[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 5]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR383.111]



[Page 197-198]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 

PART 383_COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE STANDARDS; REQUIREMENTS AND 

PENALTIES--Table of Contents

 

                 Subpart G_Required Knowledge and Skills

 

Sec. 383.111  Required knowledge.



    All commercial motor vehicle operators must have knowledge of the 

following general areas:

    (a) Safe operations regulations. Driver-related elements of the 

regulations contained in 49 CFR parts 382, 391, 392, 393, 395, 396, and 

397, such as: Motor vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance 

requirements; procedures for safe vehicle operations; the effects of 

fatigue, poor vision, hearing, and general health upon safe commercial 

motor vehicle operation; the types of motor vehicles and cargoes subject 

to the requirements; and the effects of alcohol and drug use upon safe 

commercial motor vehicle operations.

    (b) Commercial motor vehicle safety control systems. Proper use of 

the motor vehicle's safety system, including lights, horns, side and 

rear-view mirrors, proper mirror adjustments, fire extinguishers, 

symptoms of improper operation revealed through instruments, motor 

vehicle operation characteristics, and diagnosing malfunctions. 

Commercial motor vehicle drivers shall have knowledge on the correct 

procedures needed to use these safety systems in an emergency situation, 

e.g., skids and loss of brakes.

    (c) Safe vehicle control--(1) Control systems The purpose and 

function of the controls and instruments commonly found on commercial 

motor vehicles.

    (2) Basic control. The proper procedures for performing various 

basic maneuvers.



[[Page 198]]



    (3) Shifting. The basic shifting rules and terms, as well as shift 

patterns and procedures for common transmissions.

    (4) Backing. The procedures and rules for various backing maneuvers.

    (5) Visual search. The importance of proper visual search, and 

proper visual search methods.

    (6) Communication. The principles and procedures for proper 

communications and the hazards of failure to signal properly.

    (7) Speed management. The importance of understanding the effects of 

speed.

    (8) Space management. The procedures and techniques for controlling 

the space around the vehicle.

    (9) Night operation. Preparations and procedures for night driving.

    (10) Extreme driving conditions. The basic information on operating 

in extreme driving conditions and the hazards that are encountered in 

extreme conditions.

    (11) Hazard perceptions. The basic information on hazard perception 

and clues for recognition of hazards.

    (12) Emergency maneuvers. The basic information concerning when and 

how to make emergency maneuvers.

    (13) Skid control and recovery. The information on the causes and 

major types of skids, as well as the procedures for recovering from 

skids.

    (d) Relationship of cargo to vehicle control. The principles and 

procedures for the proper handling of cargo.

    (e) Vehicle inspections: The objectives and proper procedures for 

performing vehicle safety inspections, as follows:

    (1) The importance of periodic inspection and repair to vehicle 

safety.

    (2) The effect of undiscovered malfunctions upon safety.

    (3) What safety-related parts to look for when inspecting vehicles.

    (4) Pre-trip/enroute/post-trip inspection procedures.

    (5) Reporting findings.

    (f) Hazardous materials knowledge, such as: What constitutes 

hazardous material requiring an endorsement to transport; classes of 

hazardous materials; labeling/placarding requirements; and the need for 

specialized training as a prerequisite to receiving the endorsement and 

transporting hazardous cargoes.

    (g) Air brake knowledge as follows:

    (1) Air brake system nomenclature;

    (2) The dangers of contaminated air supply;

    (3) Implications of severed or disconnected air lines between the 

power unit and the trailer(s);

    (4) Implications of low air pressure readings;

    (5) Procedures to conduct safe and accurate pre-trip inspections.

    (6) Procedures for conducting enroute and post-trip inspections of 

air actuated brake systems, including ability to detect defects which 

may cause the system to fail.

    (h) Operators for the combination vehicle group shall also have 

knowledge of:

    (1) Coupling and uncoupling--The procedures for proper coupling and 

uncoupling a tractor to semi-trailer.

    (2) Vehicle inspection--The objectives and proper procedures that 

are unique for performing vehicle safety inspections on combination 

vehicles.



[53 FR 27654, July 21, 1988, as amended at 62 FR 37151, July 11, 1997]