§FMCSR.com
Historical textIn force on June 1, 2015Source: annual CFR editions 2011–2016

§ 383.131 Test manuals.

Wording in the annual edition revised as of Oct. 1, 2011, superseded January 1, 2017.

govinfo, 2014 edition ↗
Before Jan. 1, 2017 the record is one snapshot per annual CFR edition, revised as of October 1. This is the 2014 edition's wording. An amendment that took effect between Oct. 1, 2014 and June 1, 2015 would not appear until the next edition, so check the citations below and the Federal Register for exact effective dates.
What changedOct. 1, 1996 wording → Oct. 1, 2011 wording+225 added−139 removedHide

(a) Driver information manualsmanual. Information(1) onA howState tomust obtainprovide an FMCSA pre-approved driver information manual to a CLP or CDL andapplicant. endorsementsThe shallmanual must be includedcomparable into manualsthe andAmerican madeAssociation availableof byMotor StatesVehicle toAdministrators' (AAMVA's) “2005 CDL applicants.Test AllSystem information(July provided2010 Version) Model Commercial Driver Manual”, which FMCSA has approved and provides to theall applicantState shallDriver includeLicensing theAgencies. followingThe driver information manual must include:
(1i) Information on how to obtain a CDL and endorsements;
(ii) Information on the requirements described in §  383.71, the implied consent to alcohol testing described in §  383.72, the procedures and penalties, contained in §  383.51(b) to which a CLP or CDL holder is exposed for refusal to comply with such alcohol testing, State procedures described in §  383.73, and other appropriate driver information contained in subpart E of this part;
(2iii) Information on vehicle groups and endorsements as specified in subpart F of this part;
(3iv) The substance of the knowledge and skills whichthat drivers shallmust have, as outlined in subpart G of this part for the different vehicle groups and endorsements; and
(4v) Details of testing procedures, including the purpose of the tests, how to respond, anyand timedirections limits for taking the test,tests.
(2) andA anyState othermay specialinclude proceduresany determinedadditional by the State-specific ofinformation issuance;related and
(5)to Directionsthe forCDL takingtesting theand testslicensing process.
(b) Examiner proceduresinformation manual. (1) A State shallmust provide toan testFMCSA examinerspre-approved detailsexaminer oninformation testingmanual andthat anyconforms otherto State-imposedmodel requirements in theparagraphs examiner's(b)(1)(i-xi) manual,of andthis shallsection ensureto thatall examinersknowledge areand qualifiedskills totest administerexaminers. testsTo onbe pre-approved by FMCSA, the basisexaminer ofinformation trainingmanual and/ormust otherbe experience.comparable Statesto shallAAMVA's provide“2005 standardizedCDL scoringTest sheetsSystem for(July the2010 skillsVersion) testsModel CDL Examiner's Manual,” aswhich wellFMCSA ashas standardizedapproved drivingand instructionsprovides forto theall applicants.State SuchDriver examiners'Licensing manualsAgencies. shallThe containexaminer theinformation followingmanual must include:
(1i) Information on driver application procedures contained in §  383.71, State procedures described in §  383.73, and other appropriate driver information contained in subpart E of this part;
(2ii) Details on information whichthat must be given to the applicant;
(3iii) Details on how to conduct the knowledge and skills tests;
(4iv) Scoring procedures and minimum passing scores for the knowledge and skills tests;
(5v) Information for selecting driving test routes for the skills tests;
(6vi) List of the skills to be tested;
(7vii) Instructions on where and how the skills will be tested;
(8viii) How performance of the skills will be scored; and
(9ix) Causes for automatic failure of skills tests;
(x) Standardized scoring sheets for the skills tests; and
(xi) Standardized driving instructions for the applicants.
[53(2) FRA 27657,State Julymay 21,include 1988,any asadditional amendedState-specific atinformation 53related to the CDL testing process.
[76 FR 3905126891, Oct.May 49, 19882011]

49 CFR § 383.131 — Test manuals.. Text in force on June 1, 2015. This wording effective October 1, 2011 to January 1, 2017. Source: govinfo, 2014 edition, https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2014-title49-vol5/CFR-2014-title49-vol5-sec383-131. Retrieved from FMCSR.com, https://fmcsr.com/reg/383.131?asof=2015-06-01, on October 26, 2026. Unofficial compilation; verify against the official source.

(a) Driver information manual. (1) A State must provide an FMCSA pre-approved driver information manual to a CLP or CDL applicant. The manual must be comparable to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators' (AAMVA's) “2005 CDL Test System (July 2010 Version) Model Commercial Driver Manual”, which FMCSA has approved and provides to all State Driver Licensing Agencies. The driver information manual must include:

(i) Information on how to obtain a CDL and endorsements;

(ii) Information on the requirements described in § 383.71, the implied consent to alcohol testing described in § 383.72, the procedures and penalties contained in § 383.51(b) to which a CLP or CDL holder is exposed for refusal to comply with such alcohol testing, State procedures described in § 383.73, and other appropriate driver information contained in subpart E of this part;

(iii) Information on vehicle groups and endorsements as specified in subpart F of this part;

(iv) The substance of the knowledge and skills that drivers must have, as outlined in subpart G of this part for the different vehicle groups and endorsements; and

(v) Details of testing procedures, including the purpose of the tests, how to respond, and directions for taking the tests.

(2) A State may include any additional State-specific information related to the CDL testing and licensing process.

(b) Examiner information manual. (1) A State must provide an FMCSA pre-approved examiner information manual that conforms to model requirements in paragraphs (b)(1)(i-xi) of this section to all knowledge and skills test examiners. To be pre-approved by FMCSA, the examiner information manual must be comparable to AAMVA's “2005 CDL Test System (July 2010 Version) Model CDL Examiner's Manual,” which FMCSA has approved and provides to all State Driver Licensing Agencies. The examiner information manual must include:

(i) Information on driver application procedures contained in § 383.71, State procedures described in § 383.73, and other appropriate driver information contained in subpart E of this part;

(ii) Details on information that must be given to the applicant;

(iii) Details on how to conduct the knowledge and skills tests;

(iv) Scoring procedures and minimum passing scores for the knowledge and skills tests;

(v) Information for selecting driving test routes for the skills tests;

(vi) List of the skills to be tested;

(vii) Instructions on where and how the skills will be tested;

(viii) How performance of the skills will be scored;

(ix) Causes for automatic failure of skills tests;

(x) Standardized scoring sheets for the skills tests; and

(xi) Standardized driving instructions for the applicants.

(2) A State may include any additional State-specific information related to the CDL testing process.

[76 FR 26891, May 9, 2011]

Amendment history

3 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996
  1. Jan. 1, 2017 → presenteCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [76 FR 26891, May 9, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 68347, Oct. 4, 2016]
  2. Oct. 1, 2011 → Jan. 1, 2017annual editions 2011–2016diff vs. previousviewing
    [76 FR 26891, May 9, 2011]
  3. Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 2011annual editions 1996–2010
    [53 FR 27657, July 21, 1988, as amended at 53 FR 39051, Oct. 4, 1988]

A new entry appears whenever the regulatory words change between government snapshots. Day-precise from the eCFR (2017 onward); before that, one snapshot per annual CFR edition (revised as of October 1). Bracketed citations are the Federal Register history printed with the section.