Chicago truck rental
WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes amendments to the Commercial Driver’s License regulation that would ease the transition of military personnel into civilian careers in the truck and bus industries by simplifying the process of obtaining a commercial learner’s permit or a CDL.
The NPRM is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register Wednesday.
The proposal stems from a requirement in MAP-21, the transportation bill passed in 2012, to assess federal and state regulatory, economic and administrative challenges faced by members and former members of the Armed Forces, who received safety training and operated qualifying motor vehicles during their service, in obtaining commercial driver's licenses.
This rulemaking to be published Wednesday would extend the time period for applying for a skills test waiver from 90 days to one year after leaving a military position requiring the operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV).
It also would allow states to accept applications and administer the written and skills tests for a CLP or CDL from active duty military personnel who are stationed in that state.
States that choose to accept such applications would be required to transmit the test results electronically to the state of domicile of the military personnel.
The state of domicile would be required to issue the CDL or CLP on the basis of those results.
This process would enable service members to complete their licensing requirements without incurring the time and expense of returning home, the NPRM says.
The state of domicile would be required to issue the CLP or CDL in accordance with otherwise applicable procedures.
Currently, former military personnel who were regularly employed in the preceding 90 days in a military position requiring the operation of a CMV may apply for a skills test waiver if they meet certain conditions.
To date, more than 10,000 separated military personnel have taken advantage of the Skills Test Waiver.
In the November 2013 report to Congress, “Program to Assist Veterans to Acquire Commercial Driver’s Licenses,” the FMCSA concluded that lengthening that period would ease the transition of service members and veterans to civilian life.
FMCSA recommended a revision to the Military Skills Test Waiver in 49 CFR 383.77(b)(1) to extend the period of availability from 90 days to 1 year.
The trucking industry has in the past few years turned to former military CMV drivers to help ease the driver shortage.
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