Know the CDL.Study notes

All study notes

General Knowledge: Cdl Classifications

12 questions in the bank cover this topic. Everything below is drawn from the sources those questions cite.

Sources: 49 CFR 383.5, 49 CFR 383.51, 49 CFR 383.53, 49 CFR 383.71, 49 CFR 383.91, 49 CFR 383.93

What you need to know

383.5(a)(1) needs BOTH conditions: the combination at 26,001 lb or more, and the towed unit over 10,000 lb.

A heavy truck pulling a small trailer is Group B, not Group A.

Combination Vehicle (Group A)—having 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(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds), whichever is greater

49 CFR 383.5

383.5(a)(2) covers a single vehicle at 26,001 lb or more, and allows it to tow something not over 10,000 lb.

Add a heavier trailer and it becomes Group A. It may tow a unit of not more than 10,000 lb.

Heavy Straight Vehicle (Group B)—having a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), whichever is greater

49 CFR 383.5

383.91(a)(3) is defined by cargo rather than weight: people or hazardous materials.

The passenger count includes the driver, so a 15-passenger plus driver vehicle qualifies. Either condition on its own is enough. The 16 includes the driver. The 16 includes the driver. None of the figures offered is the one the rule gives.

Small Vehicle (Group C)—Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that meets neither the definition of Group A nor that of Group B as contained in this section, but that either is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or is used in the transportation of hazardous materials

49 CFR 383.91

383.93(b) lists exactly these five.

Air brakes is not an endorsement; it is a restriction removed by passing the air brake test, which is the reverse arrangement.

An operator must obtain State-issued endorsements to his/her CDL to operate commercial motor vehicles which are: (1) Double/triple trailers; (2) Passenger vehicles; (3) Tank vehicles; (4) Used to transport hazardous materials as defined in § 383.5; or (5) School buses.

49 CFR 383.93

383.93(a)(2) permits only P, S and N on a CLP.

Hazardous materials in particular cannot be held on a learner's permit, because it requires a security threat assessment. P, S and N.

The only endorsements allowed on a CLP are the following: (i) Passenger (P); (ii) School bus (S); and (iii) Tank vehicle (N).

49 CFR 383.93

383.93(c) requires a skills test only for Passenger and School bus.

Both involve carrying people, so the test checks you can actually operate the vehicle, not merely that you know the rules.

(1) Double/Triple Trailers—a knowledge test; (2) Passenger—a knowledge and a skills test; (3) Tank vehicle—a knowledge test; (4) Hazardous Materials—a knowledge test; and (5) School bus—a knowledge and a skills test.

49 CFR 383.93

383.5 defines it by the available punishment, not by the sentence actually given.

Certain felonies involving a CMV carry disqualification under 383.51. That is the definition of a felony for this purpose.

Felony means an offense under State or Federal law that is punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year.

49 CFR 383.5

383.5 covers federal, state, local and Canadian or Mexican officers.

The order can apply to the driver, the vehicle or the whole carrier operation. Federal, State, Canadian, Mexican or local all qualify.

Out-of-service order means a declaration by an authorized enforcement officer of a Federal, State, Canadian, Mexican, or local jurisdiction that a driver, a commercial motor vehicle, or a motor carrier operation, is out-of-service

49 CFR 383.5

383.53(b)(1) stacks both: the civil penalty comes on top of the disqualification under 383.51(e).

Out-of-service violations are treated severely because the order exists to stop an unsafe operation immediately.

A driver who is convicted of violating an out-of-service order shall be subject to a civil penalty as stated in part 386 Appendix B, in addition to disqualification under § 383.51(e).

49 CFR 383.53

383.51(b)(6) allows reinstatement after 10 years with a completed State-approved rehabilitation programme.

Anyone reinstated who is then convicted of another disqualifying offense from that list must not be reinstated again. A State may reinstate on that basis, but not after a second such conviction.

A State may reinstate any driver disqualified for life for offenses described in paragraphs (b)(1) through (8) of this section (Table 1 to § 383.51) after 10 years, if that person has voluntarily entered and successfully completed an appropriate rehabilitation program approved by the State.

49 CFR 383.51

383.71 requires ELDT from a registered provider before a first Class A or B skills test, a first P or S skills test, or a first H knowledge test.

Note it is the KNOWLEDGE test that is gated for hazmat, and the SKILLS test for the others. The provider must be on the Training Provider Registry.

Beginning on February 7, 2022, a person must complete the training prescribed in subpart F of part 380 of this chapter before taking the skills test for a Class A or B CDL for the first time, or a skills test for a passenger (P) or school bus (S) endorsement for the first time, or the knowledge test for a hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time.

49 CFR 383.71

383.93(a)(1) makes endorsement issuance a State function conditional on passing the specialised tests.

383.93(a)(3) also requires States to use the standard codes in 383.153. Only on successful completion. Only to drivers who successfully complete them.

The State shall issue CDL endorsements only to drivers who successfully complete the tests.

49 CFR 383.93

Check yourself

Answers are in the practice test for this topic.