You asked for an explanation of the requirements for being issued a commercial driver’s license.

SUMMARY

State law requires anyone driving a commercial motor vehicle in Connecticut to hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) issued by Connecticut or some other state, with applicable endorsements valid for the vehicle he is driving.

Connecticut’s laws on CDLs generally reflect the requirements of the 1986 federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act, under which state-issued licenses for commercial motor vehicle drivers have to meet minimum national standards. The federal law prohibits anyone from holding more than one license.

The federal minimum requirements cover a number of areas, including (1) license classifications and endorsements, (2) minimum general knowledge requirements, (3) knowledge requirements for special vehicle category endorsements, (4) driving skills requirements, (5) driving record requirements for getting and maintaining a CDL, (6) driving experience requirements for getting a CDL, (7) minimum physical requirements for drivers, (8) grounds for driver disqualification, and (9) minimum state testing requirements.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) commissioner may not issue a CDL to someone unless he is a state resident and has passed knowledge and skills tests for driving a commercial motor vehicle that comply with the minimum federal standards. The commissioner may not issue a CDL to someone who has a physical or psycho-behavioral impairment that affects his ability to drive a commercial motor vehicle safely.

The commissioner cannot issue a CDL to anyone who is subject to disqualification from driving a commercial motor vehicle or to suspension, revocation, or cancellation of operating privileges in any state.

The commissioner may waive the driving skills test for a CDL applicant who meets certain federal requirements. Generally, this is for someone who is currently licensed at the time of his application for a CDL. Instead of the skills test, the commissioner may substitute either the applicant’s driving record and previous passage of an acceptable skills test, or his driving record in combination with certain driving experience.

The applicant must provide evidence and certify that he (1) is regularly employed in a job requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle and (2) either has previously taken and passed a behind-the-wheel skills test in a vehicle representing the type he will be operating or has operated such a representative vehicle for at least two years immediately preceding his application for a CDL.

A driving skills test is required when someone holds a non-commercial license and wants a CDL or holds a CDL and wants to (1) change to a higher classification CDL, (2) add a passenger endorsement, or (3) remove the air brake restriction. The skills test involves evaluation of pre-trip inspection, operation on a static course, and operation on-street. The applicant must pass all parts of the skills test to be licensed. An applicant who fails the skills test must wait at least seven days before taking it again.

When someone moves into Connecticut and holds a CDL issued by another state, he must get a Connecticut CDL within 30 days of establishing residency.

GENERAL LICENSING REQUIREMENT

State law requires anyone driving a commercial motor vehicle in Connecticut to hold a CDL issued by Connecticut or some other state, with applicable endorsements valid for the vehicle he is driving (CGS § 14-44a). A “commercial motor vehicle” is defined as any vehicle (1) with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more; (2) designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; (3) designed to transport 11 or more passengers, including the driver, and used to transport students under age 21 to and from school; or (4) transporting hazardous materials and required to have warning placards under federal hazardous materials transportation regulations (CGS § 14-1(a)(13)). The following are exempt from CDL requirements: vehicles used for farming purposes within 150 miles of the farm, fire fighting apparatus, authorized emergency vehicles, recreational vehicles, and military vehicles operated by military personnel.

Connecticut’s laws on CDLs generally reflect the requirements of federal law. The federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 established a program under which state-issued licenses for drivers of commercial motor vehicles have to meet minimum national standards. The federal law prohibits anyone from holding more than one license and requires states to adopt testing and licensing standards that adequately check his ability to operate the type of vehicle he plans to operate. Drivers have been required to have a CDL in order to drive since April 1, 1992.

THE MINIMUM FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR A CDL

Federal law and the regulations of the Motor Carrier Safety Administration establish minimum requirements in a number of areas including license classifications and endorsements, minimum general knowledge requirements, knowledge requirements for special vehicle category endorsements, driving skills requirements, driving record requirements for getting and maintaining a CDL, driving experience requirements for getting a CDL, minimum physical requirements for drivers, grounds for driver disqualification, and minimum state testing requirements.

License Classifications and Endorsements

The federal standards require states to issue CDLs in three classifications:

1. Class A—for any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more when the vehicle being towed has a rating in excess of 10,000 pounds;

2. Class B—for any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating; and

3. Class C—for any single vehicle or combination of vehicles that does not meet either definition above, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is placarded for hazardous materials.

