FMCSA & Compliance
Road Test (CDL Skills Test)
A road test is a behind-the-wheel skills evaluation confirming a driver can safely operate the type of commercial vehicle they'll be driving. FMCSA requires a documented road test (or an accepted equivalent, such as a valid CDL with the matching class and endorsements) as part of every driver's qualification file before they're dispatched.
The road test requirement under 49 CFR §391.31 is meant to confirm a driver's actual operating ability matches their license class and the equipment they'll be assigned, not just their paper credentials. A carrier can accept a valid, current CDL of the appropriate class and endorsements in place of administering its own road test, but many carriers choose to run their own regardless, both as a safety check and to evaluate a new hire's comfort with the carrier's specific equipment (automatic versus manual transmission, trailer type, and so on). The road test and its results are a required document in the driver's DQF.
Why it matters for recruiting and operations
The road test is often the first real signal of whether a new hire can actually handle the specific equipment and freight type a carrier runs, which is why many fleets run their own test even when it's not strictly required, especially for specialized equipment like tankers or doubles. It's typically completed during orientation, making it one of the final gates between a hired driver and a seated one.
Related terms
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