Sponsors (10)
The bill standardizes examiner qualifications and expands where CDL tests can be taken—improving test consistency and road safety and reducing travel barriers for applicants—while imposing costs, coordination challenges, and a tight implementation deadline that could strain state and federal agencies.
CDL applicants (prospective commercial drivers) and all road users benefit because examiners must hold valid certification and complete standardized training, producing more consistent testing and likely improving road safety.
CDL applicants (including those trained or living out-of-state) face fewer travel and administrative barriers because any State can administer CDL skills tests regardless of an applicant's domicile.
FMCSA and State agencies could be strained by a tight 90-day deadline to implement rules, risking rushed rulemaking or implementation delays that disrupt testing and licensing operations.
State licensing agencies and third-party examiners will incur training and certification costs and additional administrative burdens to meet the new examiner requirements.
Allowing any State to administer skills tests for out-of-state applicants could complicate licensing recordkeeping and interstate coordination, creating potential errors or delays in driver records.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs FMCSA to require certified, specially trained examiners for CDL knowledge tests and to let any State administer CDL driving skills tests to any applicant regardless of domicile.
Requires the Department of Transportation (through FMCSA) to quickly revise two Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules: limit who may administer the CDL knowledge test to certified, specially trained examiners, and allow any State to give CDL driving skills tests to any applicant regardless of the applicant’s State of domicile or where they trained. The agency must issue these regulatory changes within 90 days of enactment.
Introduced January 22, 2025 by Darin Lahood · Last progress January 22, 2025