Section 1060.200  Commercial Driver's License and/or Endorsement and/or Accreditation

 

a)         Accreditation of the Program – Each commercial driver training school that desires to offer instruction to those individuals who wish to obtain a CDL and/or endorsement and/or restriction must be accredited by the Secretary of State through the Department of Driver Services before instruction can be offered or advertised.

 

1)         Upon receipt of proper application for accreditation, the Secretary of State shall investigate the program and verify the information contained in the application.  A Secretary of State employee shall contact the applicant and make an appointment to inspect the school's facilities.  At the time of inspection, the Secretary of State employee shall verify that the school meets the standards for CDL accreditation set forth in this Section 1060.200(b) through (e) in addition to all other applicable Sections within this Part.  These standards shall be furnished to the school by the Secretary of State before the visit, if the school requests them.  If all qualifications and standards are met, the school shall be accredited to offer instruction on how to operate a vehicle with CDL and/or endorsement and/or restriction classification.

 

2)         The accreditation of each school is renewable upon the expiration date of the school license, provided all qualifications and standards are met and the school has been in compliance with this Part.

 

3)         Only qualified teaching personnel who already possess a CDL and/or endorsement and/or restriction classification may teach the drive portion of instruction.

 

b)         Required Facilities – All CDL, endorsement and/or restriction accredited schools must provide all classroom and vehicle facilities and equipment prescribed in IVC Chapter 6, Article IV and Section 1060.50.  Those who desire to provide instruction to persons who wish to obtain a CDL, endorsement and/or restriction classified license must additionally provide a vehicle training area, owned or leased by the school, with sufficient space to properly accommodate the number of vehicles the school has in operation and appropriate off-street maneuvers.

 

1)         Required Course of Instruction:

 

A)        CDL accredited driving schools must administer driving instruction that corresponds to a curriculum provided to the school by the Secretary of State.  Each CDL accredited driving school must provide the minimum of 160 hours of instruction in not less than a 4 week period to each student, as indicated in the curriculum.

 

B)        The following curriculum must be offered to each first time CDL student in a minimum of 4 weeks.  Each student must receive 160 hours of CDL instruction as outlined in this subsection (b)(1)(B).  The training schedule outlined must follow the Illinois Occupational Skill Standards, Entry-Level Truck Driver Manual (March 1999) endorsed for Illinois by the Illinois Occupational Skill Standards and Credentialing Counsel.  This manual is available from the Secretary of State Driver Facility, 650 Roppolo Drive, Elk Grove Village IL 60007.

 

i)          Classroom.  40 hours of classroom instruction; this includes, but is not limited to, preparation for the Secretary of State's written examinations and all chapters of this curriculum.

 

ii)         Range.  16 hours of vehicle training area behind-the-wheel instruction.  This requires one-on-one instruction with a properly licensed CDL instructor and vehicle on an approved vehicle training area.

 

iii)        Over the Road.  16 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction on public streets and highways.  This requires one-on-one instruction with a properly licensed CDL instructor and vehicle.

 

iv)        Observation.  10 hours of observation experience composed of observation of the vehicle training area and over-the-road training.

 

v)         Remedial Training.  78 hours of additional classroom training, observation, and vehicle training area/over-the-road training based on each CDL student's specific needs.

 

C)        Instructional materials shall be available and shall include a form of video delivery.

 

D)        A professional library containing an assortment of reference and textbooks, pamphlets, and other publications, including but not limited to the CDL Study Guide, available for the use of students and teachers.

 

E)        A brush-up course of instruction may be offered to individuals who currently hold or have held a CDL issued under the requirements of 49 CFR 383, as incorporated in Section 1060.5.  The school must maintain records that verify students qualify for a brush-up course.  This course may be offered on an hourly basis.  No brush-up course may be offered to any individual who has never held a CDL or its equivalent.

 

F)         Classroom Instruction – CDL, endorsement and/or restriction classification instruction.

 

i)          Each classroom course must have a definite starting date and completion date.  A listing of students enrolled in each course shall be sent to the Secretary of State, within 3 days after the third day of classroom instruction, on forms provided by the Secretary of State.

 

ii)         Classroom instruction shall include subject matter relating to the rules of the road as contained in the CDL Study Guide, safe driving practices, pedestrian safety, defensive driving techniques, behavioral characteristics of drivers, federal regulations relating to the Department of Transportation and CDL standards (49 CFR 383), vehicle insurance, the use of safety devices, and the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving.

 

iii)        Practice driving instruction must comply with the curriculum provided by the Office of the Secretary of State.

 

iv)        Audio-visual materials shall be used as a supplement to the teacher's presentation, but not as a replacement.  Reference materials are to be available to the students and their use assured by assignments.  All assignments are to be made in advance of due dates and shall include outside reading as well as preparation for testing.

 

v)         A regular schedule of classroom testing shall be followed. Student progress is to be periodically evaluated.  Criteria for passing or failing the course shall be evident to the student, and successful completion clearly defined.

