New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 13 - LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY › Chapter 21 - LICENSING SERVICE › Subchapter 23 - COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSING › Section 13:21-23.9 - Required knowledge

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) All CMV operators must have knowledge of the following general areas as developed by the Commission and approved by the United States Department of Transportation as meeting its minimum standards:
1. Driver-related elements of the regulations contained in 49 CFR Parts 391, 392, 393, 395, 396, and 397, such as: motor vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance requirements; procedures for safe vehicle operations; the effects of fatigue, poor vision, hearing, and general health upon safe CMV operation; the types of motor vehicles and cargoes subject to the requirements; and the effects of alcohol and drug use upon safe CMV operations;
2. Proper use of the motor vehicle's safety system, including lights, horns, side and rear view mirrors, proper mirror adjustments, fire extinguishers, symptoms of improper operation revealed through instruments, motor vehicle operation characteristics, and diagnosing malfunctions. CMV drivers shall have knowledge of the correct procedures needed to use these safety systems in an emergency situation, for example, skids and loss of brakes;
3. The purpose and function of the controls and instruments commonly found on CMVs;
4. The proper procedures for performing various basic maneuvers;
5. The basic shifting rules and terms, as well as shift patterns and procedures for common transmissions;
6. The procedures and rules for various backing maneuvers;
7. The importance of proper visual search, and proper visual search methods;
8. The principles and procedures for proper communications and the hazards of failure to signal properly;
9. The importance of understanding the effects of speed;
10. The procedures and techniques for controlling the space around the vehicle;
11. Preparations and procedures for night driving;
12. The basic information on operating in extreme driving conditions and the hazards that are encountered in extreme conditions;
13. The basic information on hazard perception and clues for recognition of hazards;
14. The basic information concerning when and how to make emergency maneuvers;
15. The information on the causes and major types of skids, as well as the procedures for recovering from skids;
16. The principles and procedures for the proper handling of cargo;
17. The objectives and proper procedures for performing vehicle safety inspections, as follows:
i. The importance of periodic inspection and repair to vehicle safety;
ii. The effect of undiscovered malfunctions upon safety;
iii. What safety-related parts to look for when inspecting vehicles;
iv. Pre-trip/enroute/post-trip inspection procedures; and
v. Reporting findings;
18. What constitutes hazardous material requiring an endorsement to transport; classes of hazardous materials; labeling/placarding requirements; and the need for specialized training as a prerequisite to receiving the endorsement and transporting hazardous cargoes;
19. Operators of vehicles equipped with air brakes shall also have knowledge of:
i. Air brake system nomenclature;
ii. The dangers of contaminated air supply;
iii. Implications of severed or disconnected air lines between the power unit and the trailer(s);
iv. Implications of low air pressure readings;
v. Procedures to conduct safe and accurate pre-trip inspections; and
vi. Procedures for conducting enroute and post-trip inspections of air actuated brake systems, including ability to detect defects which may cause the system to fail; and
20. Operators for the combination vehicle group shall also have knowledge of:
i. Coupling and uncoupling--The procedures for proper coupling and uncoupling a tractor to semi-trailer; and
ii. Vehicle inspection--The objectives and proper procedures that are unique for performing safety inspections on combination vehicles.