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Commercial Driver Medical Examination Requirements
general Commercial drivers must complete medical exams on a regular schedule and take the Driver's Medical Examination Report form to a B.C.-licensed physician who knows their medical history. The doctor completes and sends the form to RoadSafetyBC, which determines fitness to drive commercial vehicles. The doctor's fee is not covered by MSP, ICBC or RoadSafetyBC.
Key Rules
- ✓A B.C.-licensed physician who knows your medical history must complete the Driver's Medical Examination Report form
- ✓RoadSafetyBC determines whether you're fit to drive commercial vehicles
- ✓The doctor's fee for the routine medical report is not covered by MSP, ICBC or RoadSafetyBC
- ✓Your driver's licence may be cancelled if you don't submit the medical form
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Road Test Components and Requirements
general All road tests consist of a pre-trip inspection, an air brake pre-trip inspection (if equipped with air brakes), and a road test. You must demonstrate pre-trip inspection including written report, basic vehicle control skills, and handling in traffic. A Class 1 road test takes about two hours; Class 2, 3, 4 and heavy trailer endorsement tests take less than two hours. Arrive at least 15 minutes early.
Key Rules
- ✓All road tests include a pre-trip inspection and a road test
- ✓Air brake pre-trip inspection required if vehicle is equipped with air brakes
- ✓A Class 1 road test takes about two hours
- ✓Arrive at least 15 minutes early for your road test
- ✓A fee applies if you don't provide 48 hours notice or valid reason for missing a road test
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Pre-Trip Inspection Test Requirements
airbrakes The National Safety Code requires most commercial drivers to complete trip inspections. Class 1, 2, 3, 4 licences, heavy trailer, house trailer or air brake endorsements require a pre-trip inspection. Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 unrestricted licences also require a written trip inspection report. Pre-trip inspections must always be done before the first run of the day.
Key Rules
- ✓Pre-trip inspections must always be done before the first run of the day
- ✓Class 1, 2, 3, 4 unrestricted licences require a written trip inspection report
- ✓Vehicles with manual slack adjusters require a brake adjustment as part of the test
- ✓Tell the examiner what you're checking for and how you know each part is in good working order
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Road Test Vehicle Requirements by Class
combination You must provide an appropriate vehicle representative of the licence class. Class 4 restricted: any car/pickup. Class 4 unrestricted: van/small school bus seating 11+ adults. Class 3: large tandem/tridem rear axle truck. Class 2: bus seating 36+ adults. Class 1: loaded tandem/tridem tractor-trailer with air brakes, on-road loaded weight at least 28,000 kg, semi-trailer at least 13 metres (7.5m if pintle hitch).
Key Rules
- ✓Class 1 requires loaded tractor-trailer with air brakes, on-road weight at least 28,000 kg
- ✓Class 1 semi-trailer must be at least 13 metres (7.5 metres if pintle hitch trailer)
- ✓Class 2 requires a bus seating at least 36 adults
- ✓Class 4 unrestricted requires van/small school bus seating at least 11 adults
- ✓Heavy trailer endorsement (code 20) requires truck and trailer without air brakes weighing at least 4,600 kg
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Air Brake Courses and Endorsement
airbrakes An air brake course is highly recommended. A certified course includes 7 hours classroom theory plus 4 hours practical training on air brake pre-trip inspection; passing the provider's assessment may exempt you from the ICBC pre-trip inspection test. A non-certified course includes 7 hours classroom theory only. Even if exempt from the course, you must pass the air brake knowledge test and pre-trip inspection test.
Key Rules
- ✓A certified air brake course includes 7 hours classroom theory and 4 hours practical training
- ✓A non-certified course includes 7 hours classroom theory only
- ✓You must pass the air brake knowledge test and pre-trip inspection test even if exempt from the course
- ✓To take a road test in an air-brake vehicle, you need the endorsement or an approved course with passed knowledge test
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Medical Report Schedule by Age
general The National Safety Code requires all Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 drivers and those with code 18/19 industrial air brake or code 20 heavy trailer endorsements to submit medical reports regularly. Reports are required at ages 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, then 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, and every year upon reaching age 66.
Key Rules
- ✓Medical reports required at ages 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45
- ✓Medical reports required at ages 48, 51, 54, 57, 60 and 63
- ✓Medical reports required every year upon reaching age 66
- ✓Applies to Class 1, 2, 3, 4 drivers and code 18, 19, 20 endorsement holders
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Knowledge Tests Requirements
general Knowledge tests must be taken whenever applying for a new licence. All tests are conducted only in English, are multiple choice, and must be completed without assistance. One test is a traffic signs test. Answers to all knowledge test questions are found in the study guide.
