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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