[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 5]
[Revised as of October 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR383.111]

[Page 207-208]
 
                        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 208]]

    (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]