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Commercial Driver’s License ManualSpecial Requirements For PassengerEndorsementsPassenger endorsement “P” applicants must meetmore stringent requirements than most other CDLendorsement applicants.Applicants must: have 20/40 vision in each eye(with or without glasses or corrective lenses); have70 degrees of peripheral vision in each eye;recognize red, green and amber colors; bephysically and morally fit; have three years drivingexperience; and, be at least 21 years of age.All “P” endorsement applicants must undergo abackground check that includes fingerprinting. Adesignated State vendor electronically scans andtransmits fingerprints. For more detailed information concerning the fingerprint process, pleaserefer to your declaration flyer available at the MVCAgency or MVC’s Web site, www.njmvc.gov.Applicants who are employed by public transportation company but who do not intend to operateschool buses must undergo a state criminalbackground investigation only. This fingerprint formis available on MVC’s Web site and in Agencies.These drivers will be fingerprinted under NewJersey Statute NJSA 39:3-10.1.School Bus EndorsementAn applicant must pass several applicationprocedures to operate school buses (S1 and S2plates, S endorsement) under the purview of NewJersey Department of Education (DOE),Department of Human Services (DHS; including daycare centers) or private and parochial schools.All school bus “S” endorsement applicants mustundergo a background check. Applicants applyingfor school bus driver positions under DOE’sjurisdiction must have both state and federalbackground checks (NJSA 18A:39-19.1). Employers or local school districts oversee the backgroundcheck application. When renewing the “S”endorsement, drivers will be responsible forinitiating the fingerprint archive process. Start thisprocess a minimum of four weeks prior to renewinga CDL.Section 1 - IntroductionSchool bus operators not under DOE’s jurisdictionmust also be fingerprinted under NJSA 39:3-10.1,regardless of other fingerprint requirements imposed by their employment. This includes DHS(day care) or private and parochial schoolemployment.Upon application for the “P” endorsement or the“S” endorsement, the applicant must present acurrent, legible and fully completed medicalexaminer's certificate, completed by a federallycertified medical examiner, and the declaration flyer.ALL APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO KEEPCOPIES OF THESE DOCUMENTS and THEFINGERPRINT RECEIPT FOR THEIR RECORDS.After initial “P” endorsement or “S” endorsementissuance, all applicants must submit a current, fullycompleted medical examiner's certificate uponexpiration to:NJ Motor Vehicle CommissionBus Application UnitPO Box 127Trenton, New Jersey 08666-0127At the time you renew your CDL, if there is achange of employment from commercial (PEndorsement only) to any employment requiringthe “S” endorsement, a new declaration must besubmitted to MVC. The requirement of a newdeclaration is also required when changingemployment from the Dept. of Education to nonDept. of Education school bus drivers, or from nonDept. of Education to Dept. of Education schoolbus drivers.Changes from one employer to another mayrequire additional fingerprinting in compliance withemployment hand MVC requirements.Should you decide that you no longer wish tomaintain one or both of the endorsements ( P or Pwith the S), please drop it from your license.Failure to do so will result in your being heldresponsible for the requirements that pertain to theendorsement(s) and could result in suspension.Disqualification InformationAfter a passenger endorsement is issued, MVCreserves the right to deny or suspend the passenger endorsement if any disqualifying informationis found on the driver’s medical, criminal or driverhistory records. If required, a scheduled notice ofsuspension will be sent to the applicant.Page 1-3

Commercial Driver’s License ManualCauses for disqualification or suspension of the “P”endorsement include, but are not limited to: Failureto prove three years driving experience; theaccumulation of 12 or more motor vehicle violationpoints; convictions for operating a motor vehiclewhile under the influence of alcohol or drugs;offenses involving deviant or illicit social behavior;the use or threat of bodily force; or, any crime oroffense indicative of bad moral character. Amongthe medical grounds for disqualification may be adiabetic condition, a serious heart condition and amedical condition that could cause the loss ofconsciousness or failure to meet vision standards.All applicants who were fingerprinted under thejurisdiction of the state Department of Education(DOE) are subject to DOE review for qualificationas a school bus driver. If DOE finds cause todisqualify an applicant as a school bus driver, theywill notify MVC to suspend the “S” endorsement,which cannot be restored until DOE notifies MVCin writing that requirements have been satisfied.MVC may also determine a “P” endorsementsuspension is required after a records review. Inthese cases, a scheduled notice of suspension willbe sent to the applicant, who may request aconference on the “P” endorsement only.Hazardous Material (HME) EndorsementThe U.S. Transportation Security Administration(TSA) must first clear all applicants for a hazardousmaterials endorsement (HME) before receiving orretaining the endorsement. TSA’s fingerprintvendor must fingerprint applicants. Driver’s mustpre-register for fingerprint scan by telephone or online. Applications are available online only. In everycase, be specific about which fingerprintapplication you want.Applications must be completed electronicallybefore applicants can proceed to a nstructions for completing this application isavailable on the application. You will not be able toobtain or retain the “HME” endorsement if youhave been convicted of certain felonies or foundnot guilty by reason of insanity for certainconvictions. Disqualifying convictions are listed onthe TSA fingerprint application. Please note that fications for “HME” are made by TSA. MVCcannot make determinations or hold hearingsregarding background check results.Section 1 - IntroductionBus MechanicsBus mechanics are required to have a “P”endorsement on their Commercial Driver License(CDL) and to take the knowledge and vision test,as well as the road test in an endorsement-specificvehicle. Bus mechanics, with or without the "R"restriction, are required to submit a current, legibleand fully completed medical examiner's certificate,completed by a federally certified medical examiner.After CDL issuance, an “R” restriction code appearson the license. This indicates that the mechanicis not qualified to transport passengers.If a bus mechanic obtains a “P” endorsementwithout the “R” restriction, all requirements for the“P” endorsement will be imposed, including reviewof the medical examiner’s certificate, driver historyrecord and criminal history back-ground check.Exemptions to CDL RequirementsTaxi drivers, ride-sharing drivers, firefighters, Firstaid/rescue squad vehicle operators, farmershauling their own products and equipment within150 miles of their farms, non-civilian operators ofmilitary equipment, operators of limousinesengaged in services related to the mortuarysciences and operators of construction equipmentnot designed for operation on public roads areexempt and should not apply for a CDL.Recreational vehicle operators are exempt if thevehicle is only for personal use.1.2 — Commercial Driver License TestMost applicants will have to take more than oneknowledge test, depending on which sement(s)isneeded.Testingwilltake approximately two hours. The written testwill range from a minimum of 50 questions forthe general knowledge test, up to 185 questionsfor drivers requesting all of the endorsements.A passing grade is 80-percent. The test resultsare valid for one year. The CDL knowledgetests include: The general knowledge test, taken by allapplicants (50 questions); expanded to 70questions for a Class A CDL. The double and triple trailer test (20 questions). The passenger transport test for all bus driverapplicants (20 questions). The tanker test to haul liquids or gases in bulk(20 questions). The hazardous materials test, which is required ifyou want to haul hazardous material or waste(30questions).Ahazardousmaterialsendorsement (HME) may not be renewed untilsuch testing is verified. The air brakes test for vehicles with air brakes(25 questions).Page 1-4

Commercial Driver’s License ManualRoad Test1.3 - Other Safety Act RulesIf you pass the required knowledge and visiontests, you can take the commercial driver road testafter a minimum wait of 20 days. There are threeparts to the road test: A pre-trip inspection, thebasic vehicle control segment and the open roadtest. These tests are described in the followingpages. Take tests that correspond to the vehicletype for which you want to be licensed.Other new commercial motor vehicle rules include:Pretrip InspectionPurpose: To see if you know whether the vehicleis safe to drive.Test Procedure: You will be asked to do a pretripinspection of your vehicle and to explain to theexaminer what you are inspecting and why. Theexaminer will mark on a scoring form each itemthat you correctly inspect and explain. This manualtells you what you need to inspect.Basic Vehicle ControlPurpose: To evaluatecontrolling the vehicle.yourbasicskillsinTest Procedure: The test consists of variousexercises marked out by lines, traffic cones or othersimilar delineations. Exercises will include movingthe vehicle forward, backing up and various turningmaneuvers.The examiners will explain to you how eachexercise is to be done. You will be scored on howwell you stay within the exercise boundaries andhow many maneuvers you make.Roadway OperationsPurpose: To evaluate your ability to drive safely invarious on-the-road situations.Test Procedure: The test drive is taken along aroute specified by the examiner. It may include leftand right turns, stops and starts, intersections,railway crossings, curves, up and down grades,rural and semi-rural roads, city streets andexpressway driving. You cannot have more than one license. Keepyour New Jersey license and surrender anyothers to MVC. Violators face fines up to 5,000and/or jail time. You must notify your employer within 30 days ofa conviction for any traffic violation (exceptparking) regardless of what type of motor vehicleyou were driving when the violation occurred. You must notify New Jersey Motor VehicleCommission within 30 days if you are convictedin any other state of any traffic violation (exceptparking) regardless of what type of motor vehicleyou were driving when the violation occurred. You must be properly restrained by a safety beltat all times while operating a commercial motorvehicle. The safety belt design holds the driversecurely behind the wheel during a crash,helping the driver to control the vehicle andreduces the chance of serious injury or death. Ifyou do not wear a safety belt, you are four timesmore likely to be fatally injured if you are thrownfrom the vehicle. You must notify your employer if your license issuspended, revoked or cancelled, or if you aredisqualified from driving in any state. You must give your employer information on alldriving-related employment you have held for thepast 10 years when you apply for a commercialdriving job. You must inform MVC of the states where youhave held any type of driver license in the past10 years. You must have a CDL to drive a commercialvehicle. Violators face fines up to 5,000 and/orjail time. Your employer cannot permit you to drive acommercial motor vehicle if you have more thanone license or if your license is suspended orrevoked. Employers who violate this rule facefines up to 5,000 and/or jail time. All states will maintain a collective computerizedsystem to share commercial drivers’ information.This will allow New Jersey and all states tomonitor driver records, ensuring more than onelicense is not issued.You will drive along the test route followinginstructions given by the examiner. The examinerwill score specific tasks, such as turns, merginginto traffic, lane changes and speed control atspecific places along the route. The examiner willalso score whether you correctly perform tasks,such as signaling, searching for hazards,controlling speed and lane positioning.Section 1 - IntroductionPage 1-5