Drivers who operate certain special types of commercial vehicles must also pass additional tests to get one or more of the following special license endorsements:

• T Endorsement—Double or triple trailers

• P Endorsement—Passenger transportation

• N Endorsement—Tank vehicle

• H Endorsement—Hazardous materials transportation

• X Endorsement—Combination of tank vehicle and hazardous materials

• S Endorsement—School bus operation

If a CDL applicant 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 license he is issued must contain an air brake restriction that prohibits him from operating commercial motor vehicle equipped with air brakes.

General Knowledge Requirements

Federal regulations require CDL licensees to have knowledge of the general areas of (1) safe vehicle operations, (2) commercial motor vehicle safety control systems, and (3) safe vehicle control (49 CFR § 383. 111). Specific areas of required knowledge in these three categories are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: General Knowledge Requirements for a CDL

Along with these general areas of knowledge, a CDL applicant must have basic knowledge about hazardous materials, including (1) knowing what constitutes hazardous material requiring an endorsement to transport, (2) classes of hazardous materials, (3) labeling and placarding requirements, and (4) the need for specialized training as a prerequisite to receive a hazadus materials CDL endorsement. Any applicant for the combination vehicle license group must have general knowledge regarding proper procedures for coupling and uncoupling the tractor and semi-trailer and the objectives and proper procedures that are unique for performing safety inspections on combination vehicles.

The general knowledge standards also include requirements for air brake knowledge covering (1) air brake system nomenclature; (2) the dangers of contaminated air supply; (3) implications of severed or disconnected air lines between the power unit and trailer; (4) implications of low air pressure readings; (5) procedures for conducting safe and accurate pre-trip inspections; and (6) procedures for conducting enroute and post-trip inspections of air brake systems, including the ability to detect defects that may cause the system to fail.

Written Knowledge Test Standards

States develop their own written knowledge tests for CDL applicants, but they must meet minimum federal requirements. The general knowledge test must contain at least 30 questions, exclusive of the number of questions testing air brake knowledge. Each endorsement knowledge test, and the air brake component of the basic knowledge test, must contain a sufficient number of questions to adequately test the applicant’s specialized knowledge with validity and reliability. To pass any knowledge test (general knowledge or endorsement), the applicant must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly (49 CFR § 383. 135).

Special Knowledge Requirements for CDL Endorsements

Trailer Combinations. In order to get a CDL endorsement that allows operation of double or triple trailer combinations, a CDL applicant must have special knowledge covering (1) procedures for assembly and hookup of the trailer units; (2) proper placement of the heaviest trailer; (3) handling and stability characteristics including off-tracking, response to steering, sensory feedback, braking, oscillatory sway, rollover in steady turns, and yaw stability in steady turns; and (4) potential problems in traffic operations including problems the vehicle creates for other motorists due to slower speeds on steep grades, longer passing times, the possibility for blocking entry of other vehicles on freeways, splash and spray effects, aerodynamic buffeting, view blockage, and lateral placement (49 CFR § 383. 115).

Transporting Passengers. In order to get a CDL endorsement that allows the driver to operate a vehicle transporting passengers, the applicant must have special knowledge covering (1) proper procedures for loading and unloading passengers; (2) proper use of emergency exits, including pushout windows; (3) proper responses to emergency situations such as fires and unruly passengers; (4) proper procedures at railroad crossings and drawbridges; and (5) proper braking procedures. An applicant for a passenger endorsement must take the skills test in a vehicle that is representative of the passenger vehicle group he will be operating (49 CFR § 383. 117).

Tank Vehicles. In order to get a CDL endorsement that allows operation of tank vehicles, the applicant must have special knowledge covering (1) causes, prevention, and effects of cargo surge on vehicle handling; (2) proper backing procedures for the vehicle when it is empty, full, and partially full; (3) differences in handling of baffled compartmental tank interiors versus non-baffled vehicles; (4) differences in tank vehicle types and construction; (5) differences in cargo surge for liquids of differing densities; (6) effects of road grade and curvature on handling full, partially full, and empty tanks: (7) proper use of emergency systems; and (8) retest and marking requirements for certain tank vehicles subject to special federal requirements (49 CFR § 383. 119).

