1-1-.13 Third Party Tester Program

(1)   Minimum Requirements for Examiners

       (a)     Must be trained and certified to conduct skills testing for
                 CDLs by the Department

       (b)     Must comply with the following:

                1.     Must have a high school diploma or its equivalent

                2.     Must be a regular employee of the employer and
                        recommended by the employer or must be a
                        contracting Trainer/Examiner

               3.     Based on the results of a national criminal history
                       background check, shall not be convicted of a felony
                       or any other crime involving violence or a crime of
                       moral turpitude, or a pattern of misdemeanors that
                       evidences a disregard for the law unless they have
                       received a pardon and can produce evidence of the
                       same. For the purpose of this subsection, a plea of
                       nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction.

               4.     Shall not have any suspension or disqualification
                       within two years prior to application

               5.     Shall not have been enrolled or participated in a state
                       approved Risk Reduction Program within the past
                       10 years

               6.     Must possess a CDL or be certified to administer CDL
                       skills tests by the Department

               7.     Must successfully complete the Department's
                       prescribed course in CDL classroom instruction and
                       behind the wheel examination

                        (i)   Must pass all relevant CDL knowledge and
                              endorsement exams prior to attending the CDL
                              Certification training class, depending on the class
                               of vehicle they will be instructing

                        (ii)   Upon completion of specialized training in classes A,
                               B, and C, the Examiner will be issued a certification
                               card qualifying them to examine applicants for skills
                               in license classes equal to their training certification.
                               Examiner certification will be valid for four years unless
                               suspended, revoked or cancelled.

              8.     Must possess a valid certification card which shall be evidence
                      of the Examiner's certification status

             9.     An Examiner whose certification has expired, cancelled,
                     revoked or has been surrendered shall not administer any part
                     of the CDL examination until completion of one of the following:

                      (i)   An Examiner with expired certification or who has
                            surrendered their certification may apply for recertification
                            within one year of expiration or surrender date of the
                            previously issued certification by performing a CDL
                            examination to the satisfaction of the Department.

                      (ii)  If more than one year has lapsed since expiration or
                            surrender, the Examiner must successfully complete
                            the Department's prescribed course in CDL classroom
                            instruction and behind the wheel examination to
                            become recertified.

              10.     Must conduct skills tests examinations of at least 10
                        different CDL applicants per calendar year, and the first
                       must be administered within the first six months of
                       becoming certified. Failure to do so will result in suspension
                       from conducting further CDL tests.

             11.     Must successfully complete a refresher training course and
                       examination every four years to maintain CDL certification

(2)   Minimum Requirements for Testers
      (a) Must be a Technical/Vocational School or Public School System,
            or an established business entity or organization that is licensed
            to do business in the State of Georgia and has been established
            to conduct business related to the commercial driver industry.

     (b) Must have a fleet of at least two CMV s registered to the Tester

     (c) Must annually review and maintain the MVR of each Examiner
           to determine if the Examiner meets the minimum requirements
           of this rule.

     (d) Must enter into a CDL Third Party Tester Agreement with the
          Department

     (e) Must agree to have the Third Party Tester Program monitored
          by the Department and the FMCSA

          1. The skills test range/carousel and route used must
              pre-approved by the Department.

          2. All Examiners must submit a testing schedule electronically
              to the Department using the method prescribed by the
              Department.

          3. This schedule must be submitted at least five days in
              advance of the scheduled test.

          4. A 24-hour notice must be given for cancellations or any
              changes to the schedule.

         5. Upon notification from the student of a test cancellation
              the Third-Party Examiner must immediately contact their
              assigned Department CDL Compliance Analyst by e-mail
              and update their schedule electronically with the
              Department.

         6. The Compliance Analyst may approve changes in
             schedules as necessary.

        7. Testing must be conducted according to the schedule
            approved by the Department.

        8. Unapproved testing violates the agreement between
           the Tester and the Department.

       9. The Third-Party Tester agrees to notify the Department
          30 days prior to any modifications to the skills
          course/carousel.

       10. The Department shall review and approve any
          modifications to the course/carousel.

     (f) Must ensure that all Examiners employed by the Tester
        are certified by the Department and that the Examiners
        comply with the Department rules and regulations, all
        applicable state and federal laws and have passed a
        nationwide criminal background check

     (g) Must provide a surety bond in the amount of $10,000.00
      (not applicable to state or governmental entities) per location

     (h) Shall maintain records, which shall be available for inspection
      by the Department during normal business hours. Normal
      business hours shall be between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily.
      One hour of flexibility in the time may be observed as long as the
       school is open eight hours per day.

(3) Test Administration

      (a) Skills tests will be conducted strictly in accordance with
           procedures and guidelines utilized by the Department CDL
           Examiners. Such instruction may include information on skills
           test content, route selection/revision, test forms, Examiner
           procedures, and administration procedures and/or changes.

     (b) Skills tests shall be conducted:

           1. Only on test routes approved by the Department

           2. In a vehicle representative of the class and type of
               vehicle for which the CDL applicant seeks to be certified and
               for which the Examiner is qualified to test

           3. Using the Department approved content, forms, and scoring
               procedures

          4. Only on approved days of the week during daylight hours

     (c) Only licensed drivers with approval from the Department may
           be tested.

    (d) Examiners shall not administer any part of a CDL test unless
         they can provide proof of certification by the Department.

    (e) Must not test relatives (by blood or marriage) or friends.
          Co-workers may be tested with prior approval of the immediate
          supervisor.

