pdf Massachusetts Commercial Driver Manual

Preface: Massachusetts CDL Information

On October 26, 1986, Congress passed the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. This law required each State to meet the same minimum standards for commercial driver licensing. The standards required commercial motor vehicle drivers to get a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). You must have a CDL to operate any of the following Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs):

• A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 pounds.
• A trailer with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds if the gross combination weight rating is more than 26,000 pounds.
• A vehicle designed to transport 16 or more persons (including the operator).
• Any size vehicle which requires hazardous materials placards.

To get a CDL, you must pass knowledge and skills tests. This manual will help you pass the tests.

You will have to take one or more knowledge tests to obtain your CDL permit, depending on what class of license and what endorsements you need. The CDL knowledge tests include:

• The General Knowledge Test: Taken by all applicants (One hour - 50 questions).
• The Passenger Transport Test: Taken by all bus driver applicants (20 minutes - 20 questions).
• The Air Brakes Test: Required if your vehicle has air brakes (25 minutes - 25 questions).
• The Combination Vehicles Test: Required if you want to drive combination vehicles (20 minutes - 20 questions).
• The Hazardous Materials Test: Required if you want to haul hazardous material or waste (30 minutes - 30 questions).
• The Tanker Test: Required if you want to haul liquids in bulk (20 minutes - 20 questions).
• The Doubles/Triples Test: Required if you want to pull double or triple trailers (20 minutes - 20 questions).
• The School Bus Test: Required if you want to transport pre-primary, primary, and secondary school students in a full-sized "School Bus" (i.e., Big Yellow Bus).