Hazardous Materials. In order to get a CDL endorsement allowing transportation of hazardous materials, the applicant must have special knowledge of the federal hazardus materials transportation regulations covering: (1) the hazardous materials table; (2) shipping paper requirements; (3) marking, labeling, and placarding requirements; (4) hazardous materials packaging; (5) hazardous materials definitions and preparation; (6) requirements for “other regulated material” (ORM-D class); (7) reporting hazardous materials accidents; and (8) tunnel and railroad crossing procedures and requirments (49 CFR § 383. 121).

Specific knowledge must also cover certain hazardous materials handling requirements, including (1) forbidden materials and packaging, (2) loading and unloading materials, (3) cargo segregation requirements, (4) regulations applicable to carrying hazardous materials on passenger carrying vehicles, (5) parking and vehicle attendance requirements, (6) routes, (7) cargo tanks, and (8) “Safe Havens” requirements. The endorsement also requires special knowledge with respect to the operation of emergency equipment and emergency response procedures.

Emergency response knowledge must include knowlegdge of (1) special

care and precautions for different types of accidents, (2) special precautions for driving near a fire or smoking while carrying hazardous materials, (3) emergency procedures, and (4) special requirements for transporting Class A and B explosives (49 CFR § 383. 121).

School Bus. In order to get a CDL endorsement for operating a school bus, the applicant must have special knowledge covering (1) loading and unloading children, including safe operation of stop signals, external mirror systems, and flashing lights and other warning and passenger safety devices required by state and federal law; (2) emergency exits and procedures for safely evacuating passengers in an emergency; and (3) state and federal laws and regulations regarding safely crossing railroad grade crossings. The applicant must take the driving skills test in a school bus of the same type as he will be driving (49 CFR § 383. 123).

Required Driving Skills

A CDL applicant must possess and demonstrate basic vehicle control skills for each vehicle group he operates or expects to operate. These skills must include the basic skills to start, stop, and move the vehicle forward and backward safely (49 CFR § 383. 113(a)). The applicant must also demonstrate safe driving skills including proper visual search methods, appropriate use of signals, speed control for weather and traffic conditions, and the ability to position the vehicle correctly when changing lanes or turning (49 CFR § 383. 113(b)).

If use of air brakes is appropriate to the type of vehicle the applicant will be driving, he must demonstrate skills governing pre-trip inspection covering the ability to (1) locate and verbally identify air brake operating controls and monitoring devices; (2) determine the brake system condition for proper adjustments and that the air system connection has been properly made and secured; (3) inspect the low pressure warning devices to ensure that they will activate in emergency situations; (4) ascertain, with the engine running, that the system maintains an adequate supply of compressed air; (5) determine that minimum air pressure build up time is within acceptable limits and that required alarms and emergency devices automatically deactivate at the proper pressure level; and (6) operationally check the system for proper performance (49 CFR § 383. 113(c)).

The federal regulations requires states to conduct skills tests in on-street conditions or with a combination of on-street and off-street conditions. Driving simualtors may be used for driving skills tests, but not as a substitute for testing in on-street conditions (49 CFR §§ 383. 113(d) and (e)).

Physical Qualifications for CDL Applicant

Under the federal regulations (49 CFR § 391. 41), someone is physically qualified to hold a CDL if he:

1. has no loss of a foot, leg, hand, or arm;

2. has no impairment of (a) a hand or finger that interferes with prehension or power grasping or (b) an arm, foot, or leg, or any other significant limb defect or limitation, that interferes with the ability to perform nominal tasks associated with operating a commercial motor vehicle;

3. has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus currently requiring insulin for control;

4. has no current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronory insufficiency, thrombosis, or any other cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive cardiac failure;

5. has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of a respiratory dysfunction likely to interfere with the ability to control and drive a commercial motor vehicle;

6. has no current clinical diagnosis of high blood pressure likely to interfere with the ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely;

7. has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic, muscular, neuro-muscular, or vascular disease that interferes with the ability to control and operate a commercial motor vehicle safely;

8. has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle;

9. has no mental, nervous, organic, or functional disease or psychiatric disorder likely to interfere with the ability to drive a commercial motor vehicle safely;

