Before a new driver gets behind the wheel, FMCSA requires a road test — or an accepted equivalent — to confirm they can safely operate your equipment. Here’s what the road test covers, when a CDL or prior certificate can stand in, and what you must keep on file.
Road test requirements
- routeWhen a road test is requiredUnder 49 CFR 391.31, a carrier must give each driver a road test — or accept an allowed equivalent — before the driver operates a commercial motor vehicle.
- checklistWhat the road test coversPre-trip inspection, coupling and uncoupling, placing the vehicle in operation, use of controls and emergency equipment, backing, and operating in traffic.
- swap_horizAccepted equivalents (391.33)Instead of a road test you may accept a valid CDL (except for driving doubles/triples or tank vehicles) or a certificate of road test issued by a previous employer within the past year.
- verifiedCertificate of road testThe examiner completes a certificate of road test. The carrier keeps the original and gives the driver a copy.
- folder_sharedKept in the DQ fileThe certificate of road test — or the accepted equivalent used in its place — is retained in the Driver Qualification file (49 CFR 391.51).
- person_checkQualified examinerThe road test must be given by a person competent to evaluate and determine whether the driver can safely operate the type of vehicle they’ll drive.
Note: This page summarizes 49 CFR 391.31 and 391.33 for general guidance and is not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm current rules at fmcsa.dot.gov or with qualified counsel.
How it fits into hiring
The road test is one of the driver-qualification steps, alongside the 391.21 application, MVR, and medical certificate. The certificate of road test is retained in the Driver Qualification file. See where it falls in the full hiring process and the onboarding checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is a road test always required to hire a driver?
You must give a road test unless you accept an allowed equivalent under 49 CFR 391.33 — a valid CDL for the class of vehicle, or a certificate of road test from a previous employer issued within the past year.
Can I accept a CDL instead of giving a road test?
For most vehicles, yes. But a CDL cannot substitute for a road test when the driver will operate doubles/triples or tank vehicles — those still require an actual road test.
What road-test record goes in the file?
The certificate of road test, or the accepted equivalent (a copy of the CDL or the prior employer’s certificate), is kept in the Driver Qualification file.
Who can administer the road test?
Anyone competent to evaluate the driver’s ability to safely operate the vehicle — it can be the employer or a designated qualified person.