The following information is of value to transitioning veterans and transitional military personnel who operated commercial motor vehicles while serving. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended the period of time required to apply for a skills test needed to obtain a civilian Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Members who operated tractor trailers can simply take a test for their Class A licensing. Please review this below information and please inform veterans of this most valuable information. This will indeed assist them in making the transition into civilian life easier to manage.
SUMMARY:
FMCSA amends its commercial driver’s license (CDL) regulations to ease the transition of military personnel into civilian careers driving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) by simplifying the process of obtaining a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) or CDL. This final rule extends the period of time for applying for a skills test waiver from 90 days to 1 year after leaving a military position requiring the operation of a CMV. This final rule also allows a State to accept applications from active duty military personnel who are stationed in that State as well as administer the written and skills tests for a CLP or CDL. States that choose to accept such applications are required to transmit the test results electronically to the State of domicile of the military personnel. The State of domicile may issue the CLP or CDL on the basis of those results.
DATES:
This final rule is effective December 12, 2016.
“The VA has become a corrupt, political and bureaucratic mess on many levels – the more we learn, the worse it is. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, I am confronting the VA at every level. I stand with those who shine light on the corruption, like at Hines VA Hospital. Too many of our health care workers are failing our vets, and the few who stand up to protect them are ignored and punished. I have enacted new laws to protect whistleblowers from retaliation and firing.
I fully support government benefits for those that have served to defend our country and our freedoms, and that our history of doing so has been shameful. I look forward to working with Veterans groups to address their needs including, but not limited to, medical (including addiction treatment), mental health, homelessness, unemployment and job training. In addition, I applaud the efforts of the many organizations that support the training and hiring of veterans.
