Commercial driver's license qualification standards
HRS §286-236
in effect286-236. Commercial driver's license qualification standards
(a) No person shall be issued a commercial driver's license unless that person meets the qualification standards of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 391, Subparts B and E, has passed a knowledge and driving skills test for driving a commercial motor vehicle that complies with minimum federal standards established by federal regulation enumerated in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 383, Subparts G and H, is domiciled in this State as defined in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 383.5, and has satisfied all other requirements of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Public Law 99-570, Title XII, in addition to other requirements imposed by state law or federal regulation. The tests shall be prescribed by the director and administered by the respective county examiner of drivers. As of January 30, 2012, the examiner of drivers shall verify that the medical certification status of a driver who self-certified according to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 383.71(a)(1)(ii)(A), non-excepted interstate, is certified. If a driver submits a current medical examiner's certificate, the examiner of drivers shall date-stamp the certificate and post all required information to the commercial driver's license information system pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 383.73(a)(5) and in accordance with Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 383.73(j). A person who is not physically qualified to drive under Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 391.41(b)(1), (2), or (3) and who is otherwise qualified to drive a motor vehicle may be granted an intrastate waiver by the director. The process for granting intrastate waivers shall be the same as that for interstate waivers in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 391.49, except that the intrastate waiver requests shall be submitted to the director; provided that the director shall adopt rules under chapter 91 to establish a screening process, including approval by a licensed physician, for granting an intrastate waiver to persons who are not physically qualified under Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 391.41(b)(3).
(b) Pursuant to chapter 91, the director may
authorize a third party examiner to administer the driving skills test
specified in this section, provided:
(1) The test is the same as that administered by the
respective county examiners of drivers; and
(2) The third party examiner has entered into an
agreement with the State which complies with requirements of 49 Code of Federal
Regulations, Section 383.75.
(c) The examiner of drivers may waive the
driving skills test specified in this section for a commercial driver's license
applicant who meets the requirements of 49 Code of Federal Regulations Section
383.77 or 383.123(b).
(d) A commercial driver's license or
commercial driver's instruction permit, including a provisional or temporary
license or permit, shall not be issued to a person while the person is subject
to a disqualification from driving a commercial motor vehicle, or while the
person's driver's license is suspended, revoked, or canceled in any state; or
while the person holds a driver's license issued by any other state unless the
person first surrenders that license.
(e) A commercial driver's instruction permit
may be issued to an individual who holds a valid driver's license, meets the
qualification standards of 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 391, Subparts B
and E, and has passed the written tests required for the desired class of a
commercial driver's license.
(f) The commercial driver's instruction permit
shall not be valid for a period in excess of one year. When driving a
commercial motor vehicle, the holder of a commercial driver's instruction
permit shall be accompanied by a person licensed to operate that category of
commercial motor vehicle. The licensed person shall occupy the seat beside the
individual for the purpose of giving instruction in driving the commercial
motor vehicle. The permit may be reissued after the applicant requalifies
meeting the requirements of subsection (e).
(g) The examiner of drivers may waive the
knowledge and skills tests specified in this section for any person who is at
least twenty-one years of age and who possesses a valid commercial driver's
license issued by any state of the United States, Mexico, or a province of
Canada that issues licenses in accordance with the minimum federal standards
for the issuance of commercial driver's licenses. To retain a hazardous
materials endorsement, the applicant shall pass the knowledge test for a
hazardous materials endorsement and be determined by the federal Transportation
Security Administration not to pose a security risk warranting denial of the endorsement.
[L 1989, c 320, pt of §2; am L 1990, c 342, §7; am L 1995, c 114, §§1, 2; am L
2003, c 18, §1, c 32, §1, and c 46, §1; am L 2004, c 103, §5; am L 2006, c 130,
§4; am L 2011, c 121, §2]
Source: Hawaii State Legislature (capitol.hawaii.gov), via Internet Archive capturesURL: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol05_Ch0261-0319/HRS0286/HRS_0286-0236.htmFetched: 11/10/2026