Road Test Certificate
A certificate documenting that a driver has passed a road test administered by the carrier before operating a commercial motor vehicle. A valid CDL may substitute for the road test under 49 CFR 391.33.
If a CDL is used in lieu of a road test, the carrier must note the CDL number, class, and issuing state in the DQ file instead of a road test certificate.
CDL as a road test substitute
Under 49 CFR 391.33, a carrier can accept a valid CDL in lieu of administering their own road test, provided the CDL class covers the type of vehicle the driver will operate. The DQ file must then document the CDL number, class, and issuing state as the basis for the waiver — not a road test certificate. Most carriers use this approach since it simplifies onboarding for experienced CDL holders and is explicitly permitted by regulation.
When a carrier-administered road test is appropriate
Carriers may administer their own road test even when the driver holds a valid CDL — particularly for specialized equipment or high-risk cargo where independent verification of the driver's skills is warranted. If a road test is administered, the certificate must describe the vehicle used, be dated, and be signed by the examiner. It is retained in the DQ file. Some carriers use a hybrid approach: accepting the CDL waiver for standard equipment but requiring a carrier-specific road test for specialized units.
Last updated: June 4, 2026
When this definition matters
This term usually matters when a driver, owner-operator, or small carrier is deciding whether a federal rule applies, preparing a compliance file, or checking a state CDL step. Use this definition as a starting point, then confirm the controlling requirement in the official source listed below before making a licensing, hiring, dispatch, or recordkeeping decision.
The related terms above are included because they often appear in the same compliance workflow. Reviewing them together can prevent common mix-ups, such as treating a state licensing step as a federal carrier obligation or confusing a driver record with a separate employer record.