Ensure Safe Operations With Pre-Employment Road Testing

This post was written by: Channing Puls

Road tests are part of the initial driver onboarding and qualification process. Motor carriers must administer a road test to CMV drivers in the type of CMV they will be expected to operate for the company. Road tests ensure the applicant can safely operate the CMV to the carrier’s satisfaction.

Drivers who operate CMVs in interstate commerce are subject to the federal road test requirement unless an exemption applies.

Road tests must be sufficient to allow the examiner to evaluate the skills of the applicant operating the CMV. At minimum, the road test must evaluate an applicant’s skill in the following areas:

a)     The pre-trip inspection required by §392.7

b)    Coupling and uncoupling of combination units if the equipment he/she may drive includes combination units

c)     Placing the commercial motor vehicle in operation

d)    Use of the commercial motor vehicle’s controls and emergency equipment

e)    Operating the commercial motor vehicle in traffic and while passing other motor vehicles

f)      Turning the commercial motor vehicle

g)     Braking and slowing the commercial motor vehicle by means other than braking, and backing and parking the commercial motor vehicle

Road tests must be administered by a person designated by the motor carrier who is competent to evaluate and determine whether the applicant has demonstrated capability of operating the CMV. After evaluating the applicant, the administrator must prepare a Certification of Road Test listing the driver’s name, SSN, license number and state, the types of vehicle(s) operated, date of the road test, and approximate mileage driven. They then must sign the document to certify that the driver has passed the road test.

Exempt Drivers:

a)    The regulations allow, but do not require, carriers to accept a copy of a CDL driver’s existing CDL license (of the proper class and with all necessary endorsements) as evidence that applicant can safely operate a CMV instead of administering a road test. Carriers who utilize this exemption should keep a copy of the originally presented CDL in the driver’s qualification fil

b)    Drivers who present a copy of a road test certificate issued to them by another motor carrier within the prior three years – The regulations allow, but do not require, carriers to accept a copy of a road test certificate issued to an applicant by another motor carrier within the prior three years instead of performing a new road test.