Manual Driver License Commercial - Alaska

1 CommercialDriver LicenseManual2005 CDL Testing SystemVersion: July 2017 CDL Driver s ManualCOPYRIGHT 2005 AAMVAAll Rights ReservedAlaska Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act The Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA) is a federal mandate designed to enhance highway safety by ensuring only safe drivers operate Commercial motor vehicles. MCSIA improves the Commercial Driver License (CDL) sanctioning process by strengthening the disqualification process through the expansion of violations that result in disqualification. In addition, MCSIA requires states to disqualify CDL drivers who have high risk traffic offenses in their personal vehicles. Below is a list of Major and Serious violations that will result in a disqualification of your Commercial Driver s License or Commercial learner s permit: Major Disqualifying Offenses Applicable when operating a CMV or non CMV.

2 Disqualification periods are enhanced if operating a CMV while transporting hazardous materials or passengers, or in connection with a felony involving controlled substances (CFR table 1). DUI Refusal Leaving the scene of an accident Felony involving a motor vehicle Driving while License revoked/suspended/cancelled or disqualified Causing a fatality while driving a CMV by negligent driving or by committing a felony1st Major Offense 1 year disqualification of your Commercial driving privileges 2nd Major Offense Lifetime disqualification of your Commercial driving privileges Serious Disqualifying Offenses Applicable when operating a CMV or non CMV. Disqualification periods are enhanced if operating a CMV while transporting hazardous materials or passengers. Speeding 15 or more over the limit Following too closely Improper or erratic lane changes Negligent driving (as (16)(B) Violating state or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control arising in connection with an accidentcausing injury or fatality to a person.)

3 ( (16)(O)) Driving a CMV without obtaining a CDL Driving a CMV without a CDL in the Driver s possession Driving a CMV without the proper class of CDL and/or endorsements for the specific vehicle group beingoperated or for the passengers or type of cargo being transported Use of an electronic device while driving.(AS (16)(H)2nd Serious Traffic Offense in 3 years 60 day disqualification of Commercial driving privileges 3rd Serious Traffic Offense in 3 years 120 day disqualification of Commercial driving privileges Violating Out-of-Service Orders Applicable while operating a CMV only (AS (j)). 1st offense no less than 180 days or more than 1 year 1st offense with hazmat no less than 180 days or more than 2 years 2nd offense within 10 years no less than 1 year or more than 5 years 2nd offense with hazmat within 10 years no less than 3 years or more than 5 years 3rd offense within 10 years no less than 3 years or more than 5 years 3rd offense with hazmat within 10 years no less than 3 years or more than 5 yearsRailroad-Highway Grade Crossing Violations Applicable while operating a CMV only.)

4 1st offense 60 day disqualification of Commercial driving privileges 2nd offense within 3 years 120 day disqualification of Commercial driving privileges 3rd or subsequent offense within 3 years 1 year disqualification of Commercial driving privileges Page 1 Section 1 - Introduction Version: July 2017 Dear Commercial Driver : The State of Alaska is pleased to provide this Commercial Driver s License Manual to you. As a professional truck or bus Driver you can appreciate the knowledge and skills that are necessary to operate a Commercial vehicle safely. Our program will help assure that all Commercial drivers understand their safety responsibilities to themselves and all highway users. This Manual will help you prepare for the CDL knowledge and endorsement tests. Please review it carefully. For specific information about the CDL program or on how to schedule a knowledge or skills exam please contact your local DMV office.

5 Alaska law AS requires that a person who carries passengers or freight for hire within the state of Alaska in a Commercial motor vehicle, or a person who carries freight in a motor vehicle for Commercial purposes, shall maintain financial responsibility in the following amounts: $200,000 for property damage in a single occurrence; and $500,000 for bodily injury or death in a single occurrence. Evidence of financial responsibility shall be filed with: Department of Transportation Division of Measurement Standards and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement 11900 Industrial Way Huffman Business Park, Building M Anchorage, AK 99515-3512 The evidence must be in the form of a policy or certificate of insurance by an insurer acceptable to the Department, or other security approved by the Department. Remember that driving is a privilege, not a right. Good luck on your Commercial examination.

6 This publication was released by the Alaska Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles, produced at a cost of $ per copy to educate potential drivers of Commercial vehicles and printed in Anchorage, Alaska under copyright of the American Association of Motor V ehicle Administrators This material is base d upon work supported by t he Fed eral Motor Carrier Safety Administration under Cooperative Agreement No. DTFH61-97-X- 00 017. Any opinions, findings, conclusions , or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the Author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of t he Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The purpose of this Manual is to provide the reader with a general familiarity with the principals of safe operation of a Commercial motor vehicle. The contents of this Manual are NOT intended to serve as a precise statement of the Statutes and Regulations of the State of Alaska pertaining to the operation of a Commercial motor vehicle and should not be understood by the reader as such.

7 Revised by the Alaska DMV 02/2018 Printed 02/2018 This material has been created for and provided to State Driver License Agencies (SDLAs) by AAMVA for the purpose of educating Driver License applicants ( Commercial or Non- Commercial ). Permission to reproduce, use, distribute or sell this material has been granted to SDLAs only. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher. Any unauthorized reprint, use, distribution or sale of this material is prohibited. Page 2 Section 1 - Introduction Version: July 2017 Who is required to be licensed A Commercial Driver s License (CDL) is required for anyone who is driving a vehicle intrastate or interstate with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more.

8 If you will be driving a vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the Driver , or transporting hazardous materials, regardless of the GVWR, a CDL is required. A Commercial Driver may have only one License and that License must be issued by their state of domicile. Those exempted from the Commercial Driver licensing requirements include drivers of recreational, military and emergency vehicles. Farm vehicles are exempt if controlled and operated by a farmer, used to transport agricultural products or machinery to and from a farm, not used in for-hire or contract carrier operations, and if driven no further than 150 miles from the farm. Testing and Issuance Requirements In accordance with 2 AAC (a), your social security number is required to obtain a CDL along with other birth and identity documents if you have never been licensed in the State of Alaska .

9 The Commercial Driver License fee is $ There is a $ non-refundable fee for those requiring a road test. Road test appointments may be scheduled online at (see page 7), or in person at any DMV office. The minimum passing score for all knowledge tests is 80%. To obtain a passing score on the skill test, the applicant must demonstrate that he/she can successfully perform all of the skills required. Under Department of Administration regulation 2 AAC the knowledge tests may be taken once per day until successful completion. The road skills test will be given to the applicant once he/she satisfactorily meets all other requirements; second road skills test can be conducted at least one week after the first test if the department determines it is necessary; further testing will be at the department s discretion and the department may require proof that additional Driver training has been completed.

10 An applicant must hold a Commercial Learner s Permit (CLP) for at least 14 days before taking a road skills test. If you are upgrading to a higher class or an endorsement that requires a road skills test you must have held a CLP for at least 14 days. An applicant must be at least twenty-one years of age to operate in interstate commerce or eighteen years (Effective 11/14/19) of age to operate in intrastate commerce at the time of application and must have held a valid Driver License for at least one year. An applicant must pass the knowledge, skills and vision test prior to issuance of the CDL. For further information about obtaining a Commercial Driver License or a Commercial learner s permit, please address your questions to any DMV office. Medical Certificate and Self-Certification Requirements Effective January 1, 2012 all CDL drivers are required by Federal law to self-certify to the type of CMV operation that applies to the Driver .