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An individual seeking to obtain a passenger, school bus, or hazardous materials endorsement for the first time, must complete the training related to that endorsement from a provider listed on the Training Provider Registry (TPR). The TPR is administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Scope
These requirements apply to all entry-level drivers who drive in interstate, intrastate or foreign commerce and are subject to the commercial driver’s license (CDL) requirements.
Regulatory citations
- 49 CFR 380.609 — General entry-level driver training requirements
- 49 CFR Appendix C to Part 380 — Passenger Endorsement Training Curriculum
- 49 CFR Appendix D to Part 380 — School Bus Endorsement Training Curriculum
- 49 CFR Appendix E to Part 380 — Hazardous Materials Endorsement Training Curriculum
Key definitions
- Entry-level driver: An individual who must complete the commercial driver’s license (CDL) skills test requirements under 383.71 prior to receiving a CDL for the first time, upgrading to a Class A or Class B CDL, or obtaining a hazardous materials, passenger, or school bus endorsement for the first time.
Summary of requirements
A specific curriculum that includes theory and behind-the-wheel instruction must be completed in order to obtain a passenger or school bus endorsement. A specific curriculum that includes theory instruction must be completed in order to obtain a hazardous materials endorsement.
Passenger endorsement. There is no required minimum number of instruction hours for theory training, but the training provider must cover all the topics set forth in the curriculum. Topics include:
- Vehicle inspection,
- Fueling,
- Idling,
- Baggage/cargo management, and
- Passenger management.
A written assessment must be used to determine the driver-trainee’s proficiency for each unit of instruction. The driver-trainee must receive an overall minimum score of 80 percent on the theory assessment.
Behind-the-wheel training topics include:
- Vehicle orientation,
- Passenger safety briefings, and
- Railroad-highway grade crossings.
There is no required minimum number of instruction hours for behind-the-wheel training, but training providers must determine whether driver-trainees have demonstrated proficiency in all elements of the behind-the-wheel curriculum.
The training must be conducted in a passenger vehicle of the same vehicle group as the applicant intends to drive. This training takes place on the range and on public roads.
Training instructors must document the total number of clock hours each driver-trainee spends to complete the behind-the-wheel curriculum.
School bus endorsement. There is no required minimum number of instruction hours for theory training, but the training provider must cover all the topics set forth in the curriculum. Topics include:
- Danger zones and use of mirrors,
- Loading and unloading,
- Emergency exit and evacuation, and
- Student management.
A written assessment must be used to determine the driver-trainee’s proficiency for each unit of instruction. The driver-trainee must receive an overall minimum score of 80 percent on the theory assessment.
Behind-the-wheel training topics include:
- Vehicle inspections,
- Special safety considerations, and
- Railroad-highway grade crossings.
There is no required minimum number of instruction hours for behind-the-wheel training, but the training provider must determine whether driver-trainees have demonstrated proficiency in all elements of the behind-the-wheel curriculum.
The training must be conducted in a school bus of the same vehicle group as the applicant intends to drive.
Training instructors must document the total number of clock hours each driver-trainee spends to complete the behind-the-wheel curriculum.
Hazardous materials endorsement. There is no required minimum number of instruction hours for theory training, but the training provider must cover all the topics in the curriculum. Topics include:
- Loading and unloading hazardous materials,
- Bulk packages,
- Emergency response procedures, and
- Routes and route planning.
A written assessment must be used to determine the driver-trainee’s proficiency for each unit of instruction. The driver-trainee must receive an overall minimum score of 80 percent on the theory assessment.