Federal & State Regulations | Qualification of drivers - Virginia

Federal regulations

Virginia has adopted Part 391 of the Federal Regulations with some exceptions.

Applicability

Part 391 applies to vehicles over 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight, whichever is greater, and vehicles of any size used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding.

Age

Sec. 391.11(b)(1) was not adopted for intrastate drivers. A person must be 18 years of age to hold an intrastate commercial driver’s license. If hauling hazardous materials, a person must be 21.

Driver qualification file

A driver qualification file (Sec. 391.51) is required. There are exceptions to the physical qualification requirements. See Physical Qualification below for details.

Exceptions — Exemptions from the driver qualification requirements in Sec. 391.51(b) and (c) and Sec. 391.61 of the Federal Regulations apply to intrastate drivers hired prior to July 9, 1986.

Operator’s license

All licenses issued, other than a Commercial Driver’s License, will be issued without classification (except for motorcycle or Class M).

The classes are as follows:

Class	Description
Class A	Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, 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 or more pounds or any such vehicle towing a vehicle NOT in excess of 10,000 GVWR.
Class C	Any vehicle that does not fit the definition of a Class A or Class B vehicle and is used to transport placarded hazardous materials or designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver.
Class M	Motorcycle. Motorcycles are defined as any motor vehicle with no more than three wheels in contact with the ground. This class may be added to your driver’s license or CDL or you may be licensed to operate motorcycles only.
Endorsements	Pertains only to Commercial Driver’s License:
H	Transporting placardable hazardous materials
T	Double and triple trailers
P	Passenger-carrying vehicles
N	Cargo tank vehicles
S	School buses
X	Combination tank and hazardous materials endorsements (for CDLs issued on or after 7/1/14)
Restrictions
E	No manual transmission equipped commercial motor vehicles (for CDLs issued on or after 7/1/14)
J	Does NOT permit the driver to operate any type of commercial motor vehicle except school buses and/or activity buses for school
K	Does NOT permit the operation of vehicles equipped with air brakes (before 7/1/14)
K	Intrastate only (for CDLs issued on or after 7/1/14)
L	No air brake equipped commercial motor vehicles (for CDLs issued on or after 7/1/14)
M	No Class A passenger vehicles
N	No Class A and B passenger vehicles
O	No tractor-trailer commercial motor vehicles
V	Medical variance
X	Corrective lenses
Y	Does NOT permit the driver to operate commercial motor vehicles unless wearing corrective lenses
Z	No full air brake equipped commercial motor vehicles
1	Automatic transmission
2	Mechanical signal device
3	Side view mirror-hearing impaired
4	Artificial limb
5	All hand controls
6	Motorcycle only
7	“S” endorsement restricted to less than 16 passenger vehicle.
8	Valid beginning ¹/₂ hour after sunrise, ending ¹/₂ hour before sunset
9	Other

Physical qualification

Intrastate drivers hauling nonhazardous materials who are unable to meet the physical qualification standards of Sec. 391.41(b)(1), (2), (3), or (10), may apply to the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles for a waiver.

View agency contact information.

['Driver qualifications']

['Drivers qualification (DQ file)']

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Qualification of drivers - Virginia

Federal regulations

Applicability

Age

Driver qualification file

Operator’s license

Physical qualification