General Qualifications to Drive a Commercial Motor Vehicle.

A person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless he/she is qualified to drivea commercial
motor vehicle. Except as provided in §391.63, a motor carrier shall not require or permit a person to
drive a commercial motor vehicle unless that person is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle.

Except as provided in Subpart G of 49 CFR 391, a person is qualified to drive a commercial motor
vehicle if he/she:

  • Is at least 21 years old;

  • Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to
    understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official
    inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records;

  • Can, by reason of experience, training, or both, safely operate the type of commercial motor
    vehicle he/she drives;

  • Is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in accordance with Subpart E —
    Physical Qualifications and Examinations of 49 CFR 391;

  • Has a currently valid commercial motor vehicle operator's license issued only by one State or
    jurisdiction;  

  • Has prepared and furnished the motor carrier that employs him/her with the list of violations or
    the certificate as required by §391.27;


  • Has successfully completed a driver's road test and has been issued a certificate of driver's
    road test in accordance with §391.31, or has presented an operator's license or a certificate of
    road test which the motor carrier that employs him/her has accepted as equivalent to a road test
    in accordance with §391.33.

For more complete details and information please refer to 49 CFR 391.

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Commercial Drivers License (CDL) General Requirements and Qualifications
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