1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.
§ … Substitute for driving skills tests for drivers with military
CMV experience.
§ … 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

5. 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

6. 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 ;
No more than one serious disqualifying offense from table 2 in ;
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

7. 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

8. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
For More Information
Selden Fritschner, Chief
Commercial Driver’s License Division
FMCSA
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration