The Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) is the first step to obtaining a commercial driver’s license in the United States . It is a document that grants driving privileges with certain restrictions for a certain type of very specific vehicles and that also requires maintaining an impeccable driving record, for at least 14 days, before making the formal request for the unrestricted business license. During that period of time, the applicant should try not to commit any infraction to keep his record clean and to be able to continue with the application process without problems. According to the DMV, which is the entity that grants this privilege, the commercial learner’s permit (CLP) has the following rules and restrictions :
1. It can only be used if the holder possesses a valid standard driver’s license in the state in which it is requested . Both documents must be accompanied when driving a commercial vehicle.
2. Valid for 180 days and can be renewed for 180 more days, as long as it has not reached its expiration date.
3 . If it is requested with legal presence documents that are about to expire, it is very likely that the permit will cease to be valid for that same expiration date.
4. It only grants privileges or endorsements for certain vehicles : tank (N), passenger (P) or school bus (S). Other endorsements, such as transportation of hazardous materials will require a commercial driver’s license with additional proof.
5. The apprentice cannot use it alone . You must be accompanied by someone who has a commercial driver’s license each time you drive the vehicle. This guide driver must have the corresponding guarantees.
6. If the apprentice drives a tank, it must be empty . It cannot contain any material since an additional guarantee would be needed for that.
7. The same happens with the rest of the guarantees. While the commercial driver is an apprentice, school buses or passenger vehicles must be empty.
After the expiration of the time period corresponding to the commercial learner’s permit (CLP), the applicant may continue your application process for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) . To do this, you must schedule a mandatory appointment with the DMV in which you can take your skills test. The skills test consists of several parts and is essential for the applicant to prove to the authorities that they can operate very specific vehicles intended to transport people or hazardous materials.
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