OAR 735-063-0260: CDL Testing and Requirements for Issuance of CDL

(1) An applicant for a CDL must first be issued a CLP and pass a CDL skills test unless the applicant qualifies for one of the following exceptions: (a) The applicant currently holds an Oregon CDL and is applying to renew or replace a CDL granting the exact same privileges. (b) The applicant currently holds an Oregon CDL, is qualified for and has passed the knowledge test to add one or more of the following endorsements: (A) Tank; (B) Hazardous Materials; (C) Doubles/Triples. (c) The applicant surrenders a CDL that is valid or expired less than one year and was issued by another state or the District of Columbia and the applicant: (A) Meets the qualifications set forth in OAR 735-062-0080 subsections (1)(a) - (e); (B) Surrenders a CDL that is the same class as the CDL for which the application is made; (C) Passes the vision screening; and (D) Complies with OAR 735-063-0250(8)(a) to (d). (d) The applicant meets the requirements of OAR 735-063-0280 to be issued an Oregon CDL based on the applicant's military training and experience operating CMVs. (e) The applicant surrenders a valid, unexpired Licencia Federal de Conductor issued by the United Mexican States or a valid, unexpired CDL issued by a Canadian Province or Territory in conformity with the Canadian National Safety Code and meets the requirements described in OAR 735-063-0263. (2) For a DMV examiner or CDL Third Party Examiner to administer a CDL skills test to an applicant, the applicant must: (a) Have an unexpired Oregon driver license; (b) Except as described in sections (15) and (16) of this rule, have an unexpired Oregon CLP that was issued not less than 14 days prior to the test; (c) Have driving privileges that are not suspended, revoked, cancelled or otherwise withdrawn; (d) Complete all required ELDT; (e) Be ready to take the test in a class of vehicle or combination of vehicles that corresponds to or is lesser than the CLP, class, endorsements, and restrictions, possessed by the applicant and that corresponds to the CDL for which the person is applying; (f) Have proof of insurance coverage on the vehicle as required by Oregon law; (g) Complete all segments of the CDL skills test on the same calendar day unless the applicant fails or is unable to complete all three parts of the CDL skills test during a previous attempt; and (h) Communicate with the examiner in English. All examiner instructions are given in English and the applicant must respond in English. (3) In addition to the applicants described in section (2) of this rule, a CDL Third Party Examiner may administer a CDL skills test to an applicant who: (a) Has a valid non-commercial driver license issued by another state; (b) Has a valid CLP issued by the same state as the non-commercial driver license described in subsection (a) of this section, that was issued not less than 14 days prior to the test; (c) Meets the requirements provided in subsections (c) though (h) of section (2) of this rule; (d) Is employed by an organization that provides employer-based training in Oregon and is an Oregon DMV approved employer-based testing organization; (e) Has completed the employer provided ELDT in Oregon; and (f) Is being tested by the same organization that provided ELDT. (4) DMV adopts the following FMSCA regulations in effect as of April 1, 2025, as the standards that must be followed by an examiner in the administration of an approved CDL skills test described in section (15) of this rule: (a) 49 CFR 383.71, Driver Applicant and Certification Procedures; (b) 49 CFR 383.110 through 383.123, Required Knowledge and Skills; and (c) 49 CFR 383.131 through 383.135, Tests. (5) The CDL skills test must be administered in accordance with the federal regulations adopted by section (4) of this rule and the methods and procedures set forth in the Oregon CDL Examiner's Manual. The CDL skills test consists of three parts: (a) A pre-trip vehicle inspection test. This part of the CDL skills test must be the first test administered by the examiner. It is designed to evaluate the applicant's ability to identify and operate the equipment on the vehicle in which the applicant is being tested and to detect and identify unsafe vehicle equipment items as described in the Oregon Commercial Driver Manual. (b) A basic control skills test. This part of the CDL skills test must be administered after the applicant has successfully completed the pre-trip vehicle inspection test and prior to the on-road drive test. It is designed to evaluate the applicant's ability to control the vehicle and judge the position of the vehicle in relation to other objects through basic starting, stopping, backing and parking maneuvers. (c) An on-road drive test. This part of the CDL skills test, which must be administered after successful completion of the basic control skills test, is designed to evaluate the applicant's competency to safely operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles under actual driving conditions. The applicant must demonstrate safe and proper driving methods and procedures and knowledge of the traffic laws. The following apply to an on-road drive test: (A) The vehicle or combination of vehicles used for the CDL skills test must be of the class for which the applicant seeks a license or endorsement and must have the proper equipment in safe working order so that the vehicle(s) can be operated safely and legally. DMV will not administer the test if the examiner concludes the vehicle cannot be operated safely and legally; and (B) The vehicle or combination of vehicles must not be loaded. (6) If the applicant fails any part of the CDL skills test, DMV or a CDL Third Party Tester may administer the failed parts of the test on a subsequent day on which DMV or the CDL Third Party Tester does business. CDL Third Party Examiners must conform to the scheduling requirements in OAR 735-060-0105(1)(n). (7) If an applicant fails any part of the CDL skills test, DMV or an approved Third Party Tester may accept the score for the part of the CDL skills test that the applicant passed. An applicant must pass all segments of the CDL skills test using a single CDL test version, described under section (15) of this rule. Scores for parts of the CDL skills test that the applicant passed may not be accepted for subsequent CDL skills test after the applicant's CLP expires. (8) All CDL skills test results must be recorded in CSTIMS. (9) A passing score for a completed CDL skills test is valid for six months. Once an applicant uses a CDL skills test score to have DMV issue commercial driving privileges, the test score is void and DMV may not use the test score for a subsequent issuance. (10) If a CDL skills test administered by DMV is not completed because of vehicle equipment failure due to the vehicle not having the necessary safety equipment or not being in proper working order, the required test fee will remain on the DMV customer record to serve as payment for a postponed test. If an applicant must postpone a CDL skills test three times due to equipment failure, it is a test failure and the test fee is forfeited. DMV will require an additional test fee for subsequent tests. (11) An applicant for a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement must meet the requirements described in OAR 735-063-0290. (12) If an applicant is applying for a Real ID CDL, the applicant is not required to comply with the provisions in section (1)(c)(D) of this rule. (13) An applicant for a Real ID CDL must first be issued a non-Real ID CLP and pass a CDL skills test unless the applicant surrenders a valid CDL issued by another state or the District of Columbia and the applicant: (a) Meets social security number verification requirements set forth in OAR 735-062-0006; (b) Provides proof of: (A) United States citizenship as described in OAR 735-062-0022(3); or (B) Permanent Legal residence in the United States as described in OAR 735-062-0022(4); (c) Certifies driving type; (d) Provides proof of medical qualification as described in OAR 735-063-0220; and (e) Satisfies all requirements set forth in ORS 807.285. (14) A CDL Examiner must use one of the following approved CDL skills test versions to test an applicant: (a) AAMVA CDL skills test version March 2025, along with the corresponding examiner policy manual, in effect on June 1, 2025; or (b) The ODOT CDL Skills Test in effect on March 1, 2022, which is approved for use by a CDL examiner through May 31, 2026. (15) Due to FMCSA’s Final Rule, “Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL)” (effective March 16, 2026), and FMCSA’s Preliminary Determination of Noncompliance (January 20, 2026) issued to the State of Oregon, DMV is permanently ceasing the issuance of an original, renewal, or replacement limited-term CLP or CDL. This cessation is effective as of March 16, 2026, and includes amending, correcting, reprinting, reinstating or otherwise duplicating a previously issued limited-term CLP or CDL or completing any transaction that results in the production of a limited-term CLP or CDL card or interim card. (16) Due to FMCSA issuing exemption 91 FR 27483 on May 14, 2026, which revoked Oregon’s September 25, 2024, exemption (89 FR 78428) that allowed DMV to issue a full‑term CDL or CLP to a citizen of a nation with a Compact of Free Association (COFA) who is not a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen, DMV is ceasing the issuance, renewal, reinstatement, replacement, or upgrading of any CLP or CDL for these individuals, effective May 14, 2026, unless the individual provides proof of lawful permanent residency in the United States or U.S. citizenship as described in Table 1 to § 383.71. COFA nations are the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.