S.C. Code Regs. § § 90-121

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 90-121 - Minimum Training Hours for Commercial Drivers Licenses

A. Truck Driver Training Course of Instruction for Class "A" Instruction

(1) Requirements: One commercial motor vehicle must be provided for each three students during the highway training, provided four students per commercial motor vehicle are permitted if the vehicle has been inspected and approved for such use by the Department. No more than nine students per instructor will be allowed for field training.

The theory and behind-the-wheel instruction must consist of: laws relating to either interstate and/or intrastate commercial motor vehicle operations; pre-trip inspection of commercial motor vehicles and both safety and operational equipment; coupling and uncoupling of combination units, if the commercial motor vehicle to be driven includes such units; placing the commercial motor vehicle in operation; use of the commercial motor vehicle's controls and emergency equipment; operation of the inner-city and interstate highway traffic and passing; turning, backing, and parking the commercial motor vehicle; braking and slowing the vehicle by means other than application of the brakes; and how to comply with driver's hours of service.

(2) Training Record: A training record, in a format approved by the Department, must be completed and initialed by the student and instructor each day. The training record should be maintained in the possession of the driver training school and become part of the student record. The total coursework of 148 hours must be verified by the school and signed by the student.

(3) Minimum Curriculum: To successfully complete truck driver training, licensed persons eighteen or older must complete a course consisting of a minimum of 148 hours consisting of theory instruction, range instruction, and behind-the-wheel instruction and observation on public roads, of which a minimum of sixteen of those hours must be behind-the-wheel on public roads. Three hours of the sixteen hours of behind-the-wheel highway training must be completed by each student between dusk and dawn.

B. Truck Driver Training Course of Instruction for Class "B" or Straight Truck/Passenger Bus Instruction

(1) Requirements: Any licensed commercial truck driver training school may apply to the Department to conduct Class "B" Straight Truck or Commercial Straight Truck/Passenger Bus vehicle training.

(2) Training Record: A training record, in a format approved by the Department, must be completed and signed by the student and instructor each day. The training record should be maintained in the possession of the driver training school and become part of the student record. The total coursework of seventy hours must be verified by the school and signed by the student.

(3) Minimum Curriculum: To successfully complete truck driver training, licensed persons eighteen or older must complete a course consisting of a minimum of seventy hours of theory instruction, range instruction, and behind-the-wheel instruction and observation on public roads, of which a minimum of ten hours of those must be behind-the-wheel on public roads.

(4) Students who complete the Class "B" training who wish to upgrade to a Class "A" may do so with the original school, provided it is within six months of the completion date of the original training. Students who upgrade, will be given credit for any theory training already performed that is equivalent to the Class "A" training.

S.C. Code Regs. § 90-121

Added by State Register Volume 31, Issue No. 6, eff June 22, 2007; State Register Volume 45, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/28/2021.