(a)

(1) A person shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle unless the person has taken and passed written and driving tests for a commercial learner's permit or a commercial driver license that meet the federal vehicle groups and endorsements, required knowledge and skills, and testing standard, as required by this chapter, for the commercial motor vehicle that person operates or expects to operate.

(2) If a person possesses a commercial learner's permit, the person is authorized to operate a class of commercial motor vehicle if:

(A) The commercial learner's permit holder is at all times accompanied by the holder of a valid commercial driver license who has the proper commercial driver license group and endorsement or endorsements necessary to operate the commercial motor vehicle;

(B) The commercial driver license holder is at all times physically present in the front seat of the vehicle next to the commercial learner's permit holder or, in the case of a passenger vehicle, directly behind or in the first row behind the driver and has the commercial learner's permit holder under observation and direct supervision;

(C) The commercial learner's permit holder holds a valid driver's license issued by the same jurisdiction that issued the commercial learner's permit;

(D) The commercial learner's permit holder has taken and passed a general knowledge test that meets the federal vehicle groups and endorsements, required knowledge and skills, and testing standards, as required by this chapter, for the commercial motor vehicle that the person operates or expects to operate; and

(E) The commercial learner's permit holder is eighteen (18) years of age or older.

(b) No person may drive a commercial motor vehicle while his or her driving privilege is suspended, revoked, or cancelled, while subject to a disqualification, or in violation of an out-of-service order.

(c) Any person who violates any provisions of this section shall be cited for such violations and if found guilty shall be deemed to have committed a Class C misdemeanor.