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49 CFR § 383.77 - Substitute for knowledge and driving skills tests for drivers with military CMV experience.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s383.77"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 383.77 - Substitute for knowledge and driving skills tests for drivers with military CMV experience."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "383.77"
section_name: "Substitute for knowledge and driving skills tests for drivers with military CMV experience."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS"
part_number: "383"
part_name: "COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE STANDARDS; REQUIREMENTS AND PENALTIES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 521, 31136, 31301,  and 31502; secs. 214 and 215 of Pub. L. 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748, 1766, 1767; sec. 1012(b) of Pub. L. 107-56, 115 Stat. 272, 397, sec. 4140 of Pub. L. 109-59, 119 Stat. 1144, 1746; sec. 32934 of Pub. L. 112-141, 126 Stat. 405, 830; secs. 5401 and 7208, Pub. L. 114-94, 129 Stat. 1312, 1546, 1593 (49 U.S.C. 31305(d)), sec. 23019 of Pub. L. 117-58, 135 Stat. 429, 777; and 49 CFR 1.87."
regulatory_source: "52 FR 20587, June 1, 1987, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "383"
---

# 383.77 Substitute for knowledge and driving skills tests for drivers with military CMV experience.

(a) *Knowledge test waivers for certain current or former military service members applying for a CLP or CDL*—(1) *In general.* For current or former military service members, as defined in § 383.5, who meet the conditions and limitations set forth in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, a State may waive the requirements in §§ 383.23(a)(1) and 383.25(a)(3) that a person must pass a knowledge test for a CLP or CDL.

(2) *Conditions and limitations.* A current or former military service member applying for waiver of the knowledge test described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must certify and provide evidence that, during the 1-year period immediately prior to the application, he/she:

(i) Is or was regularly employed and designated as a:

(A) Motor Transport Operator—88M (Army);

(B) PATRIOT Launching Station Operator—14T (Army);

(C) Fueler—92F (Army);

(D) Vehicle Operator—2T1 (Air Force);

(E) Fueler—2F0 (Air Force);

(F) Pavement and Construction Equipment Operator—3E2 (Air Force);

(G) Motor Vehicle Operator—3531 (Marine Corps); or

(H) Equipment Operator—E.O. (Navy).

(ii) Is operating a vehicle representative of the CMV type the driver applicant expects to operate upon separation from the military, or operated such a vehicle type immediately preceding separation from the military;

(iii) Has not simultaneously held more than one civilian license (in addition to a military license);

(iv) Has not had any license suspended, revoked, or cancelled;

(v) Has not had any convictions for any type of motor vehicle for the disqualifying offenses contained in § 383.51(b);

(vi) Has not had more than one conviction for any type of motor vehicle for serious traffic violations contained in § 383.51(c); and

(vii) Has not had any conviction for a violation of military, State, or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than a parking violation) arising in connection with any traffic accident, and has no record of an accident in which he/she was at fault.

(b) *Driving skills test waivers for certain current or former military service members applying for a CDL*—(1) *In general.* At the discretion of a State, the driving skills test required by § 383.23(a)(1), and as specified in § 383.113, may be waived for a CMV driver with military CMV experience who is currently licensed at the time of his/her application for a CDL and substituted with an applicant's driving record in combination with certain driving experience.

(2) *Conditions and limitations.* The State shall impose conditions and limitations to restrict the applicants from whom a State may accept alternative requirements for the driving skills test described in § 383.113. Such conditions must require at least the following:

(i) An applicant must provide evidence and certify that he/she:

(A) Is regularly employed or was regularly employed within the last year in a military position requiring operation of a CMV;

(B) Was exempted from the CDL requirements in § 383.3(c); and

(C) Was operating a vehicle representative of the CMV type the driver applicant operates or expects to operate, for at least the 2 years immediately preceding separation from the military.

(ii) An applicant must certify that, during the 2-year period immediately prior to applying for a CDL, he/she:

(A) Has not simultaneously held more than one civilian license (in addition to a military license);

(B) Has not had any license suspended, revoked, or cancelled;

(C) Has not had any convictions for any type of motor vehicle for the disqualifying offenses contained in § 383.51(b);

(D) Has not had more than one conviction for any type of motor vehicle for serious traffic violations contained in § 383.51(c); and

(E) Has not had any conviction for a violation of military, State or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than a parking violation) arising in connection with any traffic crash, and has no record of a crash in which he/she was at fault.

(c) *Endorsement waivers for certain current or former military service members applying for a CLP or a CDL*—(1) *Passenger.* For current or former military service members, as defined in § 383.5, who meet the conditions and limitations set forth in paragraph (c)(4) of this section, a State may waive the requirements in § 383.25(a)(5)(i), § 383.93(a) and (c)(2) that an applicant must pass a driving skills test and a specialized knowledge test, described in § 383.117, for a passenger (P) endorsement.

(2) *Tank vehicle.* For current or former military service members, as defined in § 383.5, who meet the conditions and limitations set forth in paragraph (c)(4) of this section, a State may waive the requirements in §§ 383.25(a)(5)(iii) and 383.93(a) and (c)(3) that an applicant must pass a specialized knowledge test, described in § 383.119, for a tank vehicle (N) endorsement.

(3) *Hazardous materials.* For current or former military service members, as defined in § 383.5, who meet the conditions and limitations set forth in paragraph (c)(4) of this section, a State may waive the requirements in § 383.93(a)(1) and (c)(4) that an applicant must pass a specialized knowledge test, described in § 383.121, for a hazardous materials (H) endorsement. States must continue to meet the requirements for a hazardous materials endorsement in subpart I of this part.

(4) *Conditions and limitations.* A current or former military service member applying for waiver of the driving skills test or the specialized knowledge test for a passenger carrier endorsement, the knowledge test for the tank vehicle endorsement, or the knowledge test for the hazardous materials endorsement, must certify and provide evidence that, during the 1-year period immediately prior to the application, he/she:

(i) Is or was regularly employed in a military position requiring operation of a passenger CMV, if the applicant is requesting a waiver of the knowledge and driving skills test for a passenger endorsement; operation of a tank vehicle, if the applicant is requesting a waiver of the knowledge test for a tank vehicle endorsement; or transportation of hazardous materials, if the applicant is requesting a waiver of the knowledge test for a hazardous materials endorsement;

(ii) Has not simultaneously held more than one civilian license (in addition to a military license);

(iii) Has not had any license suspended, revoked, or cancelled;

(iv) Has not had any convictions for any type of motor vehicle for the disqualifying offenses contained in § 383.51(b);

(v) Has not had more than one conviction for any type of motor vehicle for serious traffic violations contained in § 383.51(c); and

(vi) Has not had any conviction for a violation of military, State or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than a parking violation) arising in connection with any traffic crash, and has no record of a crash in which he/she was at fault.

[83 FR 48975, Sept. 28, 2018]