DOT Driver Qualification Requirements 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A driver who is found to have two or more CDLs from different states is:
- Required to surrender all but the most recently issued
- Prohibited from operating a CMV (Correct answer)
- Allowed to use either license
- Required to pay a fine only
Correct answer: Prohibited from operating a CMV
A driver may only possess one CDL; holding two or more is a disqualifying condition under 49 CFR 383.21.
Question 2: Under 49 CFR 391.51, how long must a motor carrier retain a driver qualification file after the driver leaves employment?
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
Correct answer: 3 years
Driver qualification files must be retained for 3 years after the driver's employment ends.
Question 3: Which of the following physical conditions automatically disqualifies a driver under 49 CFR 391.41?
- Controlled high blood pressure
- Loss of a foot or leg (Correct answer)
- Corrected vision with eyeglasses
- Insulin-treated diabetes with exemption
Correct answer: Loss of a foot or leg
Loss of a foot, leg, hand, or arm is a disqualifying condition unless the driver has obtained an SPE certificate.
Question 4: What visual acuity must a driver meet in each eye to qualify under FMCSA medical standards?
- 20/20 uncorrected
- 20/40 in each eye with or without correction (Correct answer)
- 20/100 with correction only
- 20/30 in the better eye
Correct answer: 20/40 in each eye with or without correction
49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) requires at least 20/40 acuity in each eye, with or without corrective lenses.
Question 5: A driver applicant discloses a prior positive pre-employment drug test at a previous employer. The current carrier must:
- Hire the driver provisionally for 90 days
- Verify the driver completed a return-to-duty process before hiring (Correct answer)
- Ignore the prior result if 2 years have passed
- Require only a negative current test
Correct answer: Verify the driver completed a return-to-duty process before hiring
Under 49 CFR Part 40, a driver with a prior positive must complete the SAP return-to-duty process before being permitted to operate a CMV.
Question 6: Under the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rules, how often must employers conduct annual queries on current drivers?
- Every 6 months
- Once per year (Correct answer)
- Every 2 years
- Only at time of hire
Correct answer: Once per year
49 CFR 382.701 requires employers to conduct a limited query of the Clearinghouse for each currently employed CDL driver at least annually.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes a 'limited query' in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
- A full review of all drug test results
- A check that only indicates whether a record exists without revealing details (Correct answer)
- A query conducted without employer registration
- A query restricted to alcohol violations only
Correct answer: A check that only indicates whether a record exists without revealing details
A limited query returns only a 'yes/no' on whether a record exists; a full query is needed to see details and requires the driver's electronic consent.
DOT Driver Qualification Requirements 3
A driver who is found to have two or more CDLs from different states is: