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Commercial Commercial Driver License Driver License Manual Manual Model
Model
Commercial
Commercial
Driver License
Driver License
Manual
Manual
2005 CDL Testing Model
2005 CDL Testing Model
(Issued December 2005)
(Issued December 2005)
CDL Drivers Manual
CDL Drivers Manual
COPYRIGHT AAMVA
COPYRIGHT AAMVA
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved











































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
............................................................................................................13-1


On October 26, 1986, United States Congress passed the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act. This
law requires each State to meet the same minimum standards for commercial driver licensing. The
standards require commercial motor vehicle drivers to get a Commercial Drivers License (CDL).
WHAT IS THE COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE LAW?
New federal standards for testing and licensing heavy truck and bus operators are now law in
Kentucky. These minimum standards will guarantee the fitness of commercial motor vehicle operators
by requiring demonstrated ability to drive heavy vehicles before a license is issued. A new license,
called the Commercial Driver License (CDL), has replaced what was known as a chauffeur license
for many Kentucky drivers. The CDL laws and standards cover drivers in all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, Mexico, and Canada. Motor Carriers will be held responsible if their drivers operate a
commercial motor vehicle without a valid CDL.
Who Must Apply?
Operators of vehicles described below MUST apply for a CDL.
Class A CDL
*Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or
more, provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is more than 10,000 pounds.
NOTE: The gross vehicle weight rating is the total of the empty weight of the vehicle, the load or
cargo weight capacity, and the passenger weight capacity. If the GVWR is not listed on a sticker,
located in the vehicle glove box or inside the driver side door, contact your vehicles manufacturer for
this information.
Class B CDL
*Any straight truck with two or more axles and a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more.
*Any vehicle with two or more axles and a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, pulling a vehicle
with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less.
*A single vehicle designed to transport more than 15 passengers (including the driver) if the GVWR is
26,001 pounds or more.
Class C CDL
*Any vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds transporting hazardous materials for
which placarding is required.
*Any vehicle transporting more than 15 passengers, including the driver, with a GVWR of less
than 26,001 pounds.
Page 1 1 EXEMPTIONS
The following groups are exempt from the CDL requirements, provided they meet all the
criteria.
*Drivers of vehicles that are: Used exclusively in farm-to-market agricultural transportation,
operated in private carriage, owned and/or operated by the farmer or his employees, and used
within one-hundred-fifty (150) highway miles of the point of origin.
*Drivers of firefighting and other emergency equipment.
*Drivers of military vehicles if those persons are: Military personnel in uniform, operating the
vehicles in pursuit of a military purpose, and properly licensed by the military.
*Drivers of vehicles that are designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping,
or travel use, and operate on their own motor power or are mounted on or drawn by another
vehicle.
HOW TO APPLY
To make application for a CDL, you must provide a valid DOT medical certificate and complete an
application at your local Circuit Court Clerks office. All applicants will be required to successfully
pass a knowledge test, either in written or oral form (no oral test for Hazardous Material endorsement),
and a vision test. A CDL instruction permit will then be issued which is valid for six (6) months. You
may schedule a road skills test with Kentucky State Police by calling 800-542-5990. The permit must
be held for 10 days prior to a skills test being administered.
WHATS ON THE KNOWLEDGE TEST?
The Kentucky State Police will give the knowledge test at the local exam stations. Please check with
your local Circuit Court Clerk regarding the days and times the examiner will be available. The
knowledge test consists of 50 questions covering a broad range of subjects, including vehicle operations
under all kinds of conditions, cargo handling, and vehicle inspection.
Additional knowledge must be shown in the following areas:
*Applicants for class A license 20 questions on Combination Vehicles.
*Applicants driving vehicles with air brakes 25 questions on Air Brakes.
Endorsements are required for the following vehicles:
*Doubles/Triples Trailers 20 questions
*Tankers 20 questions
*Passenger Transport 20 questions
*Hazardous Materials 30 questions
*School Bus -- 20 questions
Page 1-2 School bus drivers must also have a School Bus Endorsement in addition to a passenger
endorsement on their commercial drivers license. To get a school bus endorsement, you must
pass a knowledge test on sections 2, 4, and 10 of this manual. You will also be required to pass
a skills test for the class of school bus you drive or intend to drive.
For each test, 80 percent of the questions must be answered correctly to pass. Failure to show basic
knowledge of an air brake system will result in a license restriction limiting the driver to operating a
vehicle without an air brake system. Applicants may take the basic knowledge test indefinitely without
paying retest fees. However, if he fails, an applicant must wait 24 hours prior to retesting. Skills tests
can be taken indefinitely as long as the CDL instruction permit is valid. The combination, air brake,
and endorsement tests require a $5 retest fee for each time taken after the initial failure.
RETESTING
Applicants must retest for the hazardous materials endorsement at renewal of the CDL. If transferring
into Kentucky, and it has been two (2) years since the last test, an applicant must retest in order to keep
a hazardous material endorsement. If a CDL driver surrenders his commercial driving privileges, he
has a year to return to the Circuit Court Clerks office and be reissued the CDL without retesting. If
the CDL is expired for more than one (1) year but less than five (5), the written tests must be taken
prior to a new license being issued. Written and skills testing is required if the CDL is expired or at a
non-valid status for five (5) years or more. An application fee will be charged. If applying for a CDL
reinstatement and the commercial privilege has been suspended for one (1) year or more, ALL tests
are required.
WHAT DOES THE ROAD TEST COVER?
Drivers will be