1302.1 A commercial learner permit shall be issued only to an individual who:

1. (a) Provides proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency as specified in 49 C.F.R. § 383.71(a)(2)(v), (b)(9), (c)(6), and (d)(5);
2. (b) Except as set forth in § 1303.7 of this chapter, is a resident of the District of Columbia; and
3. (c) Holds a valid noncommercial driver license or a valid commercial driver license if applying to operate commercial vehicles in a group or endorsement other than the group or endorsement that he or she is authorized to operate.

1302.2 A commercial learner permit shall be issued only to an individual who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older, except that a commercial learner permit may be issued to a person who is at least 18 years of age and has at least 2 years drivers experience; provided, that a commercial learner permit issued to a person who is less than 21 years of age shall not be valid for:

1. (a) Operation of a school bus;
2. (b) Operation of a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more people, including the driver;
3. (c) Operation of a vehicle that is more than 26,001 pounds;
4. (d) Transportation of hazardous material; or
5. (e) Commercial interstate operation in accordance with the minimum federal standards.

1302.3 A commercial learner permit shall only be issued to persons who have successfully passed the appropriate knowledge tests with at least an eighty percent (80%) score.

1302.4 A commercial learner permit shall be issued only to persons who meet the physical qualifications and examinations provided in § 1327.

1302.5 A holder of a commercial learner permit shall not operate a commercial vehicle unless accompanied by a driver who has been licensed for at least one (1) year to drive the type and class of vehicle being used.

1302.6 A holder of a commercial learner permit shall not operate a commercial vehicle unless accompanied by someone who is fit and capable of exercising physical control over the vehicle and who is occupying a seat beside the driver.

1302.7

(a) The commercial learner permit shall be valid for no more than one hundred and eighty (180) days from the date of issuance. The learner permit may be renewed for an additional one hundred and eighty (180) days without requiring the permittee to retake the general or endorsement knowledge test. The permit may be renewed within thirty (30) days before its expiration.

(b) The commercial learner permit holder is not eligible to take the commercial driver license skills test in the first thirty (30) days after the initial issuance of the commercial learner permit.

1302.8 These requirements shall not apply to Class “D,” Class “M” and Class “N” driver’s licenses.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 39 DCR 732 (February 7, 1992); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 10913 (November 26, 2004); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 2206 (March 24, 2006); as amended by the Commercial Driver’s License Minimum Age Requirement Amendment Act of 2010, effective September 24, 2010 (D.C. Law 18-220; 57 DCR 5588 (July 2, 2010)); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 13453 (October 16, 2015).