all three segments of the skills tests. Scores for
the passed segments of the test are only valid
during initial issuance of the CLP. If the CLP
is renewed, all three segments of the skills test
must be retaken. If you fail any part of the skills
tests you can apply to reschedule the retest after
the waiting period as follows:
• 1st failure and subsequent failures - two
days (NOTE: This only applies if you did not
fail the knowledge test.)
The following restrictions will be placed on
your license if the test is this type of vehicle:
• If an applicant performs the skills test in a ve-
hicle equipped with an automatic transmis-
sion, that person is restricted from operating
a CMV equipped with a manual transmis-
sion. (No manual transmission equipped
CMV)
• Tractor-trailer – If an applicant performs the
skills test in a combination vehicle for a Group
A CDL with the power unit and towed unit
connected with a pintle hook or other non-fifth
wheel connection, that person is restricted
from operating a tractor-trailer combination
connected by a fifth wheel that requires a
Group A CDL. (No tractor trailer CMV)
• If an applicant performs the skills test in a
passenger vehicle requiring a Group B CDL,
that person is restricted from operating a
passenger vehicle requiring a Group A CDL.
(No Class A passenger busses)
• If an applicant performs the skills test in a
passenger vehicle requiring a Group C CDL,
that person is restricted from operating a
passenger vehicle requiring a Group B CDL.
(No class A or B passenger busses)
• If an applicant performs the skills test in a
vehicle that does not have air brakes they will
be restricted from operating a CMV with air
brakes. (No air brake equipped CMV)
To have a restriction(s) removed you must
obtain a CLP for the Class of vehicle you will be
operating that does not have the restriction(s) on
it. The permit is considered valid for purposes
of behind-the-wheel training on public roads
or highways if at all times accompanied by the
holder of a valid CDL who has the proper CDL