[Disclaimer] This is about my personal experience and opinions. I wrote this to help church/non-profit volunteers get better prepared for a CDL test. I am not responsible for any of the failures, potential false/outdated information, etc.
Do you need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drive a 12-passenger van?
Surprisingly, the answer is very complicated. A member of our church donated a 12-passenger van, and we were not sure if we needed a CDL to drive it or not. Our church had a big debate and research and failed to reach a conclusion. I ended up trying to apply for a CDL myself as a part of the effort. This is my personal interpretation based on my personal research:
- You don’t need a CDL to drive a 12-passenger van for your friends and family
- You don’t need a CDL to drive a 12-passenger van for vanpool (for commuting). However, there are several restrictions including that you need to carry a medical certificate form.
- You DO need a CDL to drive a 12-passenger van (technically, 11-passenger or over) for a non-profit organization (according to the California CDL handbook). Unless the vehicle was designed and maintained for 10 or fewer passengers (including the driver), you do need a CDL.
Well.. all the church members are one family in God, and in fact, many are really close friends, but technically a church is a non-profit organization. So I would say, if you drive a van for any official church event (e.g., a mission trip or a retreat), you do need a CDL.
What do you need exactly to drive a 12-passenger van for a church (or a non-profit)?
You need a CDL (Class-C or higher) with a passenger endorsement. No need for an air brake test, etc.
How difficult is it to get a CDL to drive a 12-passenger van?
Unfortunately, it is not that easy. But the purpose of this article is to make it less hectic for the church/nonprofit volunteers. Hopefully, it would only require several days of effort. I first searched for a driving school but failed to find one that offers a short vanpool course. Most of the driving schools require 1+ month full time (8 hours a day) class with several thousand dollars fee, and they are for commercial trailer trucks or buses. In fact, the whole CDL licensing system is designed for commercial trailer trucks and buses. Not many people are even trying to obtain a Class-C CDL.
BTW, you need to be proficient in English AND you need to be a legal US resident.
So, how do I get a CDL Class-C?
Short answer: if you are an experienced non-commercial driver, all you need is to master the California CDL handbook including completely memorizing chapter 11. In fact, all the necessary information is in the handbook.
The driving test consists of knowledge tests and skill tests. You need to take 3 knowledge tests.
- General CDL knowledge test
- Passenger transport test
- General non-commercial knowledge test
In fact, I didn’t know about the third test (wasn’t in the CDL handbook) but both I and my wife passed the test without a separate preparation. For each test, you have 3 chances (you can fail twice). The first two tests are not that easy (especially if English is not your first language) and you need to study for that test at least for many hours.
The skill tests consist of:
- Vehicle inspection test
- Basic control skills test
- Road test
The “vehicle inspection test” is the most tricky one (and nonsensical to me), and you do need quite a preparation for that. You would need to practice for the driving tests but, in general, they are not too difficult.
The application procedure
As you can imagine, there is usually a long wait time for the tests, so you would need to apply ahead. You need to get a “medical examination report”. I went to my primary physician (who didn’t really know how to fill that out) and later figured out that you were supposed to do it with a specialized doctor. You can find one by searching for a “DOT Clinic” or “CDL medical exam” on Google. I was charged $50 for the medical exam.
You can take knowledge tests in most DMV facilities, but the skill tests are done in a specialized testing facility.
Check this link for more information.
Knowledge Tests
First, read chapters 1, 2, 10, and 11 of the CDL handbook. Then, If you Google-search “CDL written tests” you will see many practice test websites. They are all very nice and similar to the real written test. Try them until you actually pass them (40 out of 50 questions).
Skill Tests
You will need a 12-15 passenger van for the test. I used my church van, but if that is not possible, I believe that you can rent a 12-passenger van from a rental car company for this purpose. Make sure that the vehicle is insured (bring the insurance card to the test) and equipped with the emergency equipment (first aids, fire extinguisher, emergency triangles, and extra fuses).
After failing the vehicle inspection test twice, I created a script of my own and completely memorized them. Click here for the example script I created.
For the basic control skills test, I suggest practicing backing because a 12-passenger van has a different length. Still, the test is not that difficult if you have an average parallel parking skill. This video may be helpful.
For the road test, all you need to do is use your common driving sense except for the railroad crossing. Look at the mirrors regularly and make sure that no car is in the blind spot when changing lanes. Tips in this video could be useful. Do practice the railroad crossing instruction in the CDL handbook section 13.1.8 (the bus instruction).
I wish you the best for your preparation!