Federal & State Regulations | Qualification of drivers - Washington

Federal regulations

The Washington State Patrol and the Utilities and Transportation Commission have adopted Part 380 and Part 391 of the Federal Regulations.

Applicability

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

Part 391 applies to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating or gross weight or gross combination weight of 10,001 or more pounds and vehicles transporting hazardous materials requiring placards.

Exception — Under the Washington State Patrol adoption, motor carriers operating vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating between 10,001 pounds and 26,000 pounds operating intrastate, and not transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding, are exempt from Part 391, Subparts D and E (road test and physical qualification).

Age

Intrastate drivers may be 18 years of age.

Driver qualification file

A driver qualification file (Sec. 391.51) is required. There are exceptions to the road test and physical qualification requirements. See Applicability above for details.

Drug and alcohol testing

All breath alcohol technicians (BATs) and medical review officers (MROs) (regardless of the state where the BAT or MRO is located) must report all individuals who hold a Washington state commercial driver’s license (CDL) who have a confirmed positive drug or alcohol test to the Washington Department of Licensing. This report must be made within three business days of the confirmed test.

Motor carriers, employers, or consortiums must make this requirement a written condition of their contract or agreement with a BAT or MRO.

When the Washington Department of Licensing receives a report from a BAT or MRO that the holder of a CDL has a confirmed positive drug or alcohol test, the driver will be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle. The Washington Department of Licensing will notify the driver of this disqualification by mail. The driver has 20 days from the day the notice is given to request a hearing.

Operator’s license

Washington uses a classified system of driver licensing, as follows:

Class	Description
Class A	Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds if 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 pounds GVWR.
Class C	Any single vehicle less than 26,001 pounds GVWR, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR consisting of vehicles which are placarded for hazardous materials or designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
Endorsements
H	Hazardous materials
N	Tank
P	Passenger-carrying vehicles (other than school buses)
S	School bus
T	Double/triple trailers
X	Hazardous materials and tank
Restrictions
E	Restricts driver from operating commercial motor vehicle equipped with a manual transmission
K	Restricts driver from interstate operation of a commercial motor vehicle
L	Restricts the driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle equipped with air brakes
M	Restricts the driver from operating Class A passenger vehicles
N	Restricts the driver from operating Class A and B passenger vehicles
O	Restricts the driver from operating tractor-trailer commercial motor vehicles
V	Driver is issued a medical variance
Z	Restricts the driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle equipped with full air brakes

Physical qualification

Waivers of certain physical requirements may be granted by the Department of Licensing.

View agency contact information.

['Driver qualifications']

['Drivers qualification (DQ file)']

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Qualification of drivers - Washington