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Federal regulations
Ohio has adopted Part 391 of the Federal Regulations with some exceptions.
Applicability
Part 391 applies to vehicles operated by for-hire carriers with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight of 10,001 pounds or more (whichever is greater).
Part 391 applies to vehicles operated by private carriers with a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 26,001 pounds or more, whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds, or a single vehicle operated by a private carrier with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more.
Part 391 also applies to any size vehicle (for-hire or private) transporting a placardable amount of hazardous materials.
Age
Intrastate drivers must be at least 18 years old. Intrastate drivers transporting placardable amounts of hazardous materials must be at least 21 years old.
Driver qualification file
A driver qualification file (Sec. 391.51) is required. There is an exception to the physical qualification requirement. See Physical Qualification below.
A driver employed as a single employer driver for a continuous period which began January 1, 1987, will not be subject to Secs. 391.21 and 391.23 as long as the driver continues to work for that same motor carrier.
Operator’s license
Ohio drivers must hold a valid commercial driver’s license. The license groupings are as follows:
| Class | Description |
| Class A | Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more provided the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds. |
| Class B | Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR. |
| Class C | Any single vehicle or combination vehicle that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B as contained herein, but that either is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is placarded for Hazardous Materials and any School Bus with a GVWR less than 26,001 pounds and designed to transport less than 16 passengers including the driver. |
| Class D | Operator |
| Class M1 | Motorcycle Only |
| Class M2 | Motorized Bicycle Only |
| Class M3 | 3-Wheel Motorcycle Only |
| Endorsements | |
| S | School Bus |
| P | Passenger |
| H | Hazardous Materials |
| T | Double/Triple Trailers |
| N | Tank Vehicle |
| X | N and H Combined |
| Restrictions | |
| E | Only vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission |
| K | Only intrastate operation |
| L | Vehicles not equipped with air brakes |
| M | No Class A passenger vehicles |
| N | No Class A and B passenger vehicles |
| O | No tractor-trailer commercial motor vehicles |
| V | Medical variance on the driver's commercial driver's license information system driver record |
| W | Operation of commercial motor vehicles in accordance with a waiver for farm-related service industries |
| Z | Restricts the driver to vehicles not equipped with full air brakes |
Physical qualification
A person operating a commercial motor vehicle on or before December 7, 1988, who is unable to meet a medical requirement, may be eligible for provisional medical certification. It is only valid for intrastate transportation of non-hazardous property.
As of July 1, 2021, provisional medical certificates will not be issued to or renewed for drivers with diabetes mellitus treated with insulin for control. As of that date, drivers must work within the framework of the provisions in §391.46 to obtain a medical certificate.