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Ohio Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 12, 2021) |
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4501 Department of Public Safety - Administration and Director |
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Chapter4501-7. Commercial Driver Training Schools |
4501-7-28. Training required for the operation of commercial motor vehicles
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[Comment: For dates and availability of material incorporated by reference in this rule, see paragraph ( A) in rule 4501-7- 39 of the Administrative Code.]
(A) Enterprises training drivers in the operation of commercial motor vehicles shall provide both classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel instruction in the operation of commercial motor vehicles. A CDL licensed school may offer instruction in class "A" instruction, class "B" instruction, or both.
(B) Students shall be taught and supervised by a licensed instructor. Instructors shall act only under the authority and guidance of a licensed driver training enterprise.
(C) The authorizing official and/or training manager of the enterprise shall ensure that each student completes all required classroom and behind-the-wheel training within two hundred seventy days after the first lesson unless mitigating circumstances occur which shall be documented by the school in the student's record. Mitigating circumstances include health and family issues that disrupt the student's ability to receive training.
(D) No student shall be provided more than ten hours of training by an enterprise in one calendar day.
(E) Classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel instruction shall consist of no less than sixty minutes for each hour credited toward completion of the required instruction. Time taken for breaks shall not be included when calculating completion of the required instruction.
(F) No more than forty per cent of the total classroom instruction hours shall be devoted to showing educational videos, slides or films that relate to commercial driver training. No videos, films, or activities unrelated to safe commercial driving practices, commercial driver knowledge, or commercial driver skill shall be used.
(G) All behind-the-wheel instruction on streets and highways shall be under the direct supervision of a licensed instructor who is in the vehicle and seated in the front seat next to the driver.
(H) If a student is observing behind-the-wheel instruction of another student and not actually driving, such time shall not be credited to the student for behind-the-wheel training completed. Each student driver, with the assistance of the instructor, shall do at least one pre-trip inspection during each day of on-the-road training.
(I) For every five vehicles, a minimum of one instructor, who is not restricted to the classroom, shall be on the driving range at any time a student is operating a motor vehicle. During such operation a maximum of two students shall be assigned to each vehicle. There shall be a maximum of ten students per instructor during instruction on the range. The instructor shall remain on the range during instruction and shall be actively instructing and monitoring the students on the range.
(J) Classroom instruction for class "A" commercial motor vehicle training shall total at least forty hours. The curriculum shall, at a minimum, include instruction on the following topics:
(1) Traffic laws;
(2) Rules and regulations of the public utility commission of Ohio;
(3) Federal motor carrier safety regulations relating to the operation of trucks, commercial cars, commercial tractors, trailers and semi-tractors, and motor vehicles transporting flammable and/or hazardous cargo. In addition, the enterprise shall provide the student with a current copy of the "Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 380," "Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 383," "Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 391," and "Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 395" of the federal motor carrier safety regulations;
(4) Federal laws relating to vehicle brake systems, lighting, and display of emergency equipment;
(5) Registration and licensing laws;
(6) Special taxes such as the international registration plan (IRP), the international fuel tax alliance (IFTA), and the unified carrier registration system (UCRS);
(7) Crash reporting and financial responsibility laws;
(8) The effects of driver fatigue;
(9) Safe driving practices, including the dangers associated with distracted driving;
(10) Human trafficking prevention in the trucking industry;
(11) Courteous driving practices and sharing the road;
(12) Routine services and pre-trip and post-trip inspections and documentation;
(13) Use of occupant protection devices, including their benefits and effectiveness in motor vehicle collisions;
(14) Emerging commercial motor vehicle safety technologies (i.e. electronic stability control and automatic braking systems);
(15) Commercial driver license requirements;
(16) The effect of alcohol and drugs;
(17) Proper public thoroughfare railroad grade crossing procedure;
(18) Commercial motor vehicle blind spots, also known as the "no zone;" and
(19) Driver safety ratings.
(K) Behind-the-wheel instruction for class "A" commercial motor vehicle training shall be provided in a class "A" vehicle and shall total at least forty hours. No less than ten hours of behind-the-wheel instruction shall be given on off-highway ranges. No less than ten hours of behind-the-wheel instruction shall be given on streets and highways with normal traffic. Twenty hours of behind-the-wheel instruction may be used either for on-highway or off-highway training. The authorizing official, instructor or training manager shall determine which behind-the-wheel instruction would be most beneficial to the student. The curriculum shall, at a minimum, include instruction on the following topics:
(1) Basic control procedures, including starting, stopping, turning, shifting, braking and parking;
(2) Docking;
(3) Coupling and uncoupling trailers and semi-trailers;
(4) Display of emergency equipment;
(5) Use of hazard lighting systems;
(6) Checking and servicing the parts of commercial motor vehicles. Pre-trip and post-trip documenting vehicle repair needs;
(7) Sharing the road;
(8) Safe and defensive driving practices; and
(9) Proper public thoroughfare railroad grade crossing procedure.
(L) Classroom instruction for class "B" commercial motor vehicle training shall total at least twelve hours. and shall, at a minimum, cover the curriculum topics including the following:
(1) Traffic laws;
(2) Federal motor carrier safety regulations, rules and regulations of the public utilities commission of Ohio, and all other applicable state laws relating to the operation of commercial motor vehicles;
(3) Federal laws relating to vehicle brake systems, lighting, and display of emergency equipment;
(4) The effects of driver fatigue;
(5) Safe and defensive driving practices, including the dangers associated with distracted driving;
(6) Human trafficking prevention in the trucking industry;
(7) Courteous driving practices and sharing the road;
(8) Routine services and pre-trip and post-trip inspections and documentation;
(9) Use of occupant protection devices, including their benefits and effectiveness in motor vehicle collisions;
(10) Commercial driver license requirements;
(11) The effect of alcohol and drugs;
(12) Driver safety ratings;
(13) Hazardous materials marking, labeling and placarding;
(14) Proper public thoroughfare railroad grade crossing procedure; and
(15) Commercial motor vehicle blind spots, also known as the "no zone."
(M) Behind-the-wheel instruction for class "B" commercial motor vehicle training shall be provided in a class "B" vehicle and shall total at least twenty-eight hours. No less than eight hours of behind-the-wheel instruction shall be given on ranges. No less than eight hours of behind-the-wheel instruction shall be given on streets and highways with normal traffic. Twelve hours of behind-the-wheel instruction may be used either for on-highway or off-highway training. The authorizing official, instructor or training manager shall determine which behind-the-wheel instruction would be most beneficial to the student. The curriculum shall, at a minimum, include instruction on the following topics:
(1) Basic control procedures, including starting, stopping, turning, shifting, braking and parking;
(2) Off-set left and off-set right backing;
(3) Straight line backing;
(4) Checking and servicing the parts of commercial motor vehicles. Pre-trip and post-trip documenting vehicle repair needs;
(5) Parallel parking blind side and sight side;
(6) Ninety degree alley dock;
(7) Display of emergency equipment;
(8) Use of hazard lighting systems;
(9) Sharing the road;
(10) Safe and defensive driving practices; and
(11) Proper public thoroughfare railroad grade crossing procedure.