[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR383.71]

[Page 974-976]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 383_COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE STANDARDS; REQUIREMENTS AND PENALTIES
--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart E_Testing and Licensing Procedures
 
Sec. 383.71  Driver application procedures.

    Source: 53 FR 27649, July 21, 1988, unless otherwise noted.


    (a) Initial Commercial Driver's License. Prior to obtaining a CDL, a 
person must meet the following requirements:
    (1) A person who operates or expects to operate in interstate or 
foreign commerce, or is otherwise subject to part 391 of this title, 
shall certify that he/she meets the qualification requirements contained 
in part 391 of this title. A person who operates or expects to operate 
entirely in intrastate commerce and is not subject to part 391, is 
subject to State driver qualification requirements and must certify that 
he/she is not subject to part 391;
    (2) Pass a knowledge test in accordance with the standards contained 
in subparts G and H of this part for the type of motor vehicle the 
person operates or expects to operate;
    (3) Pass a driving or skills test in accordance with the standards 
contained in subparts G and H of this part taken in a motor vehicle 
which is representative of the type of motor vehicle the person operates 
or expects to operate; or provide evidence that he/she has successfully 
passed a driving test administered by an authorized third party;
    (4) Certify that the motor vehicle in which the person takes the 
driving

[[Page 975]]

skills test is representative of the type of motor vehicle that person 
operates or expects to operate;
    (5) Provide to the State of issuance the information required to be 
included on the CDL as specified in subpart J of this part;
    (6) Certify that he/she is not subject to any disqualification under 
Sec. 383.51, or any license suspension, revocation, or cancellation 
under State law, and that he/she does not have a driver's license from 
more than one State or jurisdiction;
    (7) Surrender the applicant's non-CDL driver's licenses to the 
State; and
    (8) Provide the names of all States where the applicant has 
previously been licensed to drive any type of motor vehicle during the 
previous 10 years.
    (9) If applying for a hazardous materials endorsement, comply with 
Transportation Security Administration requirements codified in 49 CFR 
Part 1572, and provide proof of citizenship or immigration status as 
specified in Table 1 to this section. A lawful permanent resident of the 
United States requesting a hazardous materials endorsement must 
additionally provide his or her Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration 
Services (BCIS) Alien registration number.

  Table 1 to Sec. 383.71--List of Acceptable Proofs of Citizenship or
                               Immigration
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Status                           Proof of status
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Citizen............................   U.S.
                                           Passport
                                           Certificate
                                           of birth that bears an
                                           official seal and was issued
                                           by a State, county, municipal
                                           authority, or outlying
                                           possession of the United
                                           States
                                          
                                           Certification of Birth Abroad
                                           issued by the U.S. Department
                                           of State (Form FS-545 or DS
                                           1350)
                                           Certificate
                                           of Naturalization (Form N-550
                                           or N-570)
                                           Certificate
                                           of U.S. Citizenship (Form N-
                                           560 or N-561)
Lawful Permanent Resident...............   Permanent
                                           Resident Card, Alien
                                           Registration Receipt Card
                                           (Form I-551)
                                           Temporary I-
                                           551 stamp in foreign passport
                                           Temporary I-
                                           551 stamp on Form I-94,
                                           Arrival/Departure Record,
                                           with photograph of the bearer
                                           Reentry
                                           Permit (Form I-327)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) License transfer. When applying to transfer a CDL from one State 
of domicile to a new State domicile, an applicant shall apply for a CDL 
from the new State of domicile within no more than 30 days after 
establishing his/her new domicile. The applicant shall:
    (1) Provide to the new State of domicile the certifications 
contained in Sec. 383.71(a) (1) and (6):
    (2) Provide to the new State of domicile updated information as 
specified in subpart J of this part;
    (3) If the applicant wishes to retain a hazardous materials 
endorsement, he/she must comply with the requirements for such 
endorsement specified in Sec. 383.71(a)(9) and State requirements as 
specified in Sec. 383.73(b)(4);
    (4) Surrender the CDL from the old State of domicile to the new 
State of domicile; and
    (5) Provide the names of all States where the applicant has 
previously been licensed to drive any type of motor vehicle during the 
previous 10 years.
    (c) License renewal. When applying for a renewal of a CDL, all 
applicants shall:
    (1) Provide certification contained in Sec. 383.71(a)(1);
    (2) Provide update information as specified in subpart J of this 
part; and
    (3) If a person wishes to retain a hazardous materials endorsement, 
he/she must comply with the requirements specified in Sec. 383.71(a)(9) 
and pass the test specified in Sec. 383.121 for such endorsement.
    (4) Provide the names of all States where the applicant has 
previously been licensed to drive any type of motor vehicle during the 
previous 10 years.
    (d) License upgrades. When applying to operate a commercial motor 
vehicle in a different group or endorsement from the group or 
endorsement in which the applicant already has a CDL, all persons shall:
    (1) Provide the necessary certifications as specified in Sec. 
383.71(a)(1) and (a)(4);
    (2) Pass all tests specified in Sec. 383.71(a)(2) and (a)(3) for 
the new vehicle group and/or different endorsements; and

[[Page 976]]

    (3) To obtain a hazardous materials endorsement, comply with the 
requirements for such endorsement specified in Sec. 383.71(a)(9).
    (e) Nonresident CDL. When an applicant is domiciled in a foreign 
jurisdiction, as defined in Sec. 383.5, where the commercial motor 
vehicle operator testing and licensing standards do not meet the 
standards contained in subparts G and H of this part, as determined by 
the Administrator, such applicant shall obtain a Nonresident CDL from a 
State which meets such standards. Such applicant shall:
    (1) Complete the requirements to obtain a CDL contained in Sec. 
383.71(a); and
    (2) After receipt of the CDL, and for as long as it is valid, notify 
the State which issued the CDL of any adverse action taken by any 
jurisdiction or governmental agency, foreign or domestic, against his/
her driving privileges. Such adverse actions would include but not be 
limited to license suspension or revocation, or disqualification from 
operating a commercial motor vehicle for the convictions described in 
Sec. 383.51. Notifications shall be made within the time periods 
specified in Sec. 383.33.
    (f) If a State uses the alternative method described in Sec. 
383.73(i) to achieve the objectives of the certifications in Sec. 
383.71(a), then the driver applicant shall satisfy such alternative 
methods as are applicable to him/her with respect to initial licensing, 
license transfer, license renewal, and license upgrades.

[53 FR 27649, July 21, 1988, as amended at 67 FR 49759, July 31, 2002; 
68 FR 23849, May 5, 2003]