Federal & State Regulations | Qualification of drivers - Oregon

Federal regulations

Oregon has adopted Part 391 of the Federal Regulations with the exception of Sections 391.11(b)(1) and 391.62.

Oregon has adopted Part 380 (Special Training Requirements) of the Federal Regulations.

Applicability

Part 380 applies to drivers who possess a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Part 391 applies to intrastate and interstate operations when the vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating, gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight, or gross combination weight of 10,001 pounds or more, or is of any size transporting a placardable amount of hazardous materials.

Exception — Persons who drive for private carriers and drive vehicles of 26,000 pounds or less gross vehicle weight, gross vehicle weight rating, gross combination weight, or gross combination weight rating are exempt from the provisions of Part 391, unless transporting hazardous materials in a quantity that requires marking or placarding of the vehicle. Sections 391.11(b)(2), 391.11(b)(5) and 391.15 still apply, however.

Age

Intrastate drivers must be 18. Interstate drivers must be 21.

Driver qualification file

A driver qualification file (Sec. 391.51) is required. There is an exception to the physical qualification requirement. See Physical Qualification.

Drug and alcohol testing

As of March 1, 2000, carriers must certify they meet drug and alcohol testing program requirements at the time they initially register to operate in Oregon, and again each time they renew registration. Carriers who participate in a testing program maintained by a consortium must provide the names of the persons operating the consortium.

An Oregon commercial driver’s positive drug test must be entered on his/her employment driving record. The entry procedures are as follows:

Medical review officers (MRO) must report any Oregon commercial driver’s positive drug test result to Oregon’s Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division (DMV) so it can be entered on the driver’s employment driving record.
When the MRO reports a positive drug test, DMV will notify the driver and advise him/her of the right to a hearing. If the hearing is requested, no entry will be made on the driver’s commercial driving record pending the outcome of the hearing. DMV will release drug test information contained on a commercial driving record only with the written permission of the driver.

Operator’s license

Oregon’s classes of driver licenses are as follows:

Class	Description
Class A	Any vehicle or combination of vehicles, except the person may not operate any vehicle for which an endorsement is required, unless the person obtains the endorsement.
Class B	Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR or gross vehicle weight (GVW). A person may not operate any vehicle for which an endorsement is required, unless the person obtains the endorsement.
Class C (commercial)	Any vehicle that is designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver, if the GVWR or GVW is less than 26,001 pounds and the person has a passenger endorsement. Any vehicle used in the transportation of hazardous materials, in quantities that require placarding by law, if the GVWR or GVW is less than 26,001 pounds and the person has a hazardous materials endorsement.
Class C (non-commercial)	Any vehicle for which a commercial driver license is not required. A person may not operate any vehicle for which an endorsement is required, unless the person obtains the endorsement.
Endorsements	Vehicle endorsements include: tank vehicles; vehicles with double or triple trailers; vehicles designed to carry 16 or more passengers; and vehicles carrying hazardous materials requiring placards.

Physical qualification

The Oregon Department of Transportation may issue a waiver of physical disqualification (for intrastate operations).

View agency contact information.

['Driver qualifications']

['Drivers qualification (DQ file)']

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Qualification of drivers - Oregon