New York State Commercial Driver’s Manual - CDL/CLP Handbook 2022

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Gloria

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commercial Driver’s Manual provides structured guidance for commercial drivers and learners. It covers commercial motor vehicles, CDL and CLP classes, endorsements, restrictions, and test requirements. The manual outlines safe driving practices including vehicle inspection, control techniques, hazard awareness, speed and space management, and procedures for emergencies, fires, and crashes. It also addresses alcohol and other drugs, alertness, hazardous materials rules, and specialized sections for passengers, air brakes, combination vehicles, doubles and triples, and tank vehicles.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages187

Reading Time7 h 51 min

AccessFree to download

Section 1 Introduction

1.1 Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV)

1.2 Commercial Driver License (CDL) and Commercial Learner Permit (CLP) Classes, Endorsements & Restrictions

1.3 Commercial Driver License and Commercial Learner Permit Requirements

1.4 Commercial Driver License Tests

1.5 Additional Requirements For Bus Drivers

1.6 Driver Disqualifications

1.7 Other Commercial Privilege Rules

1.8 International Registration Plan and International Fuel Tax Agreement

Section 2 Driving Safely

2.1 Vehicle Inspection

2.2 Basic Control of Your Vehicle

2.3 Shifting Gears

2.4 Seeing

2.5 Communicating

2.6 Controlling Speed

2.7 Managing Space

2.8 Seeing Hazards

2.9 Distracted Driving

2.10 Aggressive Drivers/Road Rage

2.11 Driving at Night

2.12 Driving in Fog

2.13 Driving in Winter

2.14 Driving in Very Hot Weather

2.15 Railroad-Highway Crossings

2.16 Mountain Driving

2.17 Driving Emergencies

2.18 Antilock Braking Systems (ABS)

2.19 Skid Control and Recovery

2.20 Crash Procedures

2.21 Fires

2.22 Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Driving

2.23 Staying Alert and Fit to Drive

2.24 Hazardous Materials Rules For All Commercial Drivers

Section 3 Transporting Cargo Safely

3.1 Inspecting Cargo

3.2 Weight and Balance

3.3 Securing Cargo

3.4 Cargo Needing Special Attention

Section 4 Transporting Passengers Safely

4.1 When the Passenger Endorsement Is Required

4.2 Vehicle Inspection

4.3 Loading and Trip Start

4.4 On the Road

4.5 After-Trip Vehicle Inspection

4.6 Prohibited Practices

4.7 Use of Brake-Door Interlocks

Section 5 Air Brakes

5.1 The Parts of an Air Brake System

5.2 Dual Air Brake

5.3 Inspecting Air Brake Systems

5.4 Using Air Brakes

Section 6 Combination Vehicles

6.1 Driving Combination Vehicles Safely

6.2 Combination Vehicle Air Brakes

6.3 Antilock Brake Systems

6.4 Coupling and Uncoupling

6.5 Inspecting a Combination Vehicle

Section 7 Doubles and Triples

7.1 Pulling Double/Triple Trailers

7.2 Coupling and Uncoupling

7.3 Inspecting Doubles and Triples

7.4 Doubles/Triples Air Brake Check

Section 8 Tank Vehicles

8.1 Inspecting Tank Vehicles

8.2 Driving Tank Vehicles

8.3 Safe Driving Rules

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 1 Introduction ............................................................. 1-1 1.1 Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV) ........................................ 1-1 1.2 Commercial Driver License (CDL) and Commercial Learner Permit (CLP) Classes, Endorsements & Restrictions ..................................... 1-1 1.3 Commercial Driver License and Commercial Learner Permit Requirements ........... 1-3 1.4 Commercial Driver License Tests .......................................... 1-9 1.5 Additional Requirements For Bus Drivers ................................... 1-10 1.6 Driver Disqualifications .................................................. 1-10 1.7 Other Commercial Privilege Rules ......................................... 1-13 1.8 International Registration Plan and International Fuel Tax Agreement ............. 1-14 2 Driving Safely ............................................................ 2-1 2.1 Vehicle Inspection ...................................................... 2-1 2.2 Basic Control of Your Vehicle ............................................. 2-11 2.3 Shifting Gears ......................................................... 2-12 2.4 Seeing............................................................... 2-14 2.5 Communicating ........................................................ 2-16 2.6 Controlling Speed ...................................................... 2-19 2.7 Managing Space ....................................................... 2-22 2.8 Seeing Hazards ....................................................... 2-25 2.9 Distracted Driving ...................................................... 2-28 2.10 Aggressive Drivers/Road Rage .......................................... 2-29 2.11 Driving at Night ....................................................... 2-31 2.12 Driving in Fog ........................................................ 2-33 2.13 Driving in Winter ...................................................... 2-33 2.14 Driving in Very Hot Weather ............................................. 2-35 2.15 Railroad-Highway Crossings ............................................ 2-37 2.16 Mountain Driving ...................................................... 2-39 2.17 Driving Emergencies .................................................. 2-41 2.18 Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) ......................................... 2-44 2.19 Skid Control and Recovery.............................................. 2-47 2.20 Crash Procedures ..................................................... 2-48 2.21 Fires ............................................................... 2-49 2.22 Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Driving ........................................ 2-51 2.23 Staying Alert and Fit to Drive ............................................ 2-53 2.24 Hazardous Materials Rules For All Commercial Drivers ....................... 2-55 3 Transporting Cargo Safely ............................................... 3-1 3.1 Inspecting Cargo ...................................................... 3-1 3.2 Weight and Balance .................................................... 3-2 3.3 Securing Cargo ........................................................ 3-3 3.4 Cargo Needing Special Attention .......................................... 3-4 4 Transporting Passengers Safely ......................................... 4-1 4.1 When the Passenger Endorsement Is Required .............................. 4-1 4.2 Vehicle Inspection ...................................................... 4-1 4.3 Loading and Trip Start .................................................. 4-2 4.4 On the Road .......................................................... 4-4 4.5 After-Trip Vehicle Inspection .............................................. 4-5 4.6 Prohibited Pra

FAQs

What topics does the manual cover in the Introduction section?

It covers commercial motor vehicles, CDL/CLP classes with endorsements and restrictions, requirements, licensing tests, bus-driver additional requirements, disqualifications, other commercial privilege rules, and international registration and fuel tax agreements.

How does the manual guide safe driving?

It provides procedures for vehicle inspection and basic control, plus guidance on speed, space management, hazard awareness, distracted and aggressive driving, night/fog/winter/hot-weather driving, and railroad-highway crossings. It also includes emergency, braking, skid, crash, fire, alcohol/drug, and alertness topics.

What vehicle-specific areas are included beyond general safety?

It includes safe cargo transportation, safe passenger transportation practices, and dedicated sections for air brakes, combination vehicles, doubles and triples, and tank vehicles, including inspection and driving rules for each category.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Gloria