(a) Except as provided in subsections (d) to (h) hereof, a person, before operating a vehicle towing a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds, shall procure a group A vehicle designation on his or her operator's or chauffeur's license. Unless an endorsement is required, a person licensed to operate a group A vehicle may operate a group B or C vehicle without taking another test. A person, before operating a single vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, or any combination of vehicles having a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more if the vehicle being towed does not have a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds, shall procure a group B vehicle designation on his or her operator's or chauffeur's license. Unless an endorsement is required, a person licensed to operate a group B vehicle may operate a group C vehicle without taking another test. A person, before operating a school transportation vehicle or a single vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating under 26,001 pounds or a combination of vehicles having a gross combination weight rating under 26,001 pounds if the vehicle being towed does not have a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds and carrying hazardous materials on which a placard is required under 49 C.F.R. parts 100 to 199, or designed to transport sixteen or more passengers including the driver, shall procure a group C vehicle designation and a hazardous material or passenger vehicle endorsement on his or her operator's or chauffeur's license. An applicant for a vehicle group designation shall take knowledge and driving skills tests that comply with minimum Federal standards prescribed in 49 C.F.R. part 383 as required by State law. The license shall be issued, suspended, revoked, canceled, or renewed in accordance with State law. Except as provided in this subsection, all of the following apply:
(1) A person who takes the driving test required under section 312f of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code for a group A vehicle designation in a combination of vehicles having a gross combination weight rating under 26,001 pounds shall not operate a single vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, or any combination of vehicles having a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more if the vehicle being towed has a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more or the towing vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
(2) A person who has a group B vehicle designation that is not restricted under this subsection and who takes the driving test required under section 312f of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code for a group A vehicle designation in a combination of vehicles having a gross combination weight rating under 26,001 pounds shall not operate any combination of vehicles having a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more if the vehicle being towed has a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more.
(3) A person who takes the driving test required under section 312f of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code for a group B vehicle designation in a combination of vehicles in which the towing vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating under 26,001 pounds shall not operate a single vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, or any combination of vehicles if the towing vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
(b) A person, before operating a commercial motor vehicle pulling double trailers, shall procure the appropriate vehicle group designation and a T vehicle endorsement under State law. A person, before operating a commercial motor vehicle that is a tank vehicle, shall procure the appropriate vehicle group designation and an N vehicle endorsement under State law. A person, before operating a commercial motor vehicle carrying hazardous materials on which a placard is required under 49 C.F.R. parts 100 to 199, shall procure the appropriate vehicle group designation and an H vehicle endorsement under State law. A person, before operating a commercial motor vehicle that is a tank vehicle carrying hazardous material, shall procure the appropriate vehicle group designation and both an N and H vehicle endorsement, which combination vehicle endorsement shall be designated by the code letter X on the person's operator's or chauffeur's license. A person, before operating a bus, school bus, or school transportation vehicle, shall procure the appropriate vehicle group designation and a P vehicle endorsement under State law. A person who fails the air brake portion of the written or driving tests provided under section 312f of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code or who takes the driving test provided under that section in a commercial motor vehicle that is not equipped with air brakes shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle equipped with air brakes. One or more endorsements may be necessary to operate a commercial motor vehicle. An applicant for an endorsement shall take the knowledge and driving skills tests described and required pursuant to 49 C.F.R. part 383. Knowledge tests shall be limited to that which a driver must have for the safe operation of a commercial motor vehicle. The driver is not expected to have knowledge of subjects, such as vehicle mechanics, that go beyond the scope of the information necessary for safe operation of his or her commercial motor vehicle. An applicant for a P vehicle endorsement shall take the driving skills test in a bus or school bus.
(c) The fees that shall be paid for vehicle group designation and endorsements shall be as established by State law.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (e) and (f) hereof, this section does not apply to a driver or operator of a vehicle under all of the following conditions:
(1) The vehicle is controlled and operated by a farmer or an employee or family member of the farmer.
(2) The vehicle is used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery, farm supplies, or a combination of these items, to or from a farm.
(3) The vehicle is not used in the operation of a common or contract motor carrier.
(4) The vehicle is operated within 150 miles of the farm.
(e) A person, before driving or operating a combination of vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more on the power unit that is used as described in subsection (d) hereof, shall obtain an F vehicle endorsement. The F vehicle endorsement shall be issued upon successful completion of a knowledge test only.
(f) A person, before driving or operating a single vehicle truck having a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more or a combination of vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more on the power unit that is used as described in subsection (d) hereof for carrying hazardous materials on which a placard is required under 49 C.F.R. Parts 100 to 199, shall successfully complete both a knowledge test and a driving skills test. Upon successful completion of the knowledge test and driving skills test, the person shall be issued the appropriate vehicle group designation and any vehicle endorsement necessary under the Act.
(g) This section does not apply to a firefighter operating an authorized emergency vehicle who has met the driver training standards of the Michigan firefighters' training council.
(h) This section does not apply to a person operating a motor home or a vehicle used exclusively to transport personal possessions or family members for non-business purposes.
(i) A licensee who holds an operator's or chauffeur's license with a class 1 endorsement issued before January 1, 1990, may operate a single vehicle weighing over 24,000 pounds gross vehicle weight without having been issued a group B vehicle designation on his or her license until the license expires as provided in subsection (j) hereof. A licensee who holds an operator's or chauffeur's license with a class 2 endorsement issued before January 1, 1990, may operate a combination of vehicles weighing over 24,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or a vehicle towing a vehicle weighing over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or a single vehicle weighing over 24,000 pounds gross vehicle weight without having been issued a group A or B vehicle designation on his or her license until the license expires as provided in subsection (j) hereof. A licensee who holds an operator's or chauffeur's license with a class 3 endorsement issued before January 1, 1990, may operate a bus or school bus without having been issued a vehicle group designation or passenger vehicle endorsement on his or her license until the license expires as provided in subsection (j) hereof. A licensee who holds a chauffeur's license issued before January 1, 1990, may operate a school transportation vehicle without having been issued a vehicle group designation or passenger vehicle endorsement on his or her license until the license expires as provided in subsection (j) hereof.
(j) The class 1, class 2, or class 3 endorsement on a person's operator's or chauffeur's license that expires after March 31, 1992, shall expire on the person's next birthday after March 31, 1991.
(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a person operating a vehicle described in subsections (d) and (e) hereof is subject to the provisions of Sections 303 and 319b of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code.
(Ord. 97-10. Passed 11-5-97.)