SECTION 595:11-3-6. Written examination

(a)   General. A written examination shall be administered by a driver examiner to each applicant for a commercial driver license to determine the applicant's ability to read and understand highway signs and the applicant's knowledge of the traffic laws of this state; provided, the written examination may be waived as provided in OAC 595:11-1-13(a). The written examination, if not waived, and the vision screening shall be successfully passed by the applicant before the skills test is administered. The written examination includes, when applicable, any separate endorsement/restriction examinations as described in this Section. An applicant determined by an examiner to be cheating on any portion of an examination shall:

(1)   immediately forfeit the examination,

(2)   be given a failing score by the examiner, and

(3)   be disqualified from retaking the examination for one week.

(b)   Examination content.

(1)   Written examination. The written examination administered for a commercial driver license shall consist of a minimum of fifty (50) multiple-choice questions. In addition, the combination vehicle test administered for a Class A commercial driver license shall consist of a minimum of twenty (20) multiple-choice questions. The minimum passing score for each written examination shall be eighty percent (80%).

(2)   Endorsement or restriction examination. The minimum number of multiple-choice questions and the minimum passing score for each endorsement or restriction examination shall be as follows:

(A)   P passenger endorsement - 20 questions - 80% score

(B)   H hazardous material endorsement - 30 questions - 80% score

(C)   N tank vehicle endorsement - 20 questions - 80% score

(D)   M motorcycle endorsement - 20 questions - 75% score

(E)   S school bus endorsement - 20 questions - 80% score

(F)   T double or triple trailers endorsement - 20 questions - 80% score

(G)   Airbrakes - 25 questions - 80% score. Failure to pass at least 80% of the 25 questions regarding air brakes will result in a restriction code "L" (Vehicle Without Air Brakes) being placed on the applicant's license upon issuance. The applicant shall be prohibited from taking the skill examination in a vehicle with air brakes.

(c)   Alternate method of examination. The Department may provide an alternate method for the written examination for an applicant who cannot read or has a language barrier.

(d)   Retesting. An applicant failing the written examination may be granted the opportunity to retest on the next regular business day.

(e)   Discretionary examination. Any examination, as deemed necessary by the Department, may be administered by the Department as required for the establishment and authorization of a special endorsement or to permit the operation of commercial motor vehicles.

(f)   Commercial learner permit. Any person eighteen (18) years of age or older may apply for a Class A, B, or C commercial learner permit, as provided in 47 O.S. §6-101(F), solely for the purpose of behind-the-wheel training in a commercial motor vehicle while accompanied by a licensed driver who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older and who holds a valid commercial driver license, including any and all required endorsements, for the class and type of commercial motor vehicle being driven. The CLP must be valid for no more than 180 days from the date of issuance. The State may renew the CLP for an additional 180 days without requiring the CLP holder to take the general and endorsement knowledge test. However, any previously passed skills tests are only valid for the length of the permit. The issuance of a CLP is a pre-condition to the issuance of a CDL. The issuance of a CLP is also a pre-condition to the upgrade of a CDL if the upgrade requires a skills test. The CLP holder is not eligible to take the CDL skills in the first 14 days after initial issuance of the CLP.

(1)   The commercial learner permit shall be issued as provided for 47 O.S.§6-101(F)(2). Any person may reapply for another commercial learner permit by complying with all requirements for the class of commercial learner permit desired.

(2)   The Department shall not place a hazardous materials (H) endorsement on a commercial learner permit.

(3)   A "No Passengers" restriction (restriction code "P") shall be placed on any commercial learner permit issued with a "P" or "S" endorsement. The permit holder shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle which carries any passengers [49 C.F.R. §383.25].

(4)   An "Empty/Purge Tank" restriction (restriction code "X") shall be placed on any commercial learner permit issued with an "N" endorsement. The tank vehicle shall be empty and shall be purged if the tank vehicle contained hazardous materials, and the permit holder shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle with a tank vehicle which is not empty or which has not been purged if the tank vehicle contained hazardous materials. A current and valid purge certificate shall be carried in the vehicle at all times when operated by a driver with a permit [49 C.F.R. §383.25].

[Source: Added at 26 Ok Reg 2749, eff 7-25-09; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 2161, eff 6-16-11 (emergency); Amended at 29 Ok Reg 510, eff 6-1-12; Amended at 31 Ok Reg 164, eff 10-15-13 (emergency); Amended at 32 Ok Reg 35, eff 8-25-14 (emergency); Amended at 31 Ok Reg 2330, eff 9-12-14; Amended at 32 Ok Reg 2220, eff 9-11-15; Amended at 34 Ok Reg 1943, eff 9-11-17]