(a)  The department shall examine every applicant for a commercial license or learner’s permit. The examination shall include: (1) A test of the applicant’s eyesight to be administered according to standards set by the Federal Motor Carrier Regulations; (2) His or her ability to read English in understanding highway signs regulating, warning, and directing traffic; (3) His or her knowledge of the traffic laws of this state; and (4) Shall include an actual demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles of the type covered by the license classification, endorsement, or restrictions which the applicant is seeking. Each applicant shall successfully complete the skills test in the following order:

(1)  Pre-trip inspection;

(2)  Basic vehicle controls skills; and

(3)  On-road skills.

If an applicant fails one segment of the skills test, the applicant cannot continue to the next segment of the test; however, scores for the passed segments of the skills test shall remain valid and an applicant will not be required to retake the segments previously passed prior to expiration of the commercial learner’s permit. The examination may also include any further physical and mental examinations that the department deems necessary to determine the applicant’s fitness to safely operate a motor vehicle upon the highways.

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(b)  A nonresident, who establishes residence in the state of Rhode Island and makes application for a Rhode Island commercial license, shall not be required to demonstrate his or her ability to operate a motor vehicle, unless the examiner has reason to believe such a demonstration is needed; provided, that the nonresident surrenders a valid commercial license that was issued under the requirements of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (see now 49 U.S.C. § 31101 et seq.); may be as amended from time to time by another state.

(c)  The department shall be permitted to promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to third-party testing for the skills tests required for commercial driver’s licenses in accordance with 49 C.F.R. part 383, as it may be revised from time to time.