[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: 49CFR383.91]



[Page 195-196]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

                      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 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.



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[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]



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