[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: 49CFR383.123]



[Page 200-203]

 

                        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. 383.123  Requirements for a school bus endorsement.



    (a) An applicant for a school bus endorsement must satisfy the 

following three requirements:

    (1) Qualify for passenger vehicle endorsement. Pass the knowledge 

and skills test for obtaining a passenger vehicle endorsement.

    (2) Knowledge test. Must have knowledge covering at least the 

following three topics:

    (i) Loading and unloading children, including the safe operation of 

stop signal devices, external mirror systems, flashing lights and other 

warning and passenger safety devices required for school buses by State 

or Federal law or regulation.

    (ii) Emergency exits and procedures for safely evacuating passengers 

in an emergency.

    (iii) State and Federal laws and regulations related to safely 

traversing highway rail grade crossings.

    (3) Skills test. Must take a driving skills test in a school bus of 

the same vehicle group (see Sec. 383.91(a)) as the school bus applicant 

will drive.

    (4) Exception. Knowledge and skills tests administered before 

September 30, 2002 and approved by FMCSA as meeting the requirements of 

this section, meet the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of 

this section.

    (b) Substitute for driving skills test. (1) At the discretion of a 

State, the driving skills test required in paragraph (a)(3) of this 

section may be waived for an applicant who is currently licensed, has 

experience driving a school bus, has a good driving record, and meets 

the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.

    (2) An applicant must certify and the State must verify that, during 

the two-year period immediately prior to applying for the school bus 

endorsement, the applicant:

    (i) Held a valid CDL with a passenger vehicle endorsement to operate 

a school bus representative of the group he or she will be driving;

    (ii) Has not had his or her driver's license or CDL suspended, 

revoked or



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canceled or been disqualified from operating a CMV;

    (iii) Has not been convicted of any of the disqualifying offenses in 

Sec. 383.51(b) while operating a CMV or of any offense in a non-CMV 

that would be disqualifying under Sec. 383.51(b) if committed in a CMV;

    (iv) Has not had more than one conviction of any of the serious 

traffic violations defined in Sec. 383.5, while operating any type 

motor vehicle;

    (v) Has not had any conviction for a violation of State or local law 

relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than a parking 

violation) arising in connection with any traffic accident;

    (vi) Has not been convicted of any motor vehicle traffic violation 

that resulted in an accident; and

    (vii) Has been regularly employed as a school bus driver, has 

operated a school bus representative of the group the applicant seeks to 

drive, and provides evidence of such employment.

    (3) After September 30, 2006, the provisions in paragraph (b) of 

this section do not apply.



[67 FR 49760, July 31, 2002, as amended at 70 FR 56593, Sept. 28, 2005]



Appendix to Subpart G of Part 383--Required Knowledge and Skills--Sample 

                               Guidelines



    The following is a sample of the specific types of items which a 

State may wish to include in the knowledge and skills tests that it 

administers to CDL applicants. This appendix closely follows the 

framework of Sec. Sec. 383.111 and 383.113. It is intended to provide 

more specific guidance and suggestion to States. Additional detail in 

this appendix is not binding and States may depart from it at their 

discretion provided their CDL program tests for the general areas of 

knowledge and skill specified in Sec. Sec. 383.111 and 383.113.



                 Examples of specific knowledge elements



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

following regulations:

    (1) Motor vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance requirements 

as contained in parts 393 and 396 of this title;

    (2) Procedures for safe vehicle operations as contained in part 392 

of this title;

    (3) The effects of fatigue, poor vision, hearing, and general health 

upon safe commercial motor vehicle operation as contained in parts 391, 

392, and 395 of this title;

    (4) The types of motor vehicles and cargoes subject to the 

requirements contained in part 397 of this title; and

    (5) The effects of alcohol and drug use upon safe commercial motor 

vehicle operations as contained in parts 391 and 395 of this title.

    (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, including:

    (i) Starting, warming up, and shutting down the engine;

    (ii) Putting the vehicle in motion and stopping;

    (iii) Backing in a straight line; and

    (iv) Turning the vehicle, e.g., basic rules, off-tracking, right/

left turns and right curves.

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

patterns and procedures for common transmissions, including:

    (i) Key elements of shifting, e.g., controls, when to shift and 

double clutching;

    (ii) Shift patterns and procedures; and

    (iii) Consequences of improper shifting.

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

including:

    (i) Backing principles and rules; and

    (ii) Basic backing maneuvers, e.g., straight-line backing, and 

backing on a curved path.

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

proper visual search methods, including:

    (i) Seeing ahead and to the sides;

    (ii) Use of mirrors; and

    (iii) Seeing to the rear.