10. has (a) distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye without corrective lenses or visual acuity separately corrected to 20/40 or better with corrective lenses, (b) distant binocular acuity of at least 20/40 in both eyes with or without corrective lenses, (c) field of vision of at least 70 degrees in the horizontal in each eye, and (d) the ability to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing red, green, and amber;

11. first perceives a forced whispered voice in the better ear at not less than five feet with or without the use of a hearing aid or, if tested by an audiometric device, does not have an average hearing loss in the better ear greater than 40 decibels at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz with or without a hearing aid;

12. does not use a controlled substance identified in fedeeral regulatory Schedule 1, an amphetamine, a narcotic, or any other habit forming drug, except if it is prescribed by a licensed medical practiioner who is familiar with the driver’s medical history and assigned duties and who has advised him that it will not adversely affect his ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle; and

13. has no current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism.

The federal regulations provide for issuance of a skill performance evaluation certificate to someone who is not physically qualified to drive under the standards relating to a loss or impairment of a foot, leg, hand, or arm, but who otherwise qualifies to operate a commercial motor vehicle. This certificate, if granted, allows the person to qualify under the federal standards by the use of prosthetic devices or equipment modifications that enable him to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle. The applicant must provide certain medical and other information about his situation and this is reviewed to determine if he qualifies. The certificate can include operating restrictions (49 CFR § 391. 49).

The federal regulations provide for a process for CDL applicants to get waivers or exceptions to the physical qualifications requirements. To get such a waiver, a CDL applicant must meet certain eligibility criteria and provide evidence satisfactory to the federal transportation secretary that granting such a waiver would not result in a reduction in safety with respect to the operation of commercial motor vehicles. Receipt of a federal physical qualifications waiver for a CDL applicant seeking to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce would allow the applicant to meet the state’s physical qualification requirement.

Disqualifications from Operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle

The federal regulations specify certain acts that disqualify someone from operating a commercial motor vehicle for specific periods of time (49 CFR § 383. 51). Connecticut has adopted these federal requirements as state law (CGS § 14-44k). Many of the disqualifying offenses relate to acts committed while operating a commercial motor vehicle but some apply to operating any motor vehicle, including one’s personal vehicle. While much of the time, these disqualifications are applied with respect to the ability of an existing CDL holder to continue to operate a commercial motor vehicle under his CDL, they could affect the initial licensing process as well. Since the Department of Motor Vehicles must review a CDL applicant’s driving history for the 10 years preceding his CDL application, the existence of a disqualifying offense in that driving history could be grounds for denial of a CDL.

Table 2 lists acts that constitute disqualifying offenses adapted from the federal regulations and specified in CGS § 14-44k, as amended by PA 05-218.

Table 2: Disqualifying Offenses for CDL Holders

STATE REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for a Connecticut CDL, an applicant must be at least age 18 if driving only within Connecticut (intrastate) or age 21 if operating interstate or transporting hazardous materials.

State laws governing CDLs largely reflect the federal requirements and make them state requirements. The CDL application must contain the person’s full name, current mailing and residence address, physical description (including sex, height, and eye color), birth date, Social Security number, and color picture taken by the motor vehicle commissioner or his representative. CGS § 14-44c requires the application to include:

1. the applicant’s statement, under oath, that he meets the requirements for physical, background, and character specified in the federal regulations, or that he does not expect to operate in interstate or foreign commerce;

2. his statement, under oath, that the type of vehicle in which he took or intends to take his driving skills test is representative of the type of vehicle he operates or intends to operate;

3. his statement, under oath, that he is not subject to disqualification, suspension, revocation, or cancellation of operating privileges in any state, and that he does not hold an operator’s license in any other state;

4. identification by the applicant of all the states in which he has been licensed to drive any type of motor vehicle during the last 10 years, and his statement, under oath, that he does not hold an operator’s license in any other state; and

5. the applicant’s signature and certification of the accuracy and completeness, subject to the penalties for false statement under CGS § 53a-157b.

