PennDOT Extends Expiration Dates for Commercial Licenses, Permits

A tanker truck on a road in Pennsylvania. (Roman Babakin/Getty Images)

[Ensure you have all the info you need in these unprecedented times. Subscribe now.]

As a response to statewide efforts to combat COVID-19, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has extended expiration dates pertaining to commercial driver licenses.

PennDOT announced Oct. 1 that expiration dates for CDLs, commercial learner permits and hazardous materials endorsements will be extended for Pennsylvania residents.

Expiration dates for Pennsylvania commercial drivers have been extended in response to statewide COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Details ➡️ https://t.co/cmNjhl8Bop

Find all PennDOT's COVID-19 updates at https://t.co/Y3Cntf90L3. pic.twitter.com/tjMySL30A2

---

---

— PA Department of Transportation (@PennDOTNews) October 1, 2020

Specifically, expiration dates of CDLs and CLPs have been extended through Nov. 29. The expiration date of a hazardous materials endorsement for a person who is a Pennsylvania-licensed CDL holder and possessed a valid endorsement with a determination of no security threat on or after March 6 has beenn extended until Oct. 29.

Moree

“The recent extension of CDL and CLP expiration dates from PennDOT is a recognition by the department of one of the many obstacles that the COVID-19 situation has created for our industry,” said Brandon Moree, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association. “Allowing drivers more time to schedule their renewals or to complete their testing by Nov. 29 is appreciated, and it gives drivers the opportunity to continue moving the goods that our communities need without the added stress of an expired license.”

The expiration extension deadlines that applied to noncommercial driver licenses, photo identification cards and learner permits expired Aug. 31.

Many of PennDOT’s driver and vehicle services offices have reopened. The offices follow health-related restrictions established by Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and offer special hours for customers age 60 and older. According to PennDOT, the agency will continue to evaluate these processes and communicate any changes in protocol to the public.

Wolf

Pennsylvania is an important state for freight movement, and trucking activity is expected to grow in the coming years. According to PennDOT’s Comprehensive Freight Movement Plan, the state’s infrastructure network carries 1.1 billion tons of freight, a figure that is expected to increase to 1.9 billion by 2040. Wolf’s office reports nearly $500 billion in goods and services moves through the state every year.

In the early days of the pandemic, Moree said certain transportation organizations were busier than normal, while others experienced decreases in activity. He said conversations with members have indicated activity is largely dependent on what type of goods they haul.

Pennsylvania is one of several states that has offered relief in terms of license and registration requirements amid the pandemic.

On May 4, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed two bills designed to offer constituents relief during the pandemic. The legislation granted a five-month extension to the expiration dates of various credentials, including CDLs, learner permits, vehicle registrations, inspection mechanic licenses and manufacturer licenses. Additionally, the package allowed the Division of Motor Vehicles to waive penalties for a late registration renewal during the extension period.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles issued an extension of the expiration dates of driver licenses for people younger than 70. In Connecticut, the Department of Motor Vehicles offered an extension for licenses, permits, identity cards and registrations.

Relief regarding licenses and permits has come from the federal level, too. On March 24, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a notice indicating limited exemptions would be granted for expired CDLs, learner permits and medical certifications.

Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing: