US DOT Works to Streamline Licensing Process for Prospective Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced June 27^th a proposed rule to streamline the process for men and women interested in entering the trucking workforce. The proposed rule is intended to allow states greater flexibility in conducting skill tests for individuals seeking a commercial driver’s license (CDL). “The Department is committed to reducing unnecessary barriers to employment for men and women interested in obtaining jobs in the trucking industry,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. Federal rules currently do not permit a CDL skills instructor who is also authorized by the state to administer the CDL skills test to perform both the instruction and the qualifying testing for the same CDL applicant. This proposal would eliminate that restriction and permit states the discretion to allow qualified third-party skills trainers to also conduct the skills testing for the same individual.