FMCSA Issues Final Rule to Assist Current and Former Military Personnel in Obtaining CDLs

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a final rule amending its commercial driver’s license regulations to ease the transition of military personnel into civilian careers driving commercial motor vehicles. The rule simplifies the process of obtaining a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) or CDL, the agency said in a statement.

The final rule extends the period of time for applying for a skills test waiver from 90 days to one year after leaving a military position requiring the operation of a CMV.

The rule also allows a state to accept applications from active duty military personnel who are stationed in that state and to administer the written and skills tests for a CLP or CDL, the agency said in the Oct. 12 statement, posted on the FMCSA website.

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 state of domicile may issue the CLP or CDL on the basis of those results.