Roadside English: Greeting and documents questions officers ask truck drivers
The officer greets you and asks for your license, medical card, registration and insurance. Hand them over and say what each one is.
Practice this out loudGood morning. Do you know why I stopped you?
Your answer should include: Answer yes or no, Polite greeting
Good sample answers:
- Good morning, officer. No, I do not know. Was I speeding?
- No sir, I am not sure why. Is there a problem with my truck?
Can I see your driver's license, please?
Your answer should include: Say you are giving the license, Name the document
Good sample answers:
- Yes, officer. Here is my CDL.
- Sure. This is my commercial driver's license from Texas.
What state issued your CDL?
Your answer should include: Name the state
Good sample answers:
- My CDL is from California.
- It is a Texas CDL.
Do you have your medical card with you?
Your answer should include: Answer yes or no, Say medical card or certificate
Good sample answers:
- Yes, here is my medical card. It is good until next year.
- Yes, officer. My medical certificate is in my wallet. Here it is.
When does your medical card expire?
Your answer should include: Month or year it expires
Good sample answers:
- It expires in March 2027.
- My medical card is good until June next year.
Can I see the registration for the truck and the trailer?
Your answer should include: Say you are giving both registrations
Good sample answers:
- Yes. Here is the cab card for the truck and this is the trailer registration.
- Sure, both registrations are in this folder.
Do you have proof of insurance?
Your answer should include: Answer yes or no, Say insurance
Good sample answers:
- Yes, the insurance card is right here.
- Yes, officer. My company insurance paper is in the binder.
Is this your current address on the license?
Your answer should include: Answer yes or no, New address if it changed
Good sample answers:
- Yes, that is my address.
- No, I moved last month. My new address is in Fresno, California.
What is your full name?
Your answer should include: Say your first and last name
Good sample answers:
- My name is Jose Luis Martinez.
- My full name is Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
What is your date of birth?
Your answer should include: Month, day and year
Good sample answers:
- My date of birth is May 12, 1985.
- I was born on the third of January, 1990.
Do you have any other license from another state or country?
Your answer should include: Answer yes or no
Good sample answers:
- No, I only have this one CDL.
- No sir. Only my California CDL.
Does your CDL have any endorsements?
Your answer should include: Yes or no, Name the endorsement if yes
Good sample answers:
- Yes, I have a tanker endorsement.
- No endorsements. Only Class A.
Please hand me all your documents in one stack.
Your answer should include: Say you are handing them over, Name the documents
Good sample answers:
- Okay. Here is my license, medical card, registration and insurance.
- Sure, officer. Everything is here in this folder.
Do you have the annual inspection report for this trailer?
Your answer should include: Yes or no, Where it is or when it was done
Good sample answers:
- Yes, the annual inspection sticker is on the trailer and the paper is in the binder.
- Yes. It was done in April.
Is there anyone else in the truck with you?
Your answer should include: Yes or no, Who if yes
Good sample answers:
- No, I am driving alone.
- Yes, my co-driver is sleeping in the bunk.