FMCSA Rule Extends Waiver Period on CDL Skills Testing for Transitioning Military
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published its final rule on waivers for CDL skills testing for transitioning service members in the Federal Register on October 13, 2016. This new rule extends the period for waiving the skills portion of the CDL exam to one year following the military member's exit from active-duty service (the allowed period was previously 90 days). While the FMCSA encourages states to accept the skills waiver for qualifying military personnel, it does not require state licensing agencies to accept it. Each state licensing agency will make its own decision regarding acceptance of the skills waiver.
Also included as part of this new rule, FMCSA allows state licensing agencies to accept CDL applications and administer the written and skills tests to military personnel stationed within the state. States accepting these applications are required to electronically transmit the applications and test results to the licensing agency in the military member's official home state of record. The home state of record may choose to issue the CDL based on the application and test results received from the transferring state.
This new rule will be effective 60 days from its date of publication in the Federal Register. View the full contents of the rule here.