You asked if Connecticut or any of its surrounding states require any type of “emergency management” training for drivers of commercial motor vehicles before they are licensed and, if so, if there are any continuing education requirements for them after licensure. You also wanted to know if the Department of Transportation is considering emergency runaway truck lanes for Avon Mountain in light of the recent fatal accident involving an out of control truck.

SUMMARY

Neither Connecticut nor any of its surrounding states have specific requirements for drivers of commercial vehicles to have any “emergency management” training, which we have taken to mean training in how to manage the vehicle in an emergency situation, such as the one involving the truck that lost control on Route 44 in Avon in July. We are not aware of any states that have continuing education requirements for drivers after they have received their commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Federal law and regulations establish certain minimum standards states must implement when licensing drivers of commercial motor vehicles. These cover, among other things, license classes and endorsements, physical qualifications for licensure, maintenance of an acceptable driving record, acts that disqualify someone from holding a CDL, and CDL test procedures.

States develop their own tests, but they must be at least as stringent as the federal standards. The general knowledge test must contain at least 30 questions and the applicant must answer at least 80% of them correctly to pass. Additional test questions are required if the CDL applicant is seeking a license endorsement to operate special types of vehicles such as double or triple trailers, tank vehicles, passenger vehicles, or vehicles carrying hazardous materials. The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, a service group that includes, among others, the chief motor vehicle official in each state, has developed model driver and license examiner manuals and tests that states may use if they wish.

Although it is primarily the responsibility of a driver’s employer to assure he is adequately trained, training in driving commercial vehicles is also available through several private occupational schools that come under the purview of the Department of Higher Education. Although it is not responsible for establishing a specific ciriculuum for commercial vehicle drivers, DMV publishes a commercial driver’s manual that covers all of the knowledge areas required under the federal standards, including specific areas covering mountain driving, emergencies, skid control and recovery, and accident procedures (excerpts enclosed).

After the fatal accident involving an out-of-control truck in Avon in July, the Department of Transportation initiated a review of both short- and long-term measures that might address safety issues relating to the affected section of Route 44. Part of this review includes whether truck escape ramps are feasible for this location.

MINIMUM FEDERAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

The federal regulations (49 CFR § 383.111) require CDL licensees to have knowledge of these general areas:

1. Safe operations regulations such as: vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance requirements; procedures for safe vehicle operation; the effects of fatigue, poor vision, hearing and general health on safe operations; the types of motor vehicles and cargoes subject to federal safety requirements; and the effects of alcohol and drug use on safe operation.

2. Commercial motor vehicle safety control systems including lights, horns, side and rear-view mirrors, proper mirror adjustments, use of fire extinguishers, symptoms of improper operation revealed through instruments, vehicle operation characteristics, and diagnosing malfunctions. CDL holders must know the correct procedures needed to use vehicle safety systems in an emergency situation, e.g., skids and loss of brakes.

3. Safe vehicle control including: the purpose and function of vehicle controls and instruments, proper procedures for basic vehicle control, basic shifting rules and patterns for common transmissions, backing, visual search methods, communications and signaling, speed management, space management, night operations, extreme driving conditions and hazards encountered in such conditions, hazard perception, how and when to make emergency maneuvers, skid control and recovery, the relationship of cargo to vehicle control, and the objectives and proper procedures for performing vehicle safety inspections.

Other specific requirements establish minimum levels of knowledge for special vehicle operations such as use of air brakes, hazardous materials transport, operation of multiple trailers, and operation of tankers carrying liquid cargo.

HOW CDL APPLICANTS OBTAIN NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE

DMV does not, nor does the law require it to, establish a specific curriculum an applicant for a CDL must take. For the most part, it is the driver’s employer who is responsible for providing adequate training. Some companies, particularly larger ones, may have their own training programs for drivers, but there are also commercial driver training schools that teach individuals the principles and procedures for operating a commercial vehicle and passing the licensing tests. These schools are considered private occupational schools under state law and come under the purview of the Department of Higher Education, rather than the DMV (CGS §§ 10a-22a through 22k).

Although DMV is not responsible for administering a specific training curriculum for potential truck drivers, it publishes the Connecticut Commercial Driver’s Manual and makes it available to anyone who may be interested in getting a CDL. The contents of the manual cover the knowledge areas required by the federal regulations. We have included the table of contents of the manual and several sections covering mountain driving, emergencies, skid recovery and control, and accident procedures so that you may see the type of information CDL applicants may have to acquire in order to pass the licensing tests.

JF:ts