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The Commercial Driver’s License Test
The Commercial Driver’s License Test
Every person who drives a semi truck, bus, or other large commercial vehicle is legally required to have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL). Prior to 1986, a regular driver’s license was considered sufficient to drive a large vehicle. However, a high rate of major trucking accidents eventually convinced government officials that safely operating a commercial vehicle requires specialized training.
The test for receiving a commercial driver’s license is similar to the test for a regular license: it combines a written test about legal regulations with a driver’s test supervised by a licensed private or government employee. Unlike the test for a regular license, however, CDL applicants will also be tested on their knowledge of truck regulations and components. CDLs are issued on a state level, but the requirements for obtaining one are very similar from one state to the next.
The Written Test
The two portions of the written CDL test cover information such as:
- Traffic laws
- Regulations concerning vehicle loading, inspections, and maintenance
- The components of a large truck
- Truck maintenance and repairs
The written portions of the CDL test will have a minimum of 30 questions. Test-takers must get at least 80% of the questions right in order to pass.
The Skills Test
After passing the written test, the applicant will need to complete a skills test. He or she must take this portion of the test using the vehicle he or she plans to operate (school bus, semi truck, etc). He or she must demonstrate an ability to adequately perform basic operations, such as:
- Safety inspection of the vehicle
- Important maneuvers such as backing up, docking, right turns, etc
- Safe driving along a pre-planned route (grading will focus on turns, signaling, speed, etc)
The standards for passing the skills test are generally strict, as unsafe truck driving is a major public safety risk. Most CDL applicants fail their written and/or skills test on the first try. However, they are allowed to try again as often as they need in order to develop safe driving skills.
Contact a Trucking Factor
At TBS Factoring Service, LLC, we understand the legal and financial challenges of freight delivery. To learn more about how we can help your company, contact our freight factoring agents today at 1-800-207-7661.
