Page 6 - 2021-2022 Commercial Drivers Manual
P. 6

SECTION             1


        INTRODUCTION                        Determining Class of CDL Required


        This Section Covers
                                                Is the GCWR     Yes   Is the GVWR of the     Yes
          General Qualification                 26,001 or more      trailer/towed unit 10,001     Class “A”
          of Drivers   ....................... 1.1   pounds?           or more pounds?
          Commercial Driver License
          Tests...............................1.2                        No

          Driver Disqualifications..1.3          No                   Is the GVWR of the     Yes


          Other Safety Rules ........1.4                              power unit 26,001 or      Class “B”
                                                                        more pounds?
          International Registration         Gross combination
          Plan International Fuel            weight rating (GCWR)
          Tax Agreement    ..............1.5   Means the   value specified     No

                                             by the manufacturer of the
          Medical Documentation              power unit, if the value unit     Is the vehicle     Yes
          Requirements ................1.6   is displayed on the Federal        transporting hazardous     Class “C”

                                             Motor Vehicle Safety Standard

                                             (FMVSS) certificate   label; or   materials in a
                                             the sum of the gross vehicle     placardable quantity?
          There is a federal requirement that each     weight ratings (GVWRs) or
        state have minimum standards for the licensing     the gross vehicle weights
        of commercial drivers.               (GVWs) of the power unit        No
                                             and the towed unit(s), or any
          This manual provides driver license test-  combination thereof, that
        ing information for drivers who wish to have a     produces the highest value.
        commercial driver license (CDL). This manual                 Is the vehicle designed     Yes
        does NOT provide information on all the federal     (The   underlined and italicized   to transport 16 or more     Class “C”
        and state requirements needed before you can     text above is for use by   passengers including
        drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). You     roadside enforcement   the driver?
        may have to contact your state driver licensing     only for the purpose of
        authority for additional information.   determining whether the
                                             driver/vehicle is subject to CDL   No
          You must have a CDL to operate:    regulations. It is not used to
                                             determine whether a vehicle is
        •  Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle

          weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds   or   representative for the purposes   No CDL required.
          more.                              of Skills testing.)
        •  A combination vehicle with a gross
          combination weight rating of 26,001 or     Gross vehicle
          more pounds, provided the GVWR of   the   weight rating (GVWR)

          vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of     Means the value specified by     NOTE: A bus may be Class A, B, or C depending on

          10,000 pounds.                     the manufacturer as   the loaded     whether the GVWR is over 26,001 pounds or
        •  A vehicle designed to transport 16 or   more   weight of a single vehicle.   is a combination vehicle.
          passengers (including the driver).
        •  Any size vehicle which requires   hazardous
          material placards or is carrying   material                  Figure 1.1
          listed as a select agent or toxin   in 42 CFR
          part 73. Federal regulations   through the


          Department of Homeland   Security require   1.1 – General qualification   1.2 – Commercial Driver
          a background check and   fingerprinting for   of drivers:               License Tests
          the Hazardous Materials   endorsement.
          The background check   can take up to six     1.  Is at least 21 years old;
          weeks. Contact the   Transportation                                1.2.1 – Knowledge   Tests
          Security Administration             2. Can read and speak the English language   A Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) means
          (TSA) at https://universalenroll.dhs.gov or     sufficiently to converse with the general pub-    a permit issued to an individual, which, when
          your local DDS Customer Service Center     lic to understand highway traffic signs and  carried with a valid driver’s license issued by
          for more information.             signals in the English language, to respond  the same State or   jurisdiction, authorizes the
        To get a CDL, you must pass knowledge  to official inquiries, and to make entries on  individual to operate a class of a commercial
        and skills tests. This manual will help you pass   reports and records;   motor vehicle when accompanied by a holder of
        the tests. This manual is not a substitute for a     3.  Can, by reason of experience, training, or     a valid CDL for purposes of behind-the-wheel
        truck   driver training class or program. Formal   both, safely operate the type of commercial   training. When issued to a CDL holder, a CLP
        training is the most reliable way to learn the   motor vehicle he/she drives;   serves as authorization for accompanied be-
        many special skills required for   safely driving a                  hind-the-wheel training in a commercial motor
        large commercial vehicle and becoming a pro-    4.  Is physically qualified to drive a commercial  for which the holder’s current CDL is not valid.
        fessional driver in the trucking industry. Figure   motor vehicle in accordance with CFR 391.41   A CLP is considered a valid CDL for purpos-
        1.1 helps you determine if                                           es of
                           you need a CDL.
                                                                                 behind-the-wheel training on public roads
                                              5.  Has a currently valid Commercial Learner’s



           If  your  CLP  was  issued  after  Feb  7,  2022  you   Permit (CLP) or CDL issued by only one State     or highways, if all of the following minimum







        will  need    to  complete  Entry-Level  Driver   or jurisdiction;   conditions are met:
        Training  (ELDT)  before  being  allowed  to  take                      •  The CLP holder is at all times accompanied
        the CDL Skills Test. See Page 67.     6.  Is not disqualified to drive a commercial mo-  by the holder of a valid CDL who has the
                                            tor vehicle
    4
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