FMCSA Proposed Rule Would Ease Transition of Military Truck Drivers to Civilian Employment
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will issue a proposed rule to amend commercial driver license regulations that would ease the transition of military personnel into civilian careers in the truck and bus industry.
The proposal, scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on March 16, would extend the time period for applying for a skills test waiver to one year after leaving a military position that requires operation of a commercial vehicle. Currently, the time period for applying is 90 days.
It also would allow states to accept applications and administer the written and skills tests for a commercial learner permit 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 driver, and would be required to issue the CDL or CLP on the basis of the results, the agency said.
FMCSA said that the proposed regulatory changes would not only allow military personnel to enter the job market more quickly and ease the transition after separation from service, they also may increase the availability of drivers qualified to work for motor carriers.
The proposed regulatory revision arose from a study imposed by Congress that assessed federal and state regulatory, economic and administrative challenges in obtaining CDLs faced by members and former members of U.S. armed forced who operated qualifying motor vehicles during their service.
Currently, former military personnel who were regularly employed in the preceding 90 days in a military position requiring the operation of a commercial vehicle may apply for a skills test waiver if they meet certain conditions. However, in a 2013 report to Congress, FMCSA concluded that lengthening that period would ease the transition of service members and veterans to civilian life.
“To date, more than 10,000 separated military personnel have taken advantage of the skills test waiver,” FMCSA said.
