STOA Policy (Commercial)Draft 02/17
By: Aaron Johnson
Sonoma County Fire Chiefs’ Association – Operations Section
PROCEDURE: Commercial Driver Licensing APPROVED BY:
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 2011 PAGE 1 of 3
1. PURPOSE
1.1. To establish a standardized procedure amongst Sonoma County public safety
agencies that satisfy the California Department of Motor Vehicles laws governing
commercial driver’s licenses and/or Class C driver’s licenses with firefighter
endorsements.
1.2. To establish minimum training requirements pursuant to NFPA 1002 each
commercial driving candidate must meet in order to obtain the proper license to drive
“fire apparatus.”
2. REFERENCES
2.1. California Commercial Driver handbook (2010-2011)
2.2. California Assembly Bill 1648 (AB1648)
2.3. California Vehicle Code 12804.11
2.4. NFPA 1002 (2008 version)
2.5. 49 CFR 391.41 (Physical Requirements)
2.6. DMV Form DL51
3. POLICY
3.1. All fire service agencies shall follow the law regarding commercial driving and
licensure.
3.2. Every commercial driver and operator of fire related equipment shall meet the
minimum training requirements pursuant to NFPA 1002 prior to licensing.
3.2.1. Driver operator 1A or 16 hours classroom and 14 hours behind the wheel in a
training environment. It is the recommendation of the Sonoma Training
officers Association (STOA) that unless a department has a well established
driver training program to meet the minimum requirements of NFPA 1002,
those departments utilize the SFM 40 hour Driver Operator 1A course to fulfill
the training requirements.
3.2.2. The STOA recommends the Driver Operator 1A course due to the consistency
and credibility of the contents through the State Fire Marshal’s office. The
members of the STOA believe this program offers the most thorough training
environment thus minimizing the risk placed on fire agencies in regards to
apparatus operations.
3.3. Applicants may drive any piece of fire apparatus in a training mode (not call related)
as long as they are accompanied by a current Class B operator or Class C driver with
a firefighter endorsement.
3.4. Upon completion of Driver Operator 1A or NFPA 1002 training requirement, the
applicant must get a letter of completion / competency from their Fire Chief or
his/her designee.
Draft 02/17
By: Aaron Johnson
Sonoma County Fire Chiefs’ Association – Operations Section
PROCEDURE: Commercial Driver Licensing APPROVED BY:
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 2011 PAGE 2 of 3
3.5. The letter will be delivered to the Department of Motor Vehicles by the applicant
along with a physical examination report DL51.
3.5.1. Class C Firefighter will renew DL51 every four years.
3.5.2. Class B Commercial will renew DL51 every two years.
3.6. The applicant takes the written DMV exams and obtains Class C license with
firefighter endorsement or Class B Commercial.
3.6.1. Class B drivers will be issued a permit and must go through a pre-trip, skills
and road test to obtain their license.
3.6.2. Upon completion of the road test, the Class B driver will then take a DL170
form to the DMV for licensing.
3.7. The applicant enters into an individual departmental training program to fulfill
individual training requirement for apparatus operation.
Draft 02/17
By: Aaron Johnson
Sonoma County Fire Chiefs’ Association – Operations Section
PROCEDURE: Commercial Driver Licensing APPROVED BY:
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 2011 PAGE 3 of 3
LICENSING FLOW CHART
Class C with Firefighter Endorsement
1. SFM Driver Operator 1A or NFPA 1002 compliant
2. Chiefs letter
3. Physical exam every four years
4. DMV written
5. Agency Training Program
Class B Commercial
1. SFM Driver Operator 1A or NFPA 1002 compliant
2. Chiefs letter
3. Physical exam every two years
4. DMV written (permit)
5. Employer Testing Program (In-House, Contract, DMV)
a. Pre-Trip
b. Skills
c. Road Test
6. DL-170 to DMV
7. Agency Training Program
Class B with Firefighter endorsement (prior to Jan 2011) renewal
1. NFPA 1002 or compliant (use past training records)
2. Chiefs letter
3. Physical exam every two years
4. DMV written