Key Rules
- ✓All knowledge tests are conducted only in English
- ✓Tests must be completed without assistance
- ✓All knowledge tests are multiple choice
- ✓A traffic signs test is one of the knowledge tests
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Road Test Skills to Demonstrate
combination During your road test you must competently demonstrate: starting and stopping, shifting gears, turning, steering, backing up, parking, merging with highway traffic, exiting highways, and driving in traffic. For Class 1 or heavy trailer endorsement (code 20), you must also demonstrate coupling and uncoupling a tractor from a trailer.
Key Rules
- ✓Must demonstrate starting, stopping, shifting, turning, steering, backing and parking
- ✓Must demonstrate merging with and exiting from highway traffic
- ✓Coupling and uncoupling required for Class 1 or code 20 heavy trailer endorsement
- ✓Concentrate on traffic, not on what the examiner is recording
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Prohibited Loads for Road Test Vehicles
combination Commercial vehicles used for road tests may not contain dangerous goods or explosives, unbaffled liquids or dry bulk, livestock, or oversized loads. Any load must be properly secured and must not exceed the vehicle's GVWR or licensed GVW. Class 1 and heavy trailer endorsement tests must meet minimum weight and load requirements.
Key Rules
- ✓Road test vehicles may not contain dangerous goods, explosives, unbaffled liquids or livestock
- ✓No oversized loads permitted on road test vehicles
- ✓Load must not exceed GVWR or licensed GVW
- ✓Loads must be properly secured so they won't escape, shift or sway
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Reasons a Road Test May Be Cancelled
general A road test may be cancelled and rescheduled if the vehicle is unsafe. Common reasons include: non-working or obscured lights, air brakes out of adjustment, cracked windshield or illegally tinted windows, insecure load, improper licensing/insurance, faulty seatbelts, unsafe tires, doors/windows not operating, faulty exhaust, and no wheel blocks. No aftermarket tinting is allowed on windshield or front side windows.
Key Rules
- ✓Air brakes out of adjustment will cause road test cancellation
- ✓No aftermarket tinting allowed on windshield or front side windows
- ✓Temporary spare tires may not be used on a road test
- ✓Wheel blocks are required to safely secure large commercial vehicles for inspection
- ✓Both driver and passenger doors and seatbelts must work properly
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Road Test Tools and Equipment
airbrakes Bring tools and equipment to conduct the pre-trip inspection: wrenches, a pry bar, chalk or marker, and a watch/timer to check air brakes. Wear sturdy clothing, hard hat, eye protection, boots, and a safety vest. Ensure the vehicle is clean inside with loose objects removed or stored.
Key Rules
- ✓Bring wrenches, pry bar, chalk/marker, and a watch/timer for air brake checks
- ✓Wear a hard hat, eye protection, boots, and safety vest
- ✓For air-brake vehicles with manual slack adjusters, bring tools to perform brake adjustment
- ✓Loose objects inside must be removed or stored
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Automatic Transmission Restriction
general If you take your Class 1, 2 or 3 road test using an automatic transmission, your licence will be restricted to automatic transmissions only.
Key Rules
- ✓Taking a Class 1, 2 or 3 road test with automatic transmission restricts the licence to automatic only
- ✓This restriction applies to Class 1, 2 and 3 licences
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Upgrading and Downgrading Licences
general To upgrade a commercial licence class, follow all steps including applying for a learner's licence, and a supervisor with appropriate class must accompany you. To downgrade to a non-commercial or lower commercial class, visit a driver licensing office to apply for a new licence and meet the lower class requirements. Your licence will not be downgraded if you fail to submit a routine medical report.
Key Rules
- ✓Upgrading requires following all steps including applying for a learner's licence
- ✓A supervisor with an appropriate class of licence must accompany you while practising
- ✓Your licence will not be downgraded if you fail to submit a routine medical report
- ✓Downgrading requires meeting the lower licence classification requirements
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Seasonal Weight Restrictions
combination The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure may post seasonal restrictions limiting axle weight on certain roads. If a restriction is in effect where and when you take your road test, the vehicle weight including load must not exceed the seasonal restriction. Example: if restrictions limit to 50% of legal axle weight, a five-axle combination with 40,500 kg max would be restricted to 20,250 kg.
Key Rules
- ✓Road test vehicle weight must not exceed any seasonal weight restriction in effect
- ✓Seasonal restrictions may limit axle weight to a percentage of legal axle weight
- ✓The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure posts seasonal restrictions