Driver Qualification Road Tests

Part of having someone drive a commercial vehicle for you is to make sure that they are actually qualified to operate the vehicle they intend to drive. Part of this qualification is having them perform a road test per § 391.33. Per the FMCSA “Drivers must not drive a CMV until they have completed a road test and are issued a certificate (49 CFR 391.31).” To cover this requirement the employer may

• receive a copy of the driver’s CDL and retain a copy of the CDL in the driver’s file**

• receive a copy of the driver’s road test from the past 3 years

• Perform a skills evaluation of the driver and add a copy of this Certificate of Skills Evaluation, and a copy of the driver’s test form to the driver’s file

  • Skills test cannot be performed on oneself

  • At minimum the skills tests should consist of:

    • Pre Trip Inspection

    • Coupling and uncoupling of combination units if the driver may operate combination units

    • Placing the unit in operation

    • Use of the units controls and emergency equipment

    • Operation of the unit in traffic and while passing other vehicles

    • Turning of the unit

    • Braking, and slowing of the unit by means other than braking

    • Backing and parking the unit

  • Driver shall be given a copy of the of the Certificate of Skills Evaluation upon completion of the skills evaluation

**Drivers without CDLs, operating doubles or triples, or tankers MUST be road tested.

**Longer Combination Vehicles (LCV) require special training