Section 1: Introduction
This Section Explains
* Commercial Drivers License Test
* Other Safety Rules
There is a federal requirement that each state have minimum standards for the licensing of commercial drivers. This manual provides driver license testing information for Wisconsin drivers who wish to have a Commercial Drivers License (CDL). Infrormation for drivers who wish to operate a school bus in Wisconsin is contained in Volume 2.
You must have a CDL to operate:
* Any single vehicle with gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), actual weight, or registered weight over 26,000 lbs. or such vehicle towing a vehicle with a GVWR, actual weight, or registered weight of 10,000 lbs. or less.
* Any combination of vehicles with gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), actual weight, or registered weight over 26,000 lbs. provided the GVWR, actual weight, or registered weight of the towed vehicle(s) is more than 10,000 lbs.
* A vehicle transporting hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding.
* A vehicle that is designed OR used to transport 16 or more passangers, including the driver.
Any vehicle for which a CDL is required is considered a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)
To get a CDL, you must pass knowledge and Skills test.
Safety First!
Jayson Z
Sunday, February 3, 2008
1.1 Commercial Driver License Test
1.1 Commercial Driver License Test
Knowledge Test
You will have to take one or more knowledge test, depending on what class of license and what endorsements you need.
The CDL knowledge test include:
* The General Knowledge Test, taken by all applicants.
* The Passenger Transport Test, taken by all bus driver applicants.
* The School Bus Test is required if you want to drive a school bus.
* The Air Brakes Test, which you must take if your vehicle has air brakes.
* The Combination Vehicle Test, which is required if you want to drive combination vehicles.
* The Hazardous Vehicles Test, required if you want to haul hazardous material or waste in amounts which require placarding.
* The Tanker Test, required if you want to haul liquids in bulk.
* The Doubles/Tripples Test, required if you want to pull double or triple trailers.
Skills Test
If you pass the required knowledge test(s), you can take the CDL skills test. There are three types of general skills that will be tested: pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, and on-road driving. You must take these test in the type of vehicle for which you wish to be licensed.
Pre-trip Vehicle Inspection. You will be tested to see if you know whether your vehicle is safe to drive. You will be asked to do a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle and explain to the examiner what you would inspect and why
Basic Vehicle Control. You will be tested on your skill to control the vehicle. You will be asked to move your vehicle forward, backward, and turn it within a defined area. These areas may be marked with traffic lanes, cones, barriers, or something similar. The examiner will tell you how each control test is done.
On-Road Test. You will be tested on your skill to safely drive your vehicle in a variety of traffic situations. The situations may include left and right turns, intersections, railroad crossings, curves, up and down grades, single or multi-lane roads, streets, or highways. The examiner will tell you where to drive.
Safety First!
Jayson Z
Knowledge Test
You will have to take one or more knowledge test, depending on what class of license and what endorsements you need.
The CDL knowledge test include:
* The General Knowledge Test, taken by all applicants.
* The Passenger Transport Test, taken by all bus driver applicants.
* The School Bus Test is required if you want to drive a school bus.
* The Air Brakes Test, which you must take if your vehicle has air brakes.
* The Combination Vehicle Test, which is required if you want to drive combination vehicles.
* The Hazardous Vehicles Test, required if you want to haul hazardous material or waste in amounts which require placarding.
* The Tanker Test, required if you want to haul liquids in bulk.
* The Doubles/Tripples Test, required if you want to pull double or triple trailers.
Skills Test
If you pass the required knowledge test(s), you can take the CDL skills test. There are three types of general skills that will be tested: pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, and on-road driving. You must take these test in the type of vehicle for which you wish to be licensed.
Pre-trip Vehicle Inspection. You will be tested to see if you know whether your vehicle is safe to drive. You will be asked to do a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle and explain to the examiner what you would inspect and why
Basic Vehicle Control. You will be tested on your skill to control the vehicle. You will be asked to move your vehicle forward, backward, and turn it within a defined area. These areas may be marked with traffic lanes, cones, barriers, or something similar. The examiner will tell you how each control test is done.
On-Road Test. You will be tested on your skill to safely drive your vehicle in a variety of traffic situations. The situations may include left and right turns, intersections, railroad crossings, curves, up and down grades, single or multi-lane roads, streets, or highways. The examiner will tell you where to drive.
Safety First!
Jayson Z
1.2 Other CDL Rules
1.2 Other CDL Rules
There are other rules which affect drivers operating CMV's.
