# Driver Road Test Form for NEMT: A Scored Drive in the Van the Driver Will Use

Canonical URL: https://nemtguide.com/templates/driver-road-test-form/ · Updated 2026-10-02

A driver road test form is the score sheet and signed certificate for one drive a new NEMT driver takes before the first trip, in the type of vehicle they will use. The examiner rates the walk-around, controls, traffic, turns, braking, backing, and parking, plus the lift and a wheelchair securement. File the originals in the driver file and give the driver a copy of the certificate.

- Test each driver in the type of vehicle and equipment they will run, before the first trip. A pass in a sedan does not clear a lift van.
- Alabama carriers, CareOregon, GOBHI, and Paratransit Services in Washington want a road test before service, and Minnesota a behind-the-wheel evaluation. TennCare plans want one yearly.
- For commercial vans under federal rules, the examiner signs an item-by-item rating form and a certificate with the miles driven (49 CFR 391.31).
- An owner who drives must be tested by someone else. Use staff or an empty chair, never a rider, for the securement part.
- Keep the signed form and certificate in the driver file for the whole job and 3 years after (49 CFR 391.51).

A road test answers one question before you hand a new driver the keys: can this person safely drive and operate this kind of vehicle? This form gives the examiner one line for each skill, a lift and securement demonstration for wheelchair vans, and a certificate to sign and file. It comes before the [ride-along checklist](https://nemtguide.com/templates/driver-ride-along-checklist/), where a trainer watches the whole job on trips, and long before the quarterly [driver evaluation form](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-driver-evaluation-form/).

## How to use this template

1. **Use one form per driver and per vehicle type.** Test in the type of vehicle and equipment the driver will run. Alabama's rule and the Oregon brokerage manuals both say so, and a pass in a sedan does not clear a lift van or a stretcher van.
2. **Pick a competent examiner.** Choose an experienced driver, trainer, or manager who knows the vehicle and its lift. If you, the owner, will drive, have someone else test you. The federal rule requires that for commercial vans (49 CFR 391.31).
3. **Ask for any certificate the driver already holds.** For commercial vans, a road test certificate from the past 3 years, or a CDL earned with a road test in that type of vehicle, may stand in (49 CFR 391.33). States and brokers may still want their own test, so ask before you skip it.
4. **Plan a route that covers every line in Part 4.** Include a merge, lane changes, right and left turns, a railroad crossing if one is nearby, backing, and parking. Minnesota's behind-the-wheel evaluation names each of those skills.
5. **Keep riders out of the van.** Use a staff member in a wheelchair, or an empty chair, for Part 5. The driver is not credentialed yet, and MTM Health's standard agreement pays nothing for trips by uncredentialed drivers.
6. **Score each line S or U.** S means satisfactory. U means it needs work: write what happened in the comments. Any U in Part 5, or on phone use, railroad crossings, or braking, means the driver fails this test.
7. **Write down the miles.** Read the odometer at the start and the end. The federal certificate records the approximate miles driven.
8. **Sign, copy, and file.** The examiner signs the rating in Part 6 and the certificate in Part 7. Give the driver a copy of the certificate, and keep the originals in the [driver qualification file](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-driver-file-checklist/).
9. **Set the next test.** Test again before the driver takes a new vehicle type, and every year if you serve TennCare health plans. Then start the ride-along.

## The template

### Part 1: Test details

| Field | Write it here |
|---|---|
| Driver's full name | |
| License number, class, state, and expiration | |
| Reason for the test (new hire, new vehicle type, yearly, after a crash, retest) | |
| Examiner's name, title, and years driving this vehicle type | |
| Date, start time, and end time | |
| Vehicle type (sedan, minivan, ramp van, lift van, stretcher van) | |
| Unit number, plate, seating capacity, and GVWR | |
| Lift or ramp make and model | |
| Route driven (start, main roads, end) | |
| Odometer at the start and the end, and miles driven | |
| Weather and road conditions | |

### Part 2: Pre-trip inspection

| Item | S | U | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes and parking brake | | | |
| Steering | | | |
| Headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and reflectors | | | |
| Tires, wheels, and rims | | | |
| Horn | | | |
| Windshield and wipers | | | |
| Mirrors, adjusted before moving | | | |
| Emergency equipment: extinguisher, warning triangles, first aid kit, belt cutter | | | |
| Lift or ramp run through one full cycle, with the van in park and the brake set | | | |
| Tie-downs and occupant belts counted and checked for cuts or fraying | | | |
| Daily inspection sheet filled in and signed | | | |

