House transportation committee advances LaHood’s bill to reform CDL testing

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved bipartisan legislation proposed by U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) that would streamline federal licensing exam regulations for commercial truckers. The bill now heads to the full chamber for action.

“I am pleased that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has passed this common-sense legislation and hope to see it come before the full House for a vote soon,” Rep. LaHood said on May 23.

The congressman on April 28 sponsored the Licensing Individual Commercial Exam-takers Now Safely and Efficiently (LICENSE) Act of 2023, H.R. 3013, with five original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), and Henry Cuellar (D-TX). 

If enacted, H.R. 3013 would make permanent several waivers that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented in response to COVID-19.

Specifically, H.R. 3013 would allow state and third-party examiners who have maintained a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) test examiner certification and have previously completed a CDL skills test examiner training course to administer the CDL knowledge test without completing a CDL knowledge test training course, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. LaHood’s staff.

The bill also would allow states to administer driving skills tests to applicants from other states in an effort to streamline the credentialing process and allow future truck drivers to be tested where they live, rather than solely where they received training, the summary says.

“Trucking workforce shortages continue to be a persistent challenge for small businesses throughout America, and the downstream effects are harming working families,” said Rep. LaHood. “As we face unprecedented supply chain challenges, this legislation will help streamline the process to obtain a commercial driver’s license and reduce unnecessary red tape.”