CommercialCommercial DriverDriver LicenseLicense ManualManual 2005 CDL Testing Model (July 2010)2007) CDL Driver ’ s Manual COPYRIGHT AAMVA All Rights ReservedRe served The Alabama department of Public Safety printed this Commercial Driver License Manual through financial support from the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) under grant number CD 100110000000 This material is based upon work supported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under Cooperative Agreement No. DTFH61-97-X- 00017. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the Author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Table Of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1-1 Driving Safely ................................................................................................................... 2-1 Transporting Cargo Safely ................................................................................... 3-1 Transporting Passengers Safely .................................................................... 4-1 Air Brakes ............................................................................................................................ 5-1 Combination Vehicles ............................................................................................... 6-1 Doubles and Triples ................................................................................................... 7-1 Tank Vehicles .................................................................................................................. 8-1 Hazardous Materials .................................................................................................. 9-1 School Bus ....................................................................................................................... 10-1 Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection ............................................................................... 11-1 Basic Vehicle Control Skills Test .................................................................. 12-1 On-Road Driving .............................................................................................................. 1 Alabama Department of Public Safety Driver License Division Chief Examiner April 2012 Dear Commercial Vehicle Operator: The Alabama Department of Public Safety urges you to study diligently the contents of this manual before you visit a Commercial Driver License (CDL) Test site for testing. This manual will provide you with material that is essential for you to meet the testing requirements, and it also will inform you regarding penalties provided for fraudulent application and traffic law violations while operating a commercial vehicle. The Department of Public Safety recognizes your vital role and contribution to industry in our state, as well as your potential impact upon highway and traffic safety. This department is committed to working in partnership with you to insure that the commercial driver license program enhances your profession and is beneficial to all Alabamians. Sincerely, Chief Examiner Driver License Division The manual adjustment of automatic slack adjusters is dangerous because it gives the vehicle operator a false sense of security about the effectiveness of the braking system. 1 For additional information regarding inspecting the Air Brake System refer to Air Brake Section 5.3.2 in this manual. ____________________________________ 1National Transportation Safety Board, Safety Recommendation, H-06-3 2005 Model Commercial Driver’s License Manual Do You Need a CDL? Section 1 INTRODUCTION Does the vehicle or combination of vehicles This Section Covers No have a manufacturer’s weight rating (GVWR) over 26,000 pounds? • Commercial Driver License Tests • Driver Disqualifications Yes • Other Safety Rules There is a federal requirement that each state have Is the vehicle a minimum standards for the licensing of commercial combination Yes You drivers. vehicle need a towing a unit Class A CDL. This manual provides driver license testing over 10,000 pounds information for drivers who wish to have a GVWR? commercial driver license (CDL). This manual does NOT provide information on all the federal and No state requirements needed before you can drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). You may have to contact your state driver licensing authority for Does the Yes You additional information. singleYes need a vehicle have Class B a GVWR CDL . You must have a CDL to operate: over 26,000 pounds? Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more. No A combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds, if the Is the vehicle trailer(s) has a GVWR of 10,001 or more pounds. designed to You carry 16 or need a A vehicle designed to transport 16 or more Yes more people Class C passengers (including the driver). (including CDL . the driver)? Any size vehicle which requires hazardous material placards or is carrying material listed as No a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR part 73. No Federal regulations through the Department of Homeland Security require a background check and fingerprinting for the Hazardous Materials Does the You endorsement. Contact your local department of vehicle Yes need a driver licensing for more information. require Class C hazardous CDL . material (Your state may have additional definitions of placards or CMVs.) transport a select agent or toxin? To get a CDL, you must pass knowledge and skills tests. This manual will help you pass the tests. No This manual is not a substitute for a truck driver training class or program. Formal training is the You DO NOT most reliable way to learn the many special skills need a CDL . required for safely driving a large commercial vehicle and becoming a professional driver in the NOTE: A bus may be Class A, B, or C depending on whether trucking industry. Figure 1.1 helps you determine if the GVWR is over 26,001 pounds or is a combination you need a CDL vehicle. Figure 1.1 Section 1 - Introduction Page 1-1 2005 Model Commercial Driver’s License Manual 1.1 – Commercial Driver License Tests similar. The examiner will tell you how each control test is to be done. 1.1.1 – Knowledge Tests On-road Test. You will be tested on your skill to You will have to take one or more knowledge tests, safely drive your vehicle in a variety of traffic depending on what class of license and what situations. The situations may include left and right endorsements you need. The CDL knowledge turns, intersections, railroad crossings, curves, up tests include: and down grades, single or multi-lane roads, streets, or highways. The examiner will tell you The general knowledge test, taken by all where to drive. applicants. The passenger transport test, taken by all bus Figure 1.2 details which sections of this manual driver applicants. you should study for each particular class of license and for each endorsement. The air brakes test, which you must take if your vehicle has air brakes, including air over What Sections Should You Study? hydraulic brakes. LICENSE ENDORSEMENT The combination vehicles test, which is required TYPE if you want to drive combination vehicles. Class A Class B Class C Materials Hazardous Double/ Triple Tank Vehicles Passenger School Bus The hazardous materials test, required if you want to haul hazardous materials as defined in 49 CFR 383.5. In order to obtain this endorsement you are also required to pass a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) background check. Sectionsto Study 1 X X X The tanker test, required if you want to haul a liquid or liquid gas in a permanently mounted 2 X X X X X X cargo tank rated at 119 gallons or more or a portable tank rated at 1,000 gallons or more. 3 X X X The doubles/triples test, required if you want to pull double or triple trailers. 4 X The School Bust test, required if you want to drive a school bus. 5* X X X X 1.1.2 – Skills Tests 6 X X X If you pass the required knowledge test(s), you can 7 X take the CDL skills tests. There are three types of general skills that will be tested: pre-trip inspection, 8 X basic vehicle control, and on-road driving. You must take these tests in the type of vehicle for 9 X X which you wish to be licensed. Any vehicle that has components marked or labeled cannot be 10 X used for the Pre-Trip Inspection Test. 11 X X X X X Pre-trip Vehicle Inspection. You will be tested to see if you know whether your vehicle is safe to 12 X X X X X drive. You will be asked to do a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle and explain to the examiner what 13 X X X X X you would inspect and why. *Study section 5 if you plan to operate vehicles Basic Vehicle Control. You will be tested on your equipped with air brakes. skill to control the vehicle. You will be asked to Figure 1.2 – What to Study move your vehicle forward, backward, and turn it within a defined area. These areas may be marked with traffic lanes, cones, barriers, or something Section 1 - Introduction Page 1-2 2005 Model Commercial Driver’s License Manual 1.2 – CDL Disqualifications without the proper class of CDL and/or endorsements. 1.2.1 – General You will lose your CDL: You may not drive a commercial motor vehicle if For at least 60 days if you have committed two you are disqualified for any reason. serious traffic violations within