### Part 3: Starting out and the controls

| Item | S | U | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjusts the seat and mirrors and fastens the seat belt before starting | | | |
| Checks gauges and warning lights after starting | | | |
| Shows the hazard lights, defroster, horn, and parking brake | | | |
| Shows the lift's manual backup and how to use it | | | |
| Sets the GPS before moving and leaves the phone alone | | | |
| Checks mirrors and signals before pulling away from the curb | | | |

### Part 4: On the road

| Item | S | U | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keeps a safe following distance | | | |
| Stays centered in the lane | | | |
| Signals every turn and lane change | | | |
| Merges onto a busy road or highway | | | |
| Changes lanes after a mirror and blind spot check | | | |
| Passes another vehicle safely, or explains when not to | | | |
| Right turns: correct lane, speed, and room at the curb | | | |
| Left turns: yields, waits for a safe gap, turns into the correct lane | | | |
| Keeps to the speed limit and slows for school and work zones | | | |
| Stops fully at stop signs, behind the line | | | |
| Railroad crossing: slows, looks, listens, and stops when required | | | |
| Brakes smoothly, with no sudden stop a rider could not brace for | | | |
| Slows by easing off the accelerator before braking | | | |
| Backs only when needed, checks all around first, uses a spotter when one is available | | | |
| Parks level and out of traffic, with room to put out the lift or ramp | | | |
| No handheld phone use while the van moves | | | |

### Part 5: Lift or ramp and wheelchair securement

| Item | S | U | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks and sets the brake before putting out the lift or ramp | | | |
| Explains each step to the person in the chair | | | |
| Runs the lift with the person facing the way they prefer, handrails in reach | | | |
| Places the chair facing forward in the securement area | | | |
| Hooks four tie-downs to the chair frame, never the wheels | | | |
| Tightens the straps and shows the chair moves no more than 2 inches | | | |
| Fastens the lap and shoulder belt on the person, separate from the chair straps | | | |
| Stows the lift and checks that the van will not move until it is stowed | | | |
| Lowers the lift with the manual backup | | | |
| Unloads in reverse order and puts the straps away off the floor | | | |

### Part 6: Result

| Field | Write it here |
|---|---|
| Number of lines scored S | |
| Lines scored U (part and line) | |
| Result: pass, or retest needed | |
| Training to finish before a retest | |
| Retest date | |
| Examiner's signature and date | |
| Driver's signature and date (the result was discussed) | |

### Part 7: Certificate of road test

Driver's name: ______________________________

Type of vehicle tested in: ______________________________ (for a passenger van or bus, its type and seating)

This certifies that the driver named above was given a road test under my supervision on ______________, of about ______ miles of driving. In my judgment, this driver has enough driving skill to operate this type of vehicle safely.

Examiner's signature: ______________________________ Title: ______________________________

Company name and address of the examiner: ______________________________

Copy given to the driver on: ______________ Driver's initials: ______

## Which rules call for a road test

Most rules that require a road test want it before the first trip, in the type of vehicle the driver will use. Tennessee and New York add repeat tests. These were the rules as of October 2026.

| Rule | When it is due | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Federal commercial vans (49 CFR 391.31) | Before driving, unless a certificate under 3 years old or a matching CDL stands in | Eight skills in the type of vehicle you will assign |
| Alabama PSC passenger carriers | Before driving | The vehicle and equipment the driver will be assigned |
| Minnesota special transportation | Before the first ride | Defensive driving, merging, lane changes, turns, backing, railroad crossings, parking |
| CareOregon and GOBHI brokerages | Before carrying members | The type of vehicle and equipment the driver will operate |
| Paratransit Services, Washington | At hire, volunteer drivers included | The type of vehicle the driver will operate |
| TennCare health plans | Every year | Part of the required driver training |
| New York ambulettes (Article 19-A) | Every 2 years | Pretrip inspection, controls, traffic, turns, braking, backing, parking |

**Alabama.** The Public Service Commission's driver rules cover intrastate for-hire passenger carriers that run only lightweight vehicles and are not exempt under the Alabama Motor Carrier Act (rule 770-X-10-.17-1-.03, pamphlet revised June 13, 2022). Under rule 770-X-10-.17-1-.09, no one may drive until they pass a road test given by the carrier or a qualified person it designates, on the vehicle and equipment they will be assigned. The driver gets a certificate naming the type of equipment, and a copy stays in the driver's file. A for-hire carrier that also runs interstate, or that operates large commercial vehicles, follows the federal rules instead (rule 770-X-10-.17-1-.02). See the [Alabama guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/alabama/).

