Trucker’s Handbook

1 PUB 194 (3-19)Pennsylvania Department of TransportationTrucker s 1 CONTENTSC ommercial Driver s License Program .. 3 Physical Qualifications of Drivers .. 8 Suspensions, Disqualifications, Cancellations and Restorations .. 8 Point System.. 9 Titles.. 10 Insurance Certification.. 12 Registration.. 14 Apportioned Registration.. 17 Dual Registration.. 21 Maximum Sizes and Loads.. 23 Legal Wheel, Axle, & Gross Vehicle Weights .. 24 Bridge Formula .. 25 Legal Axle Weights & Gross Vehicle Weights.. 27 Farm Vehicles .. 36 Implements of Husbandry.. 38 Special Hauling Permits.. 40 Posted Highway Policies.. 43 Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.. 45 Hazardous Materials .. 46 HAZMAT Spill - Notification Procedures.

2 46 Hazardous Waste .. 47 Hazardous Materials on the Turnpike.. 47 Motor Carriers Road Tax Identification .. 47 Weight Enforcement Program.. 48 Truck Access.. 49 Crash Reporting.. 50 Customer Call Center .. 51 Intrastate Carriers of Property and Household Goods .. 51 Unified Carrier Registration Act.. 53 Definitions .. 54 Telephone List.. 59 PAGE 2 PAGE 3 COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSING PROGRAMThe Federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, signed into law in October 1986,established a National Commercial Driver s Licensing Program. Although individual states arestill responsible for issuing driver's licenses, their licensing standards must comply with theminimum Federal requirements apply to all drivers of intrastate or interstate commercial vehicles and theiremployers.

3 The law affects anyone who drives a commercial vehicle that: has a gross vehicle weight rating over 26,000 lbs.; is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; is a school bus; OR is used in the transportation of hazardous materials requiring are several requirements for commercial drivers and their employers. They are: Single license requirement- Commercial motor vehicle drivers may have only onelicense. A Pennsylvania resident holding a driver s license from another State is in violationof Federal and State law. If you have a license issued by another State, you mustsurrender it to the licensing agency of the new state of residence. Destroying a licensedoes not satisfy this requirement.

4 Violations- Commercial motor vehicle drivers must inform both the State licensing agency(Pennsylvania Department of Transportation), and their employer of any out-of-statemoving traffic conviction(s) regardless of the type of vehicle in which the violation have 30 days following a conviction to notify both parties. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Bureau of Driver Licensing Box 68617 Harrisburg, PA 17106-8617 Suspensions- Commercial motor vehicle drivers must notify their employer if their drivingprivilege has been disqualified, suspended, revoked, or canceled.

5 This notification mustbe made by the end of the business day following the day the driver received notice of theirdisqualification, suspension, revocation, or cancellation. Disqualification- The Federal act requires all states to record offenses that can disqualifycommercial motor vehicle drivers for a specific period of time, depending on the violation,from operating a commercial motor vehicle. Upon receiving such notification, a commercialmotor vehicle driver would then be unable to legally drive a commercial vehicle. Employment- Drivers applying for commercial driver employment must notify theiremployer of any prior commercial driver employment during the previous ten 4 Employers- Employers may not knowingly allow an employee to operate a commercialmotor vehicle if the employee's driving privilege is disqualified, suspended, revoked, orcanceled, or if the employee has more than one driver s for violating these provisions are severe.

6 For each offense, commercial drivers andtheir employers could be fined up to $2,500 in civil fines, additional criminal fines up to $5,000per violation, and/or a prison sentence of up to 90 you have any questions or need additional information regarding any of this information,please contact the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at ClassificationsYou must have a valid driver's license* for the particular type of vehicle you wish to law specifies the following classifications:Class A: Class Adriver's licenses will be issued to persons 18 years of age or older. AClass Alicense will be required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicleweight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating of thevehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

7 **Class B: Class Bdriver's licenses will be issued to persons 18 years of age or older. AClass Blicense will be required to operate any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weightrating of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of10,000 pounds. **Class C: A Class Cdriver's license will be issued to persons 18 years of age or older. AClass Clicense will be required to operate any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weightrating of less than 26,001 pounds if the vehicle is transporting hazardous materialsrequiring placarding **, is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including thedriver, or is a school bus. ** Drivers of commercial motor vehicles over 10,000 pounds in interstate commerce or17,000 pounds in intrastate commerce must also possess a valid medical examinerscertificate.

8 ** Drivers must be 21 years of age to drive a commercial vehicle interstate.** Drivers of placarded hazardous materials must be 21 years of addition to the driver s license classes, if the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle, the driveris required to possess a commercial driver's license (CDL) with appropriate endorsements andrestrictions to operate specific vehicles. They are:Q - Requires the driver to wear corrective lenses while driving a commercial motor - Requires the driver to wear a hearing aid(s) while driving a commercial motor - Restricts the driver to only drive within an exempt intracity zone (49 CFR ).PAGE 5G - Indicates the driver is qualified medically by operation of 49 CFR -Indicates the driver is qualified and has been issued a medical variance.

9 (Medicalvariance documentation must be carried at all times when operating a commercialmotor vehicle.)H -Required to drive a vehicle transporting hazardous materials requiring placards. (Mustbe 21 to qualify for this endorsement)N -Required to drive a tank -Required to drive double and triple -Required to drive a vehicle carrying 16 or more passengers including the -Required to drive a school - Restricts the driver to vehicles not equipped with air brakes. X -Represents a combination of hazardous materials and tank vehicle endorsements. (Must be 21 to qualify for this endorsement)B -Passenger endorsement restriction-Cannot drive Class A -Passenger endorsement restriction-Cannot drive Class A or B CDL License TransfersAll new residents with out-of-state CDL s must surrender them within 30 days of establishingPennsylvania residency.

10 To apply, a commercial driver must appear in person at one of ourDriver License Centers. You will need to complete the necessary forms with the correctclassification(s) and endorsements(s) and take a vision-screening test. The DL-180 RCD will beprovided at the Driver License Centers or you may download it at Youwill need to bring your valid CDL from your prior state, your social security card as well as otheridentity and residency documents. When you are issued a Pennsylvania CDL, the CDL fromyour prior state must be surrendered to the examiner. Information regarding how to obtain aninitial license is addressed in the Pennsylvania s Commercial Driver s Manual. Manuals areavailable at our Driver License Centers or you may get additional information on the internet RenewalsYou will receive your Invitation to Renew your commercial driving privilege approximately 60days prior to the expiration date of your current driver s completed form and required fee should be returned to the Department of Transportation,Bureau of Driver Licensing, Box 68272, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8272.