Exam Bulletin - Commercial Vehicle Inspection Specialist

California Highway Patrol

Exam Code: EX-3111

Examination Plans Included:

  • COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTION SPECIALIST - Open

Final Filing Date: 9/19/2024

Classification Details

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTION SPECIALIST: $3,983.00 - $4,978.00 (A) per Month
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTION SPECIALIST: $4,526.00 - $5,714.00 (B) per Month

View the COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTION SPECIALIST classification specification.

Application Instructions

Final Filing Date: 9/19/2024.

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will not be accepted.

NOTE: Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the United States Postal Service, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit their application on time and to ensure the envelope is postmarked.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTION SPECIALIST - Open

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

You may apply by mail to:

  • California Highway Patrol
    Selection Standards and Examinations Section
    P.O. Box 942898
    Sacramento, CA 94298

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

  • California Highway Patrol
    Selection Standards and Examinations Section
    601 North 7th Street
    Sacramento, CA 95811
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.

All application (STD. 678) forms must include: employment history “from” and “to” dates (month/day/year); hours per week; title/job classification; and duties performed. Application (STD. 678) forms received without this information will be rejected. Résumés or other documents will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application (STD. 678) form.

NOTE: DO NOT SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES (CALHR) OR TO A LOCAL CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICE.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

NOTE: All applicants must meet the experience and/or education requirements for this examination by the final filing date. Part-time or full-time jobs, regardless of whether paid or volunteer positions, and inside or outside California state service will count towards experience.

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00106854 - COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTION SPECIALIST

Either I

In the California state service, one year of experience performing duties in automotive or heavy equipment services and repair at a level not less than an Automotive Technician Trainee, Department of the California Highway Patrol.

Or II

One year of experience as an auto, truck, or construction equipment mechanic; bus driver; driver of any commercial truck which required a Class A or B driver license; or any position which required the knowledge of the mechanics, size-weight, registration requirements, or load and safety regulations of heavy duty commercial vehicles.

Special Requirements

Evidence of satisfactory arrest and driving records.

Position Description

00106854 - COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTION SPECIALIST

Under close supervision, a Commercial Vehicle Inspection Specialist’s duties involve weighing and complete inspection of commercial type vehicles, with regard to the condition of vehicle components and systems, registration requirements, loading, required equipment, and compliance with the California Vehicle Code and other laws, rules, and regulations governing these vehicles, and performing other related duties.

Commercial Vehicle Inspection Specialists follow established safe working practices; establish and maintain good communication with driver; inspect driver’s license, log book, documents, and driver’s physical condition; perform routine inspections on commercial type vehicles to determine if they comply with weight, size, load containment/securement, hazardous materials, safety, and equipment requirements, and inspect and test all types of commercial vehicle components and systems for compliance with the Vehicle Code and other applicable laws and regulations, and refer violators to an enforcement officer for action; operate scale console to weigh commercial vehicles; monitor approaching traffic and select commercial vehicles for inspection; maintain logs, document inspections, and complete other job-related forms; check vehicle registration, permits, and shipping papers; assist an officer if an emergency arises; provide directions and information to the public and allied agencies; attend briefings and training days, and train new personnel to conduct inspections; and inspect commercial vehicles that have been involved in an accident.

Special Personal Characteristics

Emotional control, tolerance for unpleasant working conditions (e.g., noise, exhaust fumes, confined spaces, extremes of temperature), attention to detail, and patience.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1WrittenN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

Competitors who do not appear for the written test will be disqualified.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  • Different types of commercial vehicles and their components.
  • Basic commercial vehicle mechanics (i.e., the functions of parts and systems in commercial vehicles and how their components interact).
Ability to:
  • Represent the CHP positively to the public.
  • Work cooperatively with coworkers and members of allied agencies.
  • Be firm and tactful in dealing with the public.
  • Communicate effectively with the public, allied agencies, and coworkers.
  • Identify odors that indicate a violation or hazard.
  • Correctly use protective devices.
  • Hear sufficiently to safely and effectively conduct inspections.
  • See fine details (e.g., small hairline cracks, small print on documents).
  • Perform under stress.
  • Have sufficient physical strength, coordination, balance, dexterity, and flexibility required to perform commercial vehicle inspections.
  • Sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.
  • Prepare clear, accurate, and legible reports and forms.
  • Read and comprehend written instructions, policies, procedures, maps, and complex laws, rules, and regulations.
  • Perform mathematical calculations using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and percentages to determine violations.
  • Operate a personal computer.
  • Use a calculator, ruler, and tape measure.
  • Work odd or unusual hours including weekends and holidays.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTION SPECIALIST Classification will be established for:

  • California Highway Patrol

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Competitors may retest after 6 months.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Written Test Information

Written Test Date: November 2, 2024

It is the competitor's responsibility to contact the California Highway Patrol, Selection Standards and Examinations Section, Examination Services, at (916) 843-3820, three days prior to the written test date if a notice has not been received.

Written Test Location(s): The written test will be given in such places in California as the number of  competitors and conditions warrant.

Drug Testing Requirement

Applicants for positions in this classification are required to pass a drug screening test. (The drug screening test will be waived for employees who are currently in a designated “sensitive” classification for which drug testing is required under California Code of Regulations, Section 213.)

Testing Departments

  • California Highway Patrol

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Highway Patrol
Selection Standards and Examinations Section
097/Examination Services
P.O. Box 942898
Sacramento, CA 94298-0001
Phone: (916) 843-3820

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

California Highway Patrol reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
In Person (see bulletin for details)
Alternate Application Process

While we recommend that you utilize your CalCareer Account to take advantage of all the tools available, you may choose to apply for this examination without using your account. In this case, print and complete the Exam Application Package Checklist and include it if you submit a hard copy application.

Exam Application Package Checklist

Blank Application Form (STD678)

Accommodation Request (STD679)