**Minnesota.** Before a driver gives any special transportation service ride, Rules 8840.5910 require an evaluation of behind-the-wheel skills: defensive driving, merging, lane changing, right and left turns, backing, railroad crossings, and parking. Rules 8840.5900 add that every driver must be able to do a vehicle safety inspection, and that drivers and attendants must be able to help a rider in and out and run the vehicle's lift or ramp. The driver file must hold a certificate showing the driver received the training required before service (Rules 8840.6100). See the [Minnesota guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/minnesota/).

**Oregon.** CareOregon's manual (version 1.3, February 2024) and GOBHI's manual (revised July 2025) require vehicle orientation and road testing with the type of vehicle and equipment the driver will operate, before the driver carries members or other passengers. See the [Oregon guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/oregon/).

**Washington.** Paratransit Services, the Health Care Authority's broker in nine Western Washington counties, requires road testing at hire with the type of vehicle the driver will operate, for volunteer drivers too. Its driver requirements, as posted in October 2026, say training must come from a broker-approved source or a broker-approved in-house program, with copies sent to the broker before the driver gives service. See the [Washington guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/washington/).

**Tennessee.** TennCare's contract with its health plans (Amendment 25, July 1, 2026, Attachment XI) has each plan ensure drivers get at least 32 hours of training before providing service and at least 15 hours every year. That training includes annual road tests, and proof must be kept for unscheduled file audits. See the [Tennessee guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/tennessee/).

**New York.** The Medicaid transportation manual (effective August 25, 2023) requires ambulette drivers to qualify under Article 19-A. Vehicle and Traffic Law 509-g calls for a behind-the-wheel test every two years, including defensive driving, which may happen during normal daily work. The DMV has its Certified Examiners give those road tests. See the [New York guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/new-york/).

## What the federal road test requires

The federal rule reaches a commercial motor vehicle used in interstate commerce: one rated or weighing 10,001 pounds or more, or one designed or used to carry 9 or more people, driver included, for pay (49 CFR 390.5). Part 390 also lists exceptions, one of them for the transportation of sick and injured persons (49 CFR 390.3T(f)(4)), so ask FMCSA how it reaches your trips before you rely on it. [Do NEMT companies need a USDOT number](https://nemtguide.com/guides/dot-number-for-nemt/) and [do NEMT drivers need a CDL](https://nemtguide.com/guides/do-nemt-drivers-need-a-cdl/) walk through who is covered.

When it applies, 49 CFR 391.31 sets the test:

- **Who gives it.** The carrier or a person it designates, competent to judge whether the driver can operate the vehicle and its equipment. A driver who is the motor carrier must be tested by someone else.
- **How long.** Long enough to judge the driver's skill in the vehicle and equipment you will assign.
- **What it covers.** At least the pretrip inspection, placing the vehicle in operation, the controls and emergency equipment, driving in traffic and passing, turning, braking and slowing by other means, and backing and parking. Coupling counts only for combination units. Parts 2 to 4 cover each skill.
- **The pretrip check.** The driver must be satisfied that the service brakes, parking brake, steering, lights and reflectors, tires, horn, wipers, mirrors, wheels and rims, and emergency equipment work (49 CFR 392.7). Part 2 lists them.
- **The paperwork.** The examiner rates each item on a form and signs it, then completes a certificate stating the date, the approximate miles, and the type of vehicle. Parts 6 and 7 hold both. The driver gets a copy of the certificate, and the originals go in the driver qualification file.

A valid CDL earned with a road test in the type of vehicle you will assign, or a certificate from the past 3 years, may stand in, with a legible copy in the file. You may still require your own test (49 CFR 391.33).

## The standards behind Part 5

Part 5 checks what the federal ADA rules ask of drivers and equipment. For the full step-by-step securement routine, use the [wheelchair securement checklist](https://nemtguide.com/templates/wheelchair-securement-checklist/).

- **Training to proficiency.** Staff of a demand response service must be trained so they operate vehicles and equipment safely and assist riders with disabilities respectfully and courteously (49 CFR 37.173).
- **Helping with the lift.** Staff assist with securement systems, ramps, and lifts when needed or asked, and leave their seats to do it (49 CFR 37.165(f)).
- **Interlock and backup.** Lifts built to the federal standard are interlocked so the van cannot move unless the lift is stowed. They also have an emergency way to lower an occupant to the ground if power fails (49 CFR 38.23(b)). That is why Part 5 asks the driver to stow the lift and to use the manual backup.
- **Movement and belts.** A chair secured the way the maker's instructions say may move no more than 2 inches in any direction in normal driving. A lap belt and shoulder harness come with each securement position, and they never replace the straps that hold the chair (49 CFR 38.23(d)).

The [wheelchair lift inspection log](https://nemtguide.com/templates/wheelchair-lift-inspection-log/) tracks the lift itself between tests.

## Keeping the form and testing again

For commercial vans, the road test form and certificate stay in the driver qualification file for as long as the driver works for you and 3 years after (49 CFR 391.51). Alabama keeps the certificate copy in the driver's file, and Minnesota's driver file holds the record of training before service. File a failed form too, next to the retest that passed.

Give a new test when the driver moves to a new vehicle type, every year for TennCare plans, and every two years for New York Article 19-A drivers. A new test is also a fair check after a preventable crash or a securement complaint, before the driver goes back on that vehicle. Record those results on the [driver evaluation form](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-driver-evaluation-form/), and see [NEMT driver requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-driver-requirements/) for everything else a new driver needs before the first ride.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between a road test and a ride-along?

A road test is one scored drive, usually before hire, that shows whether a driver can safely handle a type of vehicle and its equipment. A ride-along comes after it, on real or practice trips, and checks the whole job with riders: greeting, level of assistance, and paperwork. Use this form first, then the ride-along checklist, then the quarterly evaluation once the driver works alone.

### Who can give a NEMT driver road test?

Someone competent to judge whether the driver can run that vehicle and its equipment, such as an experienced driver, trainer, or manager. Under 49 CFR 391.31 the carrier or a person it designates gives the test, and a driver who is the motor carrier must be tested by someone else. New York uses DMV Certified Examiners for the road tests its Article 19-A drivers take every two years.

### Can I accept a road test from a driver's last job?

For commercial vans under federal rules, yes. A valid CDL earned with a road test in the type of vehicle you will assign, or a road test certificate issued within the past 3 years, can stand in (49 CFR 391.33). Keep a legible copy in the driver file. You may still require your own test, and Oregon brokerages want the test in the type of vehicle and equipment the driver will operate.

### How often does a NEMT driver need a road test?

Most rules ask for one before the first trip and again for each new vehicle type. TennCare's health plan contract (Amendment 25, July 1, 2026) lists annual road tests in required driver training. New York requires a behind-the-wheel test every two years for Article 19-A drivers, and its Medicaid manual requires ambulette drivers to qualify under Article 19-A.

### Does the federal road test rule apply to my wheelchair vans?

Only to commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce: a vehicle rated or weighing 10,001 pounds or more, or one designed or used to carry 9 or more people, driver included, for pay (49 CFR 390.5). Part 390 also excepts the transportation of sick and injured persons, so ask FMCSA how that reaches your trips before you rely on it. State and broker road test rules apply either way.

### What if a driver fails the road test?

Keep the driver off trips in that vehicle type. Write what needs work on the form, finish the training, and retest on a new form. Alabama and the federal rule require a passed road test before the driver drives, and Minnesota and the Oregon brokerages require the evaluation or road test before service, so a failed form never clears anyone. Keep both forms in the file.

## Official resources

- [eCFR: 49 CFR 391.31, the federal road test and certificate](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-391.31)
- [eCFR: 49 CFR 391.33, when a CDL or earlier certificate can stand in](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-391.33)
- [Minnesota Rules 8840.5910 (behind-the-wheel evaluation before the first ride)](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/8840.5910/)
- [CareOregon: NEMT provider manual (road testing in the vehicle type)](https://careoregon.org/docs/default-source/nemt/nemt-provider-manual.pdf)
- [Paratransit Services: Washington transportation provider documents](https://www.wanemt.com/transportation-provider-resources)
- [New York DMV: Article 19-A road tests and Certified Examiners](https://dmv.ny.gov/business/driver-training/article-19-a-information)