[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: 49CFR383.123]

[Page 210-213]
 
                        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 213]]

    (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.