The commissioner may not issue a CDL to someone unless he is a state resident and has passed knowledge and skills tests for driving a commercial motor vehicle that comply with the minimum federal standards established in the federal regulations that were explained above. The commissioner may not issue a CDL to someone who has a physical or psycho-behavioral impairment that affects his ability to drive a commercial motor vehicle safely. In determining whether to issue a CDL in any individual case, the commissioner must apply the standards specified in the federal regulations governing drivers’ physical qualifications (explained above), unless it is established that the person will operate a commercial motor vehicle only within Connecticut, in which case the commissioner must apply standards specified in Connecticut law (CGS § 14-44e). Anyone who is denied a CDL or whose CDL is suspended, revoked, or cancelled due to application of the physical qualification standards must be given an opportunity for an administrative hearing.

Under state law, there is a process through which matters concerning licensing people with health problems that may affect their ability to drive motor vehicles may be referred to the Motor Vehicle Operator’s License Medical Advisory Board. The board, which consists of members from various medical specialties, may review individual cases referred to it by the commissioner and make recommendations or offer him advice. The law requires the commissioner to give due consideration to the board’s recommendations and any documents it submits to him, but the recommendations are only advisory and not binding on the commissioner (CGS §§ 14-45a to 46g).

The commissioner cannot issue a CDL to anyone who is subject to disqualification from driving a commercial motor vehicle or to suspension, revocation, or cancellation of operating privileges in any state (CGS § 14-443(d)).

The commissioner may waive the driving skills test for a CDL applicant who meets certain federal requirements. Generally, this is for someone who is currently licensed at the time of his application for a CDL. Instead of the skills test, the commissioner may substitute either the applicant’s driving record and previous passage of an acceptable skills test, or his driving record in combination with certain driving experience. Under the federal standards allowing such substitutions, the state must require the CDL applicant to certify that during the two years immediately preceding his application he has not: (1) held more than one license (except in certain limited circumstances allowed under the federal regulations); (2) had any license suspended, revoked, or cancelled; (3) had any convictions for any type of disqualifying offense (explained above); (4) had more than one conviction for a serious traffic violation (explained above); and (5) had any conviction for a violation of state or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control, except for parking violations, arising in connection with any traffic accident, and has no record of an accident for which he was found at fault (49 CFR § 383. 77).

In addition, the applicant must provide evidence and certify that he (1) is regularly employed in a job requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle and (2) either has previously taken and passed a behind-the-wheel skills test in a vehicle representing the type he will be operating or has operated such a representative vehicle for at least two years immediately preceding his application for a CDL.

Before issuing a CDL, the commissioner must obtain the applicant’s driving record information through the Commercial Driver License Information System, the National Driver Registry, and from each state in which he has held a license in the preceding 10 years. Any record of disqualifying offenses or convictions of serious traffic violations could affect whether the applicant is granted a CDL.

Someone who has a current non-commercial Connecticut driver’s license or who has a current CDL but is upgrading it to a higher class, removing an air brake restriction, or adding a passenger endorsement must first get a commercial drivers license instruction permit allowing

him to receive instruction in operating a commercial motor vehicle. However, a permit is not required if a skills test is not required. (This occurs when a CDL holder is adding a hazardous materials or multiple trailer endorsement. )

The general knowledge test is 30 questions and the applicant can answer no more than six incorrectly. Each endorsement test includes 10 questions and the applicant must get at least eight correct. A driving skills test is required when someone holds a non-commercial license and wants a CDL, holds a CDL that he wants to change to a higher classification CDL, holds a CDL and wants to add a passenger endorsement, or holds a CDL and wants to remove the air brake restriction. The skills test involves evaluation of pre-trip inspection, operation on a static course, and operation on-street. The applicant must pass all parts of the skills test to be licensed. An applicant who fails the skills test must wait at least seven days before taking it again.

When someone moves into Connecticut and holds a CDL issued by another state, he must get a Connecticut CDL within 30 days of establishing residency. He can get a Connecticut CDL of equal class to the one he currently holds without being tested except if he is seeking a passenger or hazardous materials endorsement. For a hazardous materials endorsement he must present proof that he passed the hazardous materials knowledge test in the last two years, otherwise he may be required to take it in Connecticut.

Someone who previously held a Connecticut driver’s license and went to another state to obtain a CDL must have held the other state’s CDL for at least six months or successfully complete a CDL skills test in Connecticut before he can transfer his out-of-state CDL.

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