 

vi)        Each student shall be informed, prior to the time instruction begins, of the amount of any and all fees or charges made for enrollment or registration, tuition, use of equipment, or materials provided by the CDL, endorsement and/or restriction accredited driver training program.

 

vii)       Instruction of each student in the class shall begin on the date and location designated by advertisement and continue throughout the designed period, unless the course is cancelled and the student is refunded any fees already paid.

 

G)        Laboratory Instruction – For persons taking instruction for CDL, endorsement and/or restriction classification.

 

i)          Behind-the-wheel instruction shall not begin until the student is enrolled in a classroom program of CDL, endorsement and/or restriction classification driver training and obtains the required knowledge for the safe operation of a vehicle in traffic as provided in 49 CFR 383.110-121.

 

ii)         Each student must have in his/her possession, when engaged in vehicle operation, a valid and properly classified instruction permit or driver's license.

 

iii)        Practice driving instruction shall include but not be limited to pre-trip inspection, actual experience in starting, stopping, shifting, turning, backing, docking, parking, steering and emergency situation procedures.

 

iv)        CDL skills testing for classification A must be given in a representative power unit with a multi-range transmission with no fewer than 9 forward gears and a representative trailer at least 48 feet long with a tandem axle.

 

2)         Student Ratio Per Course

 

A)        The total number of students enrolled in each CDL accredited course in any 30-day period shall not exceed 5 students per each currently licensed instructor.

 

B)        The total number of students enrolled in each CDL accredited course in any 30-day period shall not exceed 6 students for each currently registered CDL vehicle.

 

c)         Classroom Teacher Qualifications

 

1)         Each CDL, endorsement and/or restriction accredited driver training school must have at least one classroom instructor employed by the school who meets the standards of IVC Section 6-411.

 

2)         Required Classroom Teacher Qualifications:

 

A)        A driver training instructor teaching the classroom portion of a CDL, endorsement and/or restriction accredited course must comply with Sections 1060.120 and 1060.130.

 

B)        The instructor must possess good physical and mental health, as determined by a physician.  An application/physical examination form, provided by the Secretary of State, shall be completed by the instructor and a physician.

 

C)        A classroom instructor must pass an objective type instructor written examination based upon the Illinois Vehicle Code, this Part and the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (49 USC 2704).  The written examination shall consist of 125 questions (90 multiple choice and 35 true/false) and the instructor must correctly answer 106 questions to pass.

 

d)         CDL, Endorsement and/or Restriction Behind-the-Wheel Teacher Qualifications

 

1)         Each CDL, endorsement and/or restriction accredited driver training school must have at least one behind-the-wheel instructor employed by the school who meets the standards of IVC Section 6-411.

 

2)         Required Behind-the-Wheel Teacher Qualifications:

 

A)        A driver training instructor teaching the behind-the-wheel portion of a CDL, endorsement and/or restriction accredited course must comply with the provisions of Sections 1060.120 and 1060.130 and be licensed in a classification representative of the vehicle in which he or she intends to teach for at least 3 consecutive years immediately prior to application (a one month lapse in renewal will not negate the 3 consecutive years requirement).

 

B)        The instructor must possess good physical and mental health, as determined by a physician.  An application/physical examination form, provided by the Secretary of State, shall be completed by the instructor and a physician.

 

C)        The instructor shall give instruction only in the classification, endorsement and/or restriction in which he/she is licensed.

 

D)        A behind-the-wheel instructor must pass an objective type instructor written examination based upon the Illinois Vehicle Code, commercial school rules and regulations, and the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (49 USC 2704), as provided for in subsection (c)(1)(C).  In addition, a behind-the-wheel instructor must pass a practical test regarding his/her ability to drive a vehicle of CDL, endorsement and/or restriction classification (92 Ill. Adm. Code 1030.85).

 

e)         Student Instruction Records

 

1)         Records shall be maintained by schools that document daily attendance, lesson time, and periodic evaluation of each student.  Also recorded shall be the dates of classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel instruction and observation time.  Students are to be identified by their name, address and other personal information.  A driver license number also must be entered on the student record.  The records are to be on file in the office of the management for a period of 3 years.

 

2)         The driver school with a CDL, endorsement and/or restriction accreditation must meet all requirements of Section 1060.60.

 

3)         The school and each student must maintain separate but identical logs of the student's behind-the-wheel instruction and observation time.  The logs must include the dates of instruction, type of instruction, student/instructor signatures and odometer readings of the vehicles used for instruction.

 

4)         A Secretary of State form shall be used for submitting names of those students who have satisfactorily fulfilled the CDL accreditation course.  The form shall be signed by an authorized official of the school.

 

f)         The Secretary of State shall suspend, revoke, cancel or deny the license and/or accreditation of any driver training school or driver training instructor if the school or instructor fails to comply with this Part or 49 CFR 383.

 

g)         The Secretary of State may reduce the amount of scheduled skills testing for CDL Accredited schools that have a student failure rate of 45% or greater in the preceding 2 calendar months.

 

(Source:  Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 4295, effective March 20, 2013)