FMCSA changes CDL requirements for truck drivers

The FMCSA is waiving certain rules for applicants who hold CLP and wish to take the CDL skills check.

 Previously, a state was required to conduct a CDL skills check only for those out-of-state applicants who had received driver preparation in that state. Temporary waiver overrides this rule.

The waiver also removes the requirement that a CLP holder was not eligible to take a CDL skill check within the first 14 days of the issuance of the CLP.

Those waivers come into force on December, 1, and will last 3 months, until February 28, 2023.

FMCSA finds that the granting of this waiver is in the public interest, given the critical need for CMV drivers in support of the U.S. supply chain and economy. In addition, granting this waiver is in the public interest because it addresses supply-chain challenges by enabling SDLAs to reduce CDL and issuance delays. And as discussed further below, FMCSA has determined that the waivers will not create any increased safety risk that could adversely affect the public interest.

What is the difference between a CDL and a CLP?

The CLP allows you to operate a truck under the supervision of the CDL holder for the vehicle you are operating. Obtaining a CLP is considered the first step towards obtaining a CDL.

A CDL is a type of driver’s document that proves that applicant has enough knowledge and ability to operate a vehicle of the appropriate classification. To obtain a CDL, driver must pass a written and a driving monitoring. Certain CDL preparing places allow you to write the test online.

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