New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 18 - TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAYS
Chapter 19 - MOTOR VEHICLE PROCEDURES, LICENSES, PERMITS
Part 5 - DRIVER'S LICENSE
Section 18.19.5.111 - COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE - COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE TESTING

Universal Citation: 18 NM Admin Code 18.19.5.111

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024

A. A New Mexico commercial driver's license shall not be issued to any person who has not successfully completed the knowledge and skills tests specified by 18.19.5.111 NMAC. The knowledge tests for New Mexico are in two forms, form A and form B, for each of seven areas of knowledge: general knowledge, air brakes, combination vehicles, passenger transport, tank vehicles, doubles/triples and hazardous materials (HAZMAT). If a driver fails to pass a knowledge test, either form A or B, the alternate form shall be administered the next time the driver takes the test. Passing grades for each separate test shall be eighty percent or higher. Any driver who does not achieve a score of eighty percent or higher on any knowledge or skill test may retake a test on that subject after one week or more has intervened since the date last tested. The director, motor vehicle division, however, may waive the time limit when the driver demonstrates that the one week wait would cause undue hardship.

B. A school bus endorsement shall not be issued to any person who has not successfully completed a knowledge test and a skills test in both a passenger commercial motor vehicle and a school bus.

C. The skills tests for New Mexico shall be composed of the three parts set forth in Subsections D through F of 18.19.5.111 NMAC.

D. The pre-trip test which shall consist of at least the following parts:

(1) Tractor-trailer addressing the following elements:
(a) Engine compartment

(b) Engine start

(c) Front of vehicle

(d) Left or right side of vehicle

(e) Coupling system

(f) Rear of vehicle

(2) Straight truck:
(a) Engine compartment

(b) Engine start

(c) Front of vehicle

(d) Left or right side of vehicle

(e) Rear of vehicle

(3) School bus, coach bus, transit bus:
(a) Engine compartment

(b) Engine start

(c) Front of vehicle

(d) Right side of vehicle

(e) Passenger compartment

(f) Rear of vehicle

E. The basic skills tests which shall consist of one of the following forms:

(1) Form 1 addressing at least the following:
(a) Alley dock

(b) Straight line backing

(c) Sight side parallel park

(d) Conventional parallel park

(2) Form 2 addressing at least the following:
(a) Right turn

(b) Alley dock

(c) Conventional parallel park

(d) Backing serpentine

(3) Form 3 addressing at least the following:
(a) Alley dock

(b) Straight line backing

(c) Conventional parallel park

(d) Backing serpentine

F. The road test shall consist of the following maneuvers:

(1) Four left turns

(2) Four right turns

(3) One stop intersection

(4) One through intersection

(5) Urban straight section

(6) Expressway section or rural section if no expressway available

(7) One drive down grade and one simulated drive down grade

(8) One drive up grade

(9) Stop on downgrade or stop on upgrade

(10) One underpass or one bridge (tractor-trailer only)

(11) One curve (left or right)

(12) Railroad crossing:
(a) For non-bus and non-HAZMAT: One railroad crossing or one extra through intersection

(b) For bus or HAZMAT: One railroad crossing or one simulated railroad crossing.

G. The skills test required by 18.19.5.111 NMAC shall be deemed to have been met by a driver who has been qualified and employed as a commercial driver for two or more years at the time of application for a class A, B, or C license, and who has not been convicted of a point assessment violation nor had an accident with fault while driving a commercial vehicle within the last three years.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Mexico may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.