SECTION 1 - TxDPS - Texas Department of Public …

1 Texas . COMMERCIALMOTOR VEHICLE. DRIVERSHANDBOOK. TEXASDEPARTMENTOFPUBLIC SAFETY. StevenMcCraw,Director RevisedJune,2014. STRANDED MOTORISTS--NEED HELP? CALL:1-800-525-5555orDIAL: *DPS oncellularphones DL-7C. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO OWNERS OF COMMERCIAL motor VEHICLES. Anyone required to have a CDL to drive a commercial motor vehicle is subject to alcohol/controlled substance testing. You or your driver(s) and vehicle(s) are also subject to other parts of the motor carrier safety regulations. The Texas Department of Public Safety has published a booklet entitled A motor Carrier's Guide to Improving Highway Safety which offers important information on these subjects. This booklet is available upon request at any Regional or District Office of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Service. Information about alcohol/controlled substance testing and other parts of the motor carrier safety regulations can be obtained by contacting the nearest office of the Commercial Vehicle Service of the DPS.

2 NOTICE: The Texas Department of Public Safety does not discriminate because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. Persons needing accommodation under the provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact their local Driver License Office. ADA Grievance Procedures are published in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, SECTION 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. COPYRIGHT 2005 AAMVA. All rights reserved 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.

3 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. Table of Contents Prologue .. i 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 9-1. School Bus .. 10-1. Vehicle Vehicle Inspection .. 11-1. Basic Vehicle Control Skills Test .. 12-1. On-Road Driving .. 13-1. Special Requirements for Texas Commercial motor Vehicles .. 14-1. Prologue In 1989, the Texas Legislature established the Commercial , on service roads to which the Public does not Driver License Law to comply with the federal Commercial have access.

4 motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. These laws were passed to reduce traffic accidents involving commercial motor vehicles. 6. A vehicle used exclusively to transport seed cotton modules or cotton burrs. The following handbook was designed to assist you, the professional driver, to pass the required knowledge and skills tests. You should pay attention to the key points listed Different Classes of Commercial Driver Licenses throughout the handbook in the right-hand margin. Look for The three (3) basic types or classes of Commercial Driver relevant study and review questions at the end of many chap- Licenses are described below. For further information, refer ters. Although comprehensive, this handbook is not an exact to Figure This helps a person determine which class of reference to the Texas Commercial Driver License Law. license he/she needs and which SECTION (s) of the handbook to study. Who needs a Commercial Driver License? CLASS A: Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight All drivers who operate a commercial motor vehicle are re- rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle quired to have a Commercial Driver License.

5 The law does weight rating of the vehicle or vehicles towed exceeds 10,000. provide for some exemptions. A driver that meets one or pounds;. more of the criteria listed below will not be required to have a CDL. However, the driver is required to have a Class A, B, or CLASS B: C Non-CDL License. Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001. pounds or more, any one of those vehicles towing a vehicle that does not exceed 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight Who is exempt from a CDL? rating, and any vehicle designed to transport 24 passengers (Certification form CDL-2 required). or more, including the driver; and a Class B license will be Persons operating the following vehicles are exempt from a restricted to operating busses under 26,001 pounds GVWR. Commercial Driver License: if the skills test is taken in a bus with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds; and 1. A vehicle that is controlled and operated by a farmer, used to transport agricultural products, farm machin- CLASS C: ery, or farm supplies to or from a farm, not used in the Any single vehicle or combination of vehicles that is not a operations of a common or contract motor carrier, and Class A or Class B if the vehicle is: used within 150 air miles of the person's farm.

6 1) designed to transport 16 to 23 passengers including 2. A fire-fighting or emergency vehicle necessary to the the driver; or preservation of life or property or the execution of emergency governmental functions, whether operated 2) used in the transportation of hazardous materials by an employee of a political subdivision or by a vol- that require the vehicle to be placarded under 49. unteer fire fighter (this includes operators of industrial CFR, Part 172, Subpart F. emergency vehicles). 3. A military vehicle, when operated for military purposes Commercial Learner Permit (CLP). by military personnel, members of the Reserves and A Commercial Learner Permit (CLP) will be issued to drivers National Guard on active duty, including personnel on who are applying to drive a commercial vehicle or modifying full-time National Guard duty, personnel on part-time an existing commercial driver license. A CLP must be held training, and National Guard military technicians.