    (6) Communication. The principles and procedures for proper 

communications and the hazards of failure to signal properly, including:

    (i) Signaling intent, e.g., signaling when changing speed or 

direction in traffic;

    (ii) Communicating presence, e.g., using horn or lights to signal 

presence; and

    (iii) Misuse of communications.

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

speed, including:

    (i) Speed and stopping distance;

    (ii) Speed and surface conditions;

    (iii) Speed and the shape of the road;

    (iv) Speed and visibility; and



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    (v) Speed and traffic flow.

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

the space around the vehicle, including:

    (i) The importance of space management;

    (ii) Space cushions, e.g., controlling space ahead/to the rear;

    (iii) Space to the sides; and

    (iv) Space for traffic gaps.

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

including:

    (i) Night driving factors, e.g., driver factors, (vision, glare, 

fatigue, inexperience), roadway factors, (low illumination, variation in 

illumination, familiarity with roads, other road users, especially 

drivers exhibiting erratic or improper driving), vehicle factors 

(headlights, auxiliary lights, turn signals, windshields and mirrors); 

and

    (ii) Night driving procedures, e.g., preparing to drive at night and 

driving at night.

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

in extreme driving conditions and the hazards that are encountered in 

extreme conditions, including:

    (i) Adverse weather;

    (ii) Hot weather; and

    (iii) Mountain driving.

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

and clues for recognition of hazards, including:

    (i) Importance of hazards recognition;

    (ii) Road characteristics; and

    (iii) Road user activities.

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

how to make emergency maneuvers, including:

    (i) Evasive steering;

    (ii) Emergency stop;

    (iii) Off-road recovery;

    (iv) Brake failure; and

    (v) Blowouts.

    (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, including:

    (1) The importance of proper cargo handling, e.g., consequences of 

improperly secured cargo, drivers' responsibilities, Federal/State and 

local regulations.

    (2) Principles of weight distribution.

    (3) Principles and methods of cargo securement.

    (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 and to prevention of enroute breakdowns.

    (2) The effect of undiscovered malfunctions upon safety.

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

e.g., fluid leaks, interference with visibility, bad tires, wheel and 

rim defects, braking system defects, steering system defects, suspension 

system defects, exhaust system defects, coupling system defects, and 

cargo problems.

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

    (5) Reporting findings.

    (f) Hazardous materials knowledge, as follows:

    (1) What constitutes hazardous material requiring an endorsement to 

transport; and

    (2) 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) General air brake system nomenclature;

    (2) The dangers of contaminated air (dirt, moisture and oil) 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, 

including knowledge about:

    (i) Automatic fail-safe devices;

    (ii) System monitoring devices; and

    (iii) Low pressure warning alarms.

    (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, including:

    (i) Tests which indicate the amount of air loss from the braking 

system within a specified period, with and without the engine running; 

and

    (ii) Tests which indicate the pressure levels at which the low air 

pressure warning devices and the tractor protection valve should 

activate.

    (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.



                  Examples of Specific Skills Elements



    These examples relate to paragraphs (a) and (b) of Sec. 383.113 

only.

    (a) Basic vehicle control skills. All applicants for a CDL must 

possess and demonstrate the following basic motor vehicle control skills 

for each vehicle group which the driver operates or expects to operate. 

These skills shall include:

    (1) Ability to start, warm-up, and shut down the engine;



[[Page 203]]



    (2) Ability to put the motor vehicle in motion and accelerate 

smoothly, forward and backward;

    (3) Ability to bring the motor vehicle to a smooth stop;

    (4) Ability to back the motor vehicle in a straight line, and check 

path and clearance while backing;

    (5) Ability to position the motor vehicle to negotiate and then make 

left and right turns;

    (6) Ability to shift as required and select appropriate gear for 

speed and highway conditions;

    (7) Ability to back along a curved path; and

    (8) Ability to observe the road and the behavior of other motor 

vehicles, particularly before changing speed and direction.

    (b) Safe driving skills. All applicants for a CDL must possess and 

demonstrate the following safe driving skills for any vehicle group. 

These skills shall include:

    (1) Ability to use proper visual search methods.

    (2) Ability to signal appropriately when changing speed or direction 

in traffic.

    (3) Ability to adjust speed to the configuration and condition of 

the roadway, weather and visibility conditions, traffic conditions, and 

motor vehicle, cargo and driver conditions;

    (4) Ability to choose a safe gap for changing lanes, passing other 

vehicles, as well as for crossing or entering traffic;

    (5) Ability to position the motor vehicle correctly before and 

during a turn to prevent other vehicles from passing on the wrong side 

as well as to prevent problems caused by off-tracking;

    (6) Ability to maintain a safe following distance depending on the 

condition of the road, on visibility, and on vehicle weight; and

    (7) Ability to adjust operation of the motor vehicle to prevailing 

weather conditions including speed selection, braking, direction changes 

and following distance to maintain control.