Truckers and Travelers

Hello, Fellow Truckers! 

Today I wanted to give you some information about why a CDL has to be part of your trucking business plan.  If you’re going to write a successful trucking business plan and see that plan become a reality, you must first consider obtaining your commercial driver’s license.  CDL training can be acquired by attending one of the many trucking schools in the nation.  Do some research and find one that is run by a state school or has financial aid available.  Once you have gone through the training, you must pass your CDL written test.  All of this must be included in your trucking business plan if you are starting out as a beginner in the trucking business.  A good trucking business plan is the foundation of a successful trucking business.  Below is information obtained from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  It will give you helpful information on commercial drivers licenses.   

COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT OF 1986

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 was signed into law on October 27, 1986. The goal of the Act is to improve highway safety by ensuring that drivers of large trucks and buses are qualified to operate those vehicles and to remove unsafe and unqualified drivers from the highways. The Act retained the State’s right to issue a driver’s license, but established minimum national standards which States must meet when licensing CMV drivers.

The Act corrects the situation that existed prior to 1986 by making it illegal to hold more than one license and by requiring States to adopt testing and licensing standards for truck and bus drivers to check a person’s ability to operate the type of vehicle he/she plans to operate.

It is important to note that the Act does not require drivers to obtain a separate Federal license; it merely requires States to upgrade their existing testing and licensing programs, if necessary, to conform with the Federal minimum standards.

The CDL program places requirements on the CMV driver, the employing motor carrier and the States.

THE DRIVER

Drivers have been required to have a CDL in order to drive a CMV since April 1, 1992.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has developed and issued standards for testing and licensing CMV drivers. Among other things, the standards require States to issue CDLs to their CMV drivers only after the driver passes knowledge and skills tests administered by the State related to the type of vehicle to be operated. Drivers need CDLs if they are in interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce and drive a vehicle that meets one of the following definitions of a CMV:

Classes of License:

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.

Endorsements and Restrictions:

Drivers who operate special types of CMVs also need to pass additional tests to obtain any of the following endorsements on their CDL:
T – Double/Triple Trailers (Knowledge test only)

P – Passenger (Knowledge and Skills Tests)

N – Tank Vehicle (Knowledge Test only)

H – Hazardous Materials (Knowledge Test only)

X – Combination of Tank Vehicle and Hazardous Materials
If a driver either fails the air brake component of the general knowledge test or performs the skills test in a vehicle not equipped with air brakes, the driver is issued an air brake restriction, restricting the driver from operating a CMV equipped with air brakes.

THE STATES

Knowledge & Skills Tests:

States develop their own tests which must be at least as stringent as the Federal standards. Model driver and examiner manuals and tests have been prepared and distributed to the States to use, if they wish.
The general knowledge test must contain at least 30 questions.

To pass the knowledge tests (general and endorsement), applicants must correctly answer at least 80 percent of the questions.

To pass the skills test, applicants must successfully perform all the required skills (listed in 49 CFR 383.113). The skills test must be taken in a vehicle representative of the type of vehicle that the applicant operates or expects to operate.

This information is given to help new truck drivers stay informed and DOT compliant.  Be safe out there!

Hello, Fellow Drivers!  Are you in a place where you are needing to renew your CDL this year?  Maybe you’re a new truck driver and need to pass the CDL requirements test and endorsement tests to apply or keep a job.  Well, I found a website that you can use to do just this…practice to pass your CDL test the first time.  They have general knowledge tests, and your endorsement exams, air brakes, hazardous materials (haz-mat), passenger, tanker, doubles/triples and combination.  The CDL test link is on this  cool website that offers the CDL requirements, along with all kinds of trucking resources to help your trip be successful, safe and with on-time delivery.  I heard an old riding instructor say one time, “perfect practice makes perfect.”; A new twist on an old saying.  Take the time to invest in your future with the right knowledge and you will not waste time retaking your CDL exams.  It will pad your pocket later!!!  Be safe out there!