7 For a minimum of 14 days prior to being allowed to take the CDL skills test. This applies to original applicants, modifi- 4. A recreational vehicle that is driven for personal use. cations in grade and adding endorsements which require a skills test. 5. A vehicle that is owned, leased, or controlled by an air carrier, as defined by Texas Transportation Code While operating a commercial motor vehicle with a commer- (TRC), SECTION , and that is driven or operated cial learners permit (CLP), the applicant must have a licensed exclusively by an employee of the air carrier only on the CDL operator, with the proper class of license, in the front premises of an airport, as defined by the TRC, SECTION seat with him. (See Endorsements and Restrictions sections.). i In addition to the general driver license restrictions and en- tor's license for at least one year will not be eligible for the dorsements, a CDL holder may also have one or more of the FRSI CDL. Drivers who have between one and two years of following restrictions or endorsements applied to his license.

8 Driving experience must demonstrate the good driving record requirements for their entire driving history. Drivers with more Endorsements and Restrictions for Commercial Driver than two years of driving experience must meet the good driv- License: ing record requirements for the two-year period preceding their date of application for an FRSI CDL. A good driving record is defined as: Code Endorsement T Double/Triple Trailer 1) No multiple licenses;. P Passenger N Tank Vehicle 2) No driver license suspensions, revocations, disqual- H Hazardous Material ifications, or cancellations of any kind;. X Combination of N and H. S School Buses 3) No convictions in any type of motor vehicle for driv- ing under the influence of alcohol or drugs, leaving the scene of an accident, or committing any felony Code Restriction involving a motor vehicle;. M Intrastate Only (commercial motor vehicle). L No Air Brakes 4) No convictions whatsoever in any type of motor ve- Licensed CDL operator in front seat hicle for serious traffic violations, , speeding at 15.

9 -all classes CMV's miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit;. P Licensed CDL operator in front seat reckless driving, improper or erratic lane changes;. -CMV's above Class B following too closely; driving a CMV without a CDL. Licensed CDL operator in front seat in possession; or driving a CMV without a CDL; and -CMV's above Class C. 5) No convictions in any type of motor vehicle for acci- dent-connected traffic law violations and no record of at-fault accidents. For a complete listing of the driver license restrictions and endorsements, visit our web site at A holder of an FRSI CDL may not transport hazardous mate- rials in quantities requiring placarding except for the following amounts: Farm-Related Service Industry (FRSI) Waiver 1) Transport 1,000 gallons or less of diesel fuel;. The Texas Department of Public Safety may waive the Com- 2) Transport 3,000 gallons or less of liquid fertilizer; or mercial Driver License (CDL) knowledge and skills tests re- quired by TRC, SECTION , and provide for the issuance 3) Transport any quantity of solid fertilizer not mixed of a restricted CDL to an employee of a Farm-Related Ser- with any organic substance.

10 Vice Industry (FRSI). Seasonal drivers of the following FRSI. are authorized by federal and state regulations to obtain the No other placarded hazardous materials shall be transported waiver and be issued a restricted CDL: (1) Farm retail out- by holders of an FRSI CDL. The FRSI CDL confers the right lets and suppliers; (2) agrichemical businesses; (3) custom to carry hazardous materials as listed above. No hazardous harvesters (includes cotton modular operators); and (4) live- materials endorsement can be placed on an FRSI CDL. stock feeders. FRSI CDL's shall be issued for Class B and Class C vehicles only (Class A vehicles are not included in An FRSI CDL driver may only be permitted to operate com- the waiver). The FRSI CDL can only be valid for 180 days mercial motor vehicles within 150 miles of the employer's each twelve month period as indicated on the license. place of business or the farm currently being served. Applicants are not required to pass CDL knowledge or skills CDL sanctions/disqualifications apply to the FRSI CDL driver tests to obtain an FRSI CDL.