QuestionHow do you obtain a CDL drivers license and what are and do the different classifications mean?????????
AnswerHi Keith.... Thanks for the question.
Where you have to go and which agency administers your state's CDL program will vary a little depending on your state of residence. Basically, there is a federal requirement that each state have minimum standards for the licensing of commercial drivers.
Classifications (not to be confused with CDL endorsements)
CDL License Classifications:
The Federal standard requires States to issue a CDL to drivers according to the following license classifications:
Class A -- Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
Class B -- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.
Class C -- Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is placarded for hazardous materials.
Any vehicle for which a CDL license is required is considered a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV). To get a CDL license, you must pass knowledge and skills tests.
KNOWLEDGE TESTS
You will have to take one or more knowledge tests, depending on what class of CDL license and what endorsements you need. The CDL license knowledge tests include:
- The General Knowledge Test, taken by all applicants.
- The Passenger Transport Test, taken by all bus driver applicants.
- The School Bus Test is required if you want to drive a school bus.
- The Air Brakes Test, which you must take if your vehicle has air brakes.
- The Combination Vehicles Test, which is required if you want to drive combination vehicles.
- The Hazardous Materials Test, required if you want to haul hazardous material or waste in amounts which require placarding.
- The Tanker Test, required if you want to haul liquids in bulk.
- The Doubles/Triples Test, required if you want to pull double or triple trailers.
SKILLS TEST
If you pass the required knowledge test(s), you can take the CDL license skills tests. There are three types of general skills that will be tested:
- Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection: You will be tested to see if you know whether your vehicle is safe to drive. You will be asked to do a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle and explain to the examiner what you would inspect and why.
- Basic Vehicle Control: You will be tested on your skill to control the vehicle. You will be asked to move your vehicle forward, backward, and turn it within a defined area. These areas may be marked with traffic lanes, cones, barriers, or something similar. The
examiner will tell you how each control test is to be done.
On-Road Driving:
- You will be tested on your skill to safely drive your vehicle in a variety of traffic situations. The situations may include left and right turns, intersections, railroad crossings, curves, up and down grades, single or multi-lane roads, streets or highways. The examiner will tell you where to drive.
You must take these tests in the type of vehicle for which you wish to be licensed.
There are other rules which affect drivers operating CMVs. You cannot have more than one license. If you break this rule, a court may fine you up to $5,000 or put you in jail. Keep your home state license and return any others.
You must notify your employer within 30 days of a conviction for any traffic violations (except parking). This is true no matter what type of vehicle you were driving.
You must notify your motor vehicle licensing agency within 30 days if you are convicted in any other state of any traffic violation (except parking). This is true no matter what type of vehicle you were driving.
You must notify your employer within one working day if your CDL license privilege is suspended, revoked, canceled or disqualified.
You must give your employer information on all driving jobs you have held for the past 10 years. You must do this when you apply for a commercial driving job.
All states are connected to one computerized system to share information about CDL drivers. The states will check on drivers’ records to be sure that drivers don’t get more than one CDL license.
FEDERAL MEDICAL STANDARDS
Applicants for a CDL license must meet all federal physical qualifications. To drive in interstate commerce, an applicant must be at least 21 years old. However, applicants ages 18 to 21 may
receive a restricted CDL license, limited to intrastate operation only. The CDL license will be restricted to “No CMV Operation in Interstate Commerce”.
******You can also obtain a CDL permit (CDL license instruction permit).......A CDL license instruction permit is valid only for CMVs. The permit is valid for 6 months and will list the type of vehicles and endorsements for which you have qualified. Certain restrictions will apply to your operation with a CDL license instruction permit:
- You must have a qualified driving instructor or a person who is licensed to operate that type of CMV, and who is at least 21 years old, sitting next to you at all times.
- You may not transport passengers. However, if the accompanying driver is a qualified instructor, depending on the state, but generally 3 other persons with instruction permits may also ride along.
- You may carry property in a CMV while you are driving on an instruction permit.
Unless you are at least 21 years old, and have a federal medical certificate (Fed Med Card),you may not operate in interstate commerce on an instruction permit.
Thanks again and I hope this helps answer your questions.
...Don
