Understanding the ABC's of CDL's

Believe it or not, before CDL training...

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was made law.... in 1986, anyone licensed to drive a motor vehicle in a number of states and the district of columbia could also legally drive a semi truck tractor trailer or a bus.

There were virtually no organized CDL training skill tests even in states that had an elementary level classified licensing systems.

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As a result, many truck driver jobs were filled by independent owner operators that had little or no CDL training on their resume. Most likely, many semi truck owner operators were not qualified to safely operate the vehicles they choose to make a living and feed their families.

Many CDL Truck Driving Jobs were...

filled by independent owner operators with questionable character and no CDL training who figured out they could obtain driver's licenses from more than one state and hide or spread convictions among several driving records and continue to drive. This was a great tool for criminals and a nightmare for law enforcement agenices. Fortunately, the government came to its senses.

If you're an individual considering...

one of many truck driver jobs that require CDL training as a potential career, you will want to understand the ABC's of CDL's.

The first step towards CDL training became law in... 1986 when the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 was signed into law on October 27, 1986. The goal of the Act was to drastically improve highway safety. The Act retained States rights to issue a commercial driver's license (CDL), but established minimum national standards which States must meet when licensing CMV drivers.

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The Act corrected the previously mentioned situation 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. Certified CDL training from most truck driver jobs... became a reality in April 1992.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) developed and issued truck driver job testing standards and licensing for CMV drivers. These new laws demanded that states administer CDL knowledge and skills training assessments through truck driving schools and to certify semi truck owner operators and other CMV drivers related to the type of vehicle to be operated.

To qualify for today's truck driver jobs, truck drivers need a CDL if they are in interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce and drive a vehicle that meets one of the following definitions of a CMV: The CDL program places requirements on the CMV driver, the employing motor carrier and the States.

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. This includes most semi trucks that would be pulling trailer loads.
	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. This license includes heavy duty semi trucks tha would not pull trailers.
	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.