Drivers

Overview

Drivers have been required to accept a commercial driver's license (CDL) in social club to bulldoze certain commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) since April 1, 1992. The types of vehicles and operations requiring a CDL are outlined below. The Federal Motor Carrier Prophylactic Administration (FMCSA) has developed and issued standards for State testing and licensing of CDL holders. These standards require States to event CDLs to sure CMV drivers simply after the commuter passes knowledge and skills tests administered by the State and related to the type of vehicle the commuter expects to operate. Drivers are required to obtain and concord a CDL if they operate in interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce and drive a vehicle that meets i or more of the classifications of a CMV described beneath. Restrictions are placed on a CDL when a driver takes the skills exam in a vehicle which lacks critical equipment present in particular types of CMVs. Examples of these restrictions are listed below. Therefore, to avoid restrictions, drivers should take the skills test in the aforementioned type of vehicle for which they are seeking a CDL to operate.

Entry-level drivers are subject to the requirements in the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations. This applies to drivers seeking to:

  • Obtain a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time;
  • Upgrade an existing Class B CDL to a Class A CDL; or
  • Obtain a school autobus (S), passenger (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time.

The ELDT regulations plant a Federal standard for training CDL applicants. Applicants must successfully complete this training with a registered training provider before they volition be permitted to take the CDL skills test or, in the instance of the H endorsement, the cognition test. Drivers volition search for a training provider using FMCSA's Grooming Provider Registry (https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov). For more information, meet the Entry-Level Driver Preparation page.

Classes of License and Commercial Learner'due south Permits (CLP)

Pursuant to Federal standards, States issue CDLs and CLPs to drivers co-ordinate to the following license classifications:

Class A*: Any combination of vehicles which has a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit(south) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) whichever is greater.

Class B*: Any unmarried vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of eleven,794 or more than kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight that does non exceed  4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).

Course C: Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not encounter the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport sixteen or more passengers, including the driver, or is transporting material that has been designated every bit hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR Part 172 or is transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73.

Endorsements and Restrictions

Endorsements

Drivers who operate special types of CMVs must pass additional tests to obtain any of the following endorsements placed on their CDL:

Endorsement code

Description

T

Double/Triple Trailers (Knowledge examination but)

P*

Rider (Knowledge and Skills Tests)

N

Tank vehicle (Cognition test only)

H*

Hazardous materials (Knowledge exam only)

X

Combination of tank vehicle and chancy materials endorsements (Cognition examination merely)

South*

Schoolhouse Bus (Cognition and Skills Tests)
CLP Endorsements - But 3 endorsements are immune on the CLP

P

Passenger, A CLP holder with a "P" endorsement is prohibited from operating a CMV carrying passengers, other than Federal/state auditors and inspectors, exam examiners, other trainees, and the CDL holder accompanying the CLP holder as prescribed by 49CFR383.25(a)(1).

S

School Charabanc, A CLP holder with an "South" endorsement is prohibited from operating a school with passengers, other than Federal/state auditors and inspectors, test examiners, other trainees, and the CDL holder accompanying the CLP holder as prescribed by 49CFR383.25(a)(ane).

N

Tank Endorsement, A CLP holder with an "Northward" endorsement may only operate an empty tank vehicle, and is prohibited from operating whatsoever tank vehicle that previously contained chancy materials that have not been purged of whatever rest.

Restrictions

Restriction lawmaking

Clarification

50

If the driver does not pass the Air Brakes Knowledge Test, does not correctly place the air restriction system components, does not properly conduct an air brake systems bank check, or does not accept the Skills test in a vehicle with a full air brake system, the driver must take an "Fifty" no total air brake restriction placed on their license.

Z

If the driver takes the test in a vehicle with an air over hydraulic brake system, and then they will have a "Z" no full air brake restriction placed on their license. In either case the driver is not authorized to operate a CMV equipped with full air brakes.

E

If the driver takes the Skills Test in a vehicle that has an automatic transmission, so an "E" no transmission transmission restriction is placed on their license.

O

If the driver takes the Skills Test in a Form A vehicle that has a pintle hook or other non-5th wheel connexion, they will accept an "O" brake placed on their license restricting them from driving any Class A vehicle with a fifth wheel connection.

G

If a driver possesses a Class A CDL, but obtains his or her rider or schoolhouse coach endorsement in a Course B vehicle the State must identify an "M" brake indicating that the driver tin only operate Grade B and C rider vehicle or schoolhouse buses.

N

If a driver possesses a Class B CDL, only obtains his or her passenger or school omnibus endorsement in a Form C vehicle; the State must place an "N" restriction indicating that the driver can but operate Course C rider vehicle or school buses.

V

If the Land is notified past the FMCSA that a medical variance has been issued to the commuter, the State must indicate the being of such a medical variance on the CDLIS driving record and the CDL document using a restriction lawmaking "Five" to indicate that there is data about the medical variance on the CDLIS record.

*CDL or endorsement requires entry-lever driver training if the driver is seeking to obtain it for the first time. For more than information, see the Entry-Level Driver Grooming page.

click this image to visit the Training Provider Registry

States may have a more restrictive category for a grade of license, or accept boosted codes for endorsements or restrictions on CDLs that are not mentioned in the Federal regulations, equally long as these items are fully explained on the license document.

Terminal updated: Tuesday, February 8, 2022