[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR383.91]

[Page 891-893]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
        CHAPTER III--FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION,
                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 383--COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE STANDARDS; REQUIREMENTS AND PENALTIES--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart F--Vehicle Groups and Endorsements
 
Sec. 383.91  Commercial motor vehicle groups.

    Source: 53 FR 27651, July 21, 1988, unless otherwise noted.


    (a) Vehicle group descriptions. Each driver applicant must possess 
and be tested on his/her knowledge and skills, described in subpart G of 
this part, for the commercial motor vehicle group(s) for which he/she 
desires a CDL. The commercial motor vehicle groups are as follows:
    (1) Combination vehicle (Group A)--Any combination of vehicles with 
a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 11,794 kilograms or more 
(26,001 pounds or more) provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed 
is in excess of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).
    (2) Heavy Straight Vehicle (Group B)--Any single vehicle with a GVWR 
of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more), or any such vehicle 
towing a vehicle not in excess of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) GVWR.
    (3) Small Vehicle (Group C)--Any single vehicle, or combination of 
vehicles, that meets neither the definition of Group A nor that of Group 
B as contained in this section, but that either is designed to transport 
16 or more passengers including the driver, or is used

[[Page 892]]

in the transportation of materials found to be hazardous for the 
purposes of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and which require 
the motor vehicle to be placarded under the Hazardous Materials 
Regulations (49 CFR part 172, subpart F).
    (b) Representative vehicle. For purposes of taking the driving test 
in accordance with Sec. 383.113, a representative vehicle for a given 
vehicle group contained in Sec. 383.91(a), is any commercial motor 
vehicle which meets the definition of that vehicle group.
    (c) Relation between vehicle groups. Each driver applicant who 
desires to operate in a different commercial motor vehicle group from 
the one which his/her CDL authorizes shall be required to retake and 
pass all related tests, except the following:
    (1) A driver who has passed the knowledge and skills tests for a 
combination vehicle (Group A) may operate a heavy straight vehicle 
(Group B) or a small vehicle (Group C), provided that he/she possesses 
the requisite endorsement(s); and
    (2) A driver who has passed the knowledge and skills tests for a 
heavy straight vehicle (Group B) may operate any small vehicle (Group 
C), provided that he/she possesses the requisite endorsement(s).
    (d) Vehicle group illustration. Figure 1 illustrates typical 
vehicles within each of the vehicle groups defined in this section.

[[Page 893]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC01AP91.039

[53 FR 27651, July 21, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 47989, Nov. 20, 1989; 
61 FR 9566, Mar. 8, 1996]

[[Page 894]]