     (f) Examiners are prohibited from administering a skills test to an
        applicant who was trained by that Examiner

(4) Records to be maintained by Tester:

     (a) Third Party Tester Record:

            1. A copy of the Tester s certification with the Department and
                the signed, current Third Party Agreement

            2. A copy of each Examiner's current DDS certification card along
               with a copy of their driver s license and the Third Party
               Agreement

            3. A copy of Examiner's MVR (by the anniversary of certification)

            4. Tester Certifications must be displayed on a wall within the
                school.

            5. Tester must maintain these records on an Examiner for at least
                two years after that Examiner is no longer employed by that
                Tester.

     (b) Third Party Examiner Record:

           1. A copy of DS 1235 or DS 1235C (score sheet) on each
               applicant tested (passing or failing copies)

           2. A copy of CLP and underlying driver's license

           3. A signed copy of the CDL Skills Testing Information
               Agreement Form

          4. Documentation that the applicant has completed
              Human Trafficking Awareness training

          5. Verification that the applicant has successfully
               completed ELDT

          6. Must maintain these records for the previous two
              years and for the current year

(5) Notification Requirements
     
     (a) Testers must:

           1. Notify the Department in writing 30 days prior
               to any change in the Tester s or Tester
               Representative s name, address, and
               contact information.

           2. Notify the Department in writing within 10
               days of any change in:

               (i) The Examiners who are employed by
                    the Tester; and

              (ii) Any Examiner's driving status.

           3. Notify the Department in writing within 10
               days of any of the following occurrences:

              (i) The Tester ceases to do business in
                  Georgia.

              (ii) The Tester fails to comply with any
                   of the Department's requirements.

             (iii) Examiner receives notice from the
                   Department of any driver's license
                   suspension, revocation, disqualification,
                   cancellation, or DUI conviction.

            (iv) Any Examiner fails to comply with any of the
                  Department's requirements.

           4. Request and obtain approval from the
               Department of any proposed changes in
               the skills test route(s).

      (b) The Examiner shall notify the Department within
           10 days of leaving the employ of a Tester and
            return the DDS Examiner Certification Card.

      (c) Testers must Report to the Department:

            1. A copy of skills test roster of applicants

             2. A copy of test schedules

(6) Denial/Suspension/Revocation/Cancellation of
      Third Party Testing Program Certification

       (a) The Department may deny or cancel any
             application for a Tester's or Examiner's
             certification or cancel certification if the
             applicant does not qualify for certification
             under these rules. Misstatements or
             misrepresentations in the application
             may be grounds for cancellation.

      (b) Any Tester or Examiner must immediately
           surrender their certification upon separation
           from the Tester. All forms, manuals, or supplies
           that the Department has furnished must also be
            surrendered immediately.

     (c) The Department may cancel the Third Party
           Testing Program provided for in these
           requirements in its entirety or may cancel
           it in part.

     (d) The Department may suspend or revoke a
           Tester's or Examiner's certification upon
           any of the following grounds:

            1. Failure to comply with or satisfy any of
                the provisions of these requirements,
                or the Third Party Tester agreement

            2. Falsifying, altering, or misrepresenting any
                records or information relating to the Third
                Party Testing Program

            3. Commission of any act which compromises
                 the integrity of the Third Party Program

            4. Failure to comply with FMCSA standards
                allows a five-point maximum difference
                between Examiner scoring and Compliance
                Analyst scoring during monitoring event

            5. Failure to fully cooperate with the Compliance
                Analyst, including failure to provide the
                Compliance Analyst access to:

                (i) All Third Party Tester Program and
                    Examiner documents and records; and

                (ii) Any facility where testing is performed.

      (e) Suspension/Revocation and Appeal Procedures

            1. Upon determining that a Tester's or
                Examiner's certification should be suspended,
                revoked, or cancelled the Department shall
                notify the Tester or Examiner by in writing.
                If mailed, such notice shall be deemed received
                three business days after mailing.

            2. The notification shall notify the Tester or
                Examiner of the following:

                 (i) That the Tester or Examiner may,
                      within 10 days of receipt of the notice,
                      request a hearing. The request must be
                      in writing and received by the Department
                      within the period specified.

                (ii) That if the Department does not receive
                     a written hearing request within the
                     10-day period:
                     
                     (I) The suspension, revocation, or
                          cancellation will be effective upon
                          the expiration of the 10-day period.

                    (II) Any rights to an appeal and hearing
                         shall be considered to have been
                         waived; and

             3. Upon receipt of a timely, written hearing
                 request, the Department shall forward the
                 request to the Office of State Administrative
                 Hearings (OSAH).

            4. The hearing and appeal procedures shall be
                as specified in Ga. Comp. R. &
                Regs. R. 375-1-1-.06.

            5. A Tester or Examiner who timely requests
                a hearing may continue to administer CDL
                testing pending issuance of a final decision
                by the Administrative Law Judge.

      (f) Reinstatement: A Tester or Examiner may
          apply for certification reinstatement at the
          end of a suspension period.

     (g) No current employee of the Department, or
          any spouse, dependent child, dependent
          stepchild, or dependent adopted child of such
          employee, shall be certified by the Department
          as a Third Party Tester or Examiner.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 40-5-156, 40-16-5, 49 C.F.R. § 384.201, 49 C.F.R. § 390.9.
History: Original Rule entitled "1-1-.12 Third Party Tester Program. Amended" adopted. Effective Feb. 8, 2017.
Amended: New title "1-1-.13 Third Party Tester Program"; Effective Nov. 9, 2022.
Amended: Effective Jan. 10, 2024.