All commercial motor vehicle operators must have knowledge of the following general areas:
(a) Safe operations regulations. Driver-related elements of the regulations contained in 49 CFR Parts 382, 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 commercial motor vehicle operation; the types of motor vehicles and cargoes subject to the requirements; and the effects of alcohol and drug use upon safe commercial motor vehicle operations.
(b) Commercial motor vehicle safety control systems. 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. Commercial motor vehicle drivers shall have knowledge on the correct procedures needed to use these safety systems in an emergency situation, e.g., skids and loss of brakes.
(c) Safe vehicle control. (1) Control systems—The purpose and function of the controls and instruments commonly found on commercial motor vehicles.
(c)(2) Basic control—The proper procedures for performing various basic maneuvers.
(c)(3) Shifting—The basic shifting rules and terms, as well as shift patterns and procedures for common transmissions.
(c)(4) Backing—The procedures and rules for various backing maneuvers.
(c)(5) Visual search—The importance of proper visual search, and proper visual search methods.
(c)(6) Communication—The principles and procedures for proper communications and the hazards of failure to signal properly.
(c)(7) Speed Management—The importance of understanding the effects of speed.
(c)(8) Space management—The procedures and techniques for controlling the space around the vehicle.
(c)(9) Night operation—Preparations and procedures for night driving.
(c)(10) Extreme driving conditions—The basic information on operating in extreme driving conditions and the hazards that are encountered in extreme conditions.
(c)(11) Hazard perceptions—The basic information on hazard perception and clues for recognition of hazards.
(c)(12) Emergency maneuvers—The basic information concerning when and how to make emergency maneuvers.
(c)(13) Skid control and recovery—The information on the causes and major types of skids, as well as the procedures for recovering from skids.
(d) Relationship of cargo to vehicle control. The principles and procedures for the proper handling of cargo.
(e) Vehicle inspections: The objectives and proper procedures for performing vehicle safety inspections, as follows:
(e)(1) The importance of periodic inspection and repair to vehicle safety.
(e)(2) The effect of undiscovered malfunctions upon safety.
(e)(3) What safety-related parts to look for when inspecting vehicles.
(f) Hazardous materials knowledge, such as: 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.
(g) Air brake knowledge as follows:
(g)(1) Air brake system nomenclature;
(g)(2) The dangers of contaminated air supply;
(g)(3) Implications of severed or disconnected air lines between the power unit and the trailer(s);
(g)(4) Implications of low air pressure readings;
(g)(5) Procedures to conduct safe and accurate pre-trip inspections.
(g)(6) 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.
(h) Operators for the combination vehicle group shall also have knowledge of:
(h)(1) Coupling and uncoupling—The procedures for proper coupling and uncoupling a tractor to semi-trailer.
(h)(2) Vehicle inspection—The objectives and proper procedures that are unique for performing vehicle safety inspections on combination vehicles.
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