The Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles recently adopted a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration provision that shortens the process for military veterans to obtain a commercial driver’s license in an effort to help them quickly transition to civilian careers as professional truck or bus drivers.
FMCSA’s rule, issued nearly two years ago, waives the driver skills test in the CDL process for qualifying veterans who already have two years of experience safely driving a commercial motor vehicle in the military.
The CDL waiver is for recently discharged service members who meet the following criteria:
- Have two years of experience driving vehicles immediately preceding their discharge
- Have a good driving record
- Have certification of the type of vehicle they operated and their years of operation
- Pass the state’s CDL knowledge test
“This program will assist veterans in their transition from the military to civilian lives. As more and more troops return home from active duty, the process provides a method to connect them to quality jobs in transportation,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro.
Since the FMCSA issued this rule, 44 states have either adopted the veterans provision or are in the process of adopting it.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists commercial trucking as a high-demand job, with more than 300,000 additional positions expected by 2020. Due to their military training and experience, the country’s military veterans are exceptional candidates for these positions.