* You cannot have more than one license. If you break this rule, a court may fine you up to $5,000 or put you in jail. Keep your home state license and return others.
* You must notify your employer within 30 days of a conviction for any traffic violations (except parking). This is true no matter what type of vehicle you were driving.
* You must notify your motor vehicle licensing agency within 30 days if you are convicted in any other state of any traffic violation (except parking). This is true no matter what type of vehicle you were driving.
* You must notify your employer within one working day if your CDL privilege is suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified.
* You must give your employer information on all driving jobs you held for the past 10 years. You must do this when you apply for a commercial driving job.
* All states are connected to one computerized system to share information about CDL drivers. The states will check on driver's records to be sure that drivers don't get more than one CDL.
Some are excempt from CDL licensing depending on the State you live in. For more information visit your local DMV location.
* Fire Fighters and rescue squad members will not need a CDL to drive properly equipped emergency or fire fighting vehicles.
* Recreational vehicle operators (owned or leased motor home, fifth wheel mobile home, or touring mobile homa provided it isn't longer than 45 feet) not engaged in commercial activity will not need a CDL
* A Farmer will not need a CDL to drive a commercial motor vehicle owned or leased by the farmer, provided the vehicle is not used in "for hire" carriage, is transporting farm supplies, produce or machinery to or from the farm and is within 150 miles of the farm. The farm supplies that a farmer may transport without obtaining a CDL may include hazardous materials. However, a farmer driving a commercial motor vehicle with double or tripple trailers, or designed to carry or actually carrying 16 or more passengers must have a CDL with proper endorsments.
* Back-up (substitute or replacement) Snowplow drivers (includes snow or ice removal by plowing, salting or sanding) for local units of government (defined as a county, city, village, town, school district, county utility district, sanitary district, metropolitan sewage district, or other public body created by or pursuant to state law) will not need a CDL if they meet all of the following:
* Are an employee of a local unit of government with a population of 3,000 or less.
* Hold a valid Class D license.
* Are operating within the bounderies of the local unit of government
* Are one of the following:
- Substitutingfor ar replacing a regular employee who ordinarily operates the vehicle.
- An additional employee because a snow emergency exist (asdetermined by the local unit of government).
Safety First!
Jayson Z
There are other rules which affect drivers operating CMV's.
* You cannot have more than one license. If you break this rule, a court may fine you up to $5,000 or put you in jail. Keep your home state license and return others.
* You must notify your employer within 30 days of a conviction for any traffic violations (except parking). This is true no matter what type of vehicle you were driving.
* You must notify your motor vehicle licensing agency within 30 days if you are convicted in any other state of any traffic violation (except parking). This is true no matter what type of vehicle you were driving.
* You must notify your employer within one working day if your CDL privilege is suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified.
* You must give your employer information on all driving jobs you held for the past 10 years. You must do this when you apply for a commercial driving job.
* All states are connected to one computerized system to share information about CDL drivers. The states will check on driver's records to be sure that drivers don't get more than one CDL.
Some are excempt from CDL licensing depending on the State you live in. For more information visit your local DMV location.
* Fire Fighters and rescue squad members will not need a CDL to drive properly equipped emergency or fire fighting vehicles.
* Recreational vehicle operators (owned or leased motor home, fifth wheel mobile home, or touring mobile homa provided it isn't longer than 45 feet) not engaged in commercial activity will not need a CDL
* A Farmer will not need a CDL to drive a commercial motor vehicle owned or leased by the farmer, provided the vehicle is not used in "for hire" carriage, is transporting farm supplies, produce or machinery to or from the farm and is within 150 miles of the farm. The farm supplies that a farmer may transport without obtaining a CDL may include hazardous materials. However, a farmer driving a commercial motor vehicle with double or tripple trailers, or designed to carry or actually carrying 16 or more passengers must have a CDL with proper endorsments.
* Back-up (substitute or replacement) Snowplow drivers (includes snow or ice removal by plowing, salting or sanding) for local units of government (defined as a county, city, village, town, school district, county utility district, sanitary district, metropolitan sewage district, or other public body created by or pursuant to state law) will not need a CDL if they meet all of the following:
* Are an employee of a local unit of government with a population of 3,000 or less.
* Hold a valid Class D license.
* Are operating within the bounderies of the local unit of government
* Are one of the following:
- Substitutingfor ar replacing a regular employee who ordinarily operates the vehicle.
- An additional employee because a snow emergency exist (asdetermined by the local unit of government).
Safety First!
Jayson Z
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