Commercial Driver’s License Manual1.4 — Motor Carrier Safety ImprovementAct (MCSIA)New Jersey has enacted provisions of the FederalMotor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA).These provisions impact commercial drivingprivileges by adding new violations and increasingsuspension terms for combinations of theseviolations within certain time frames. Mostimportantly, the major and serious violationscommitted while operating a personal / passengervehicle will be included in the monitoring of MCSIAviolation / suspension terms. The new violationsand terms are as follow:1. Lose your CDL for at least one year for a firstconviction and for life for a second conviction: If you are convicted of driving any motor vehicleunder the influence of alcohol or a controlledsubstance Refusing to take a blood alcohol content test asrequired by a state or jurisdiction under animplied consent law If you leave the scene of an accident If you use a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) tocommit a felony Driving a commercial motor vehicle while yourCDL is suspended, revoked, canceled ordisqualified If you cause a fatality through negligentoperation of a commercial vehicle, includingmanslaughter, homicide by motor vehicle andnegligent homicide. Using any vehicle in the commission of a ing a controlled dangerous substance.If you drive a commercial motor vehicle when yourblood alcohol concentration is .04 percent or more,you are driving under the influence of alcohol. Youwill lose your commercial license for one year for afirst offense; for a second offense, you will lose itfor life. If your blood alcohol concentration is lessthan .04 percent, but you have a detectableamount, you will be put “out-of-service” for 24hours.2. You will lose your CDL for at least 60 days if youhave been convicted of two serious trafficviolations involving a commercial motor vehiclewithin a three-year period and for at least 120 daysfor three serious traffic violations within a threeyear period. These violations include: Speeding conviction for 15 MPH or more abovethe posted speed limit Driving recklessly Making improper or erratic lane changes Following a vehicle too closely (tailgating) Violating State or Local law relating to motorvehicle traffic control arising in connection with afatal accident Driving a CMV without obtaining a CDL Driving a CMV without a CDL in driverspossession Driving a CMV without the proper CDL classand/or endorsement Texting while operating a CMV Talking on a cell phone when operating a CMV3. All commercial drivers are required to stop at aRail Road Grade Crossing when driving acommercial motor vehicle. Your CDL will besuspended for at least 60 days for the first offensefor any of the following Railroad Grade Crossingviolations. A second offense term will be at least120 days, and for a third or subsequent conviction,at least one year: The driver fails to slow down and check thattracks are clear of an approaching train The driver fails to stop before reaching thecrossing if the tracks are not clear The driver fails to stop before driving onto thecrossing The driver fails to have sufficient space tocompletely drive through the crossing withoutstopping The driver fails to obey a traffic control device atthe crossing The driver fails to negotiate a crossing becauseof insufficient undercarriage clearanceIf the offense occurs while you are operating acommercial motor vehicle that is authorized forhazardous materials, you will lose your commerciallicense for at least three years. You will lose it forlife for a second offense.Section 1 - IntroductionPage 1-6

Commercial Driver’s License Manual4. Your CDL will be suspended for violating avehicle or driver out-of-service order under thefollowing circumstances: Transporting non-hazardous materialsFirst offense — No less than 90 days or morethan one yearSecond offense (in a ten-year period) — No lessthan one year or more than five yearsThird or subsequent offense (in a ten-yearperiod) — No less than three years or morethan five years. Transporting Hazardous MaterialsFirst offense — No less than 180 days or morethan two yearsSecond offense (in a ten year period)— No lessthan

There are five different CDL endorsements, which denote vehicle type and cargo. These endorsements each require a specific, separate test. All endorsement applicants must already have New Jersey's basic CDL and Class D (auto) driver license. CDL endorsements cover: Double or triple trailers (one tractor pulling two or three trailers);