FMCSA to simplify process for veterans to get CDL

Excerpt from Transport Topics article: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last week announced its final rule intended to assist the transition of military personnel to civilian careers as truck drivers by simplifying the learner permit and driver license process. The final rule extends the period of time for applying for a skills test waiver…

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Excerpt from Transport Topics article:

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last week announced its final rule intended to assist the transition of military personnel to civilian careers as truck drivers by simplifying the learner permit and driver license process.

The final rule extends the period of time for applying for a skills test waiver to one year from 90 days after leaving a military position that requires operating a commercial vehicle.

The rule also allows active-duty military personnel to apply for a commercial learner permit and commercial driver license from the state in which they are stationed, rather than just in their home state, the agency said.

The proposed regulatory changes were first recommended in a November 2013 report to Congress mandated by the 2012 MAP-21 law.

“Simplifying the process for military CMV drivers to obtain a civilian CDL is important because significant numbers of these drivers have the training and experience to transfer directly to civilian CDL jobs,” the report concluded. “Military CMV drivers can help to meet the driver shortages experienced by civilian employers.”

The rule was published in the Federal Register on Oct. 13.

States that choose to accept such applications must use forms and procedures acceptable to the state of domicile of the military personnel (their state of permanent residence or “home” state) and must transmit the test results electronically to the state of domicile, the agency said.

Read the full article from Transport Topics.

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