Military Skills Test Waiver - How We Got Here an AAMVA Webinar Selden Fritschner, Chief, Commercial Driver’s License Division August 1, 2012 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

White House & Interest in Military Jobs Initiatives Presidential Task Force on Veterans Employment (2011) Veterans Opportunity Work (VOW) Act (2011) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (2012) MAP-21 – Highway Transportation Bill (2012) Veteran Skills to Jobs Act (2012) Helping Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Return to Employment at Home Act (2012) And more Presidential Task Force on Veterans Employment (2011) • A proposal to ensure that all of America’s veterans have the support they need and deserve when they leave the military, look for a job and enter the civilian workforce; and • Provides a comprehensive plan to lower veteran unemployment and ensure that service members leave the military career-ready through hiring tax credits, private sector commitments, and reforms that improve the way we prepare, train, and educate service members for life after the military. Veterans Opportunity Work (VOW) Act (2011) • This is a mandatory requirement for DOD unlike other legislation which might recommend a study or consideration of action Provides service members about to be discharged with job seeking skills to help their transition to the civilian world; • Enables unemployed veterans to receive up to 1-year of Montgomery GI Bill benefits; • Gives state governors flexibility in the funds they receive to help veterans find jobs; and • The VOW Act will work with the Department of Labor and the states to identify roadblocks to obtaining employment. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (2012) …to assess the feasibility and advisability of permitting enlisted members of the Armed Forces to obtain civilian credentialing or licensing for skills required for military occupational specialties (MOS) or qualification for duty specialty codes Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The CDL Task Force Report To Congress Recommendation #10 To help military personnel transition into civilian careers requiring a CDL, FMCSA has initiated discussions with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to explore the possibility of establishing a career credentialing and licensing program within the military that would help individuals transition their military driving experience into a civilian career as a CDL driver. The goal is to develop and implement DOD training, testing, and licensing standards compatible with the standards used by the States. December, 2008 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

CLP Rule - Eases the Way to a CDL for Veterans CLP Rule permits enlisted Service members to obtain the credentials or licenses required for the specialties, whether concurrently with military training, at the completion of military training, or both. § 383.77… Substitute for driving skills tests for drivers with military CMV experience. §383.113 … At the discretion of a State, the driving skills test as specified in may be waived for a CMV driver with military CMV experience who is currently licensed at the time of his/her application for a CDL… May, 2011 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

To Apply for a Skills Test Waiver the Applicant Must Provide Evidence and Certify They are or were employed within the last 90 days in a military position requiring the operation of a CMV. That while on duty in that position, they were exempt from the state CDL requirements on public roads; and They operated a vehicle which is representative of the class they are applying, for at least two (2) years before applying for the waiver. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Self Certification Requirements Within the previous two years, the applicant: Has not had more than one license; Has not had any license suspended, revoked or cancelled; No major disqualifying offenses from table 1 in 383.51; No more than one serious disqualifying offense from table 2 in 383.51; No convictions for a violation of military, state, or local law relating to traffic control as the result of an accident; and No record of an accident in which they were at fault. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

A Partnership U.S. Army Reserve, DOD, AAMVA & FMCSA Development of the Skills Test Waiver Form was accomplished as a cooperative effort between: US Army Reserve Command, Employer Partnership Office (USAR – EPO); American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, Driver Services Dept. (AAMVA); Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), CDL Division; and Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Training Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Where we are today August 1, 2012 This map is reviewed and updated daily as new States advise either AAMVA or FMCSA they are offering the Skills Test Waiver Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Map-21 - The Highway Reauthorization Bill Requires DOT to conduct a study to assess Federal and State regulatory, economic, and administrative challenges faced by members and former members of the Armed Forces who received safety training and operated qualifying motor vehicles during their service, in obtaining CDLs. 2012 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Where Do We Go From Here Potential New FMCSA Initiatives Review of the Army / Marine Corps training curriculum and testing procedures to determine compatibility with FMCSA regulations; Potential regulatory development allowing States to accept compatible training and testing military experience; Discussion about the possibility of the military being certified as third party testers; and Consider and potential regulatory allowance to waive domicile rule for active duty military. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration For More Information Selden Fritschner, Chief Commercial Driver’s License Division FMCSA 202.366.0677 Selden.fritschner@dot.gov Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration