MTO Legal Regulations & Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under FMCSA regulations, what is the maximum allowable blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for a CDL holder operating a commercial motor vehicle?
- 0.08%
- 0.04% (Correct answer)
- 0.02%
- 0.00%
Correct answer: 0.04%
Federal regulations set the legal BAC limit for CDL drivers operating CMVs at 0.04%, half the standard limit for non-commercial drivers.
Question 2: A motor carrier must retain driver qualification files for how long after a driver's employment ends?
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
Correct answer: 3 years
49 CFR Part 391 requires carriers to keep driver qualification files for 3 years after the driver's employment terminates.
Question 3: Which federal agency enforces hours-of-service rules for interstate commercial truck drivers?
- DOT Office of Inspector General
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) (Correct answer)
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Correct answer: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
The FMCSA is the DOT sub-agency responsible for regulating and enforcing safety standards including hours-of-service for CMV drivers.
Question 4: What is the minimum age requirement to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce?
- 18 years old
- 19 years old
- 21 years old (Correct answer)
- 25 years old
Correct answer: 21 years old
Federal law requires CMV drivers engaged in interstate commerce to be at least 21 years old.
Question 5: A driver is found to have a disqualifying out-of-service condition. Who bears primary responsibility for ensuring the driver does not operate the vehicle?
- The driver alone
- The motor carrier alone
- Both the driver and the motor carrier (Correct answer)
- The state DOT inspector
Correct answer: Both the driver and the motor carrier
Both the driver and the motor carrier share responsibility for compliance; the carrier must not dispatch an out-of-service driver, and the driver must not operate.
Question 6: Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, a 'serious traffic violation' that can lead to CDL disqualification includes which of the following?
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Speeding 15 mph or more over the limit in a CMV (Correct answer)
- Parking in a no-parking zone
- Failure to dim headlights
Correct answer: Speeding 15 mph or more over the limit in a CMV
Speeding 15 mph or more over the posted limit while operating a CMV qualifies as a serious traffic violation under 49 CFR 383.51.
Question 7: Which document must a CDL driver carry or have accessible while operating a commercial motor vehicle?
- Medical examiner's certificate only
- CDL only
- CDL and medical examiner's certificate (Correct answer)
- Vehicle registration and proof of insurance only
Correct answer: CDL and medical examiner's certificate
CDL drivers must carry both their valid CDL and their current medical examiner's certificate (or a copy) while operating a CMV.
MTO Legal Regulations & Compliance 2
Under FMCSA regulations, what is the maximum allowable blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for a CDL holder operating a commercial motor vehicle?