# 49 CFR § 391.11: General qualifications of drivers

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.11

## Section

- **Citation:** 49 CFR § 391.11
- **Heading:** General qualifications of drivers
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 49—Transportation > Subtitle B—Other Regulations Relating to Transportation > CHAPTER III—FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION > SUBCHAPTER B—FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS > PART 391—QUALIFICATIONS OF DRIVERS AND LONGER COMBINATION VEHICLE (LCV) DRIVER INSTRUCTORS > Subpart B—Qualification and Disqualification of Drivers

## Text

(a) A person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless he/she is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle. Except as provided in § 391.63, a motor carrier shall not require or permit a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle unless that person is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle.
(b) Except as provided in subpart G of this part, a person is qualified to drive a motor vehicle if he/she—
(1) Is at least 21 years old;
(2) Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records;
(3) Can, by reason of experience, training, or both, safely operate the type of commercial motor vehicle he/she drives;
(4) Is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in accordance with subpart E—Physical Qualifications and Examinations of this part;
(5) Has a currently valid commercial motor vehicle operator's license issued only by one State or jurisdiction;
(6) Is not disqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle under the rules in § 391.15; and
(7) Has successfully completed a driver's road test and has been issued a certificate of driver's road test in accordance with § 391.31, or has presented an operator's license or a certificate of road test which the motor carrier that employs him/her has accepted as equivalent to a road test in accordance with § 391.33.
[35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 35 FR 19181, Dec. 18, 1970; 36 FR 222, Jan. 7, 1971, 36 FR 24220, Dec. 22, 1971; 45 FR 46424, July 10, 1980; 52 FR 20589, June 1, 1987; 59 FR 60323, Nov. 23, 1994; 60 FR 38744, 38745, July 28, 1995; 63 FR 33276, June 18, 1998; 87 FR 13208, Mar. 9, 2022]

## Nearby sections

- [49 CFR § 391.1 § 391.1 Scope of the rules in this part; additional qualifications; duties of carrier-drivers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.1.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.2 § 391.2 General exceptions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.2.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.11 § 391.11 General qualifications of drivers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.11.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.13 § 391.13 Responsibilities of drivers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.13.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.15 § 391.15 Disqualification of drivers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.15.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.21 § 391.21 Application for employment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.21.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.23 § 391.23 Investigation and inquiries.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.23.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.25 § 391.25 Annual inquiry and review of driving record.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.25.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.31 § 391.31 Road test.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.31.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.33 § 391.33 Equivalent of road test.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.33.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.41 § 391.41 Physical qualifications for drivers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.41.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.43 § 391.43 Medical examination; certificate of physical examination.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.43.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.44 § 391.44 Physical qualification standards for an individual who does not satisfy, with the worse eye, either the distant visual acuity standard with corrective lenses or the field of vision standard, or both.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.44.md)
- [49 CFR § 391.45 § 391.45 Persons who must be medically examined and certified.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.45.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-391.11. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.