NTL Record

Title 2017 Report on Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Skills Testing Delays [Research Brief]
Record ID 79340
Corporate Creator United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Office of Analysis, Research, and Technology
Publication Date 20201201
Language English
Abstract States are required to test CDL applicants for the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for the safe operation of the applicant’s intended commercial motor vehicle. As noted by a previous Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, applicants in some States face significant delays when attempting to take a skills test and thus complete their licensure requirements. This report analyzes the results of a national survey given to each State regarding their CDL skills testing programs. The survey gathered information on the length of testing delays, any State-mandated waiting periods (measured as distinct from a “delay”); third-party versus State resources; and the number of tests administered (including failures) as well as the number of cancelled tests. The post-survey analysis shows that most States have reasonable delays in scheduling CDL skills tests. There are a few States with unusually long scheduling delays; however, there is no Federal regulation or requirement for States to schedule skills tests within a certain time frame. This annual report is mandated by Section 5506 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, 2015 (FAST Act).
Rosap ID dot:53960
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/53960
TRT Terms Commercial drivers; Driving tests; Driver licensing; Commercial vehicles
General Subjects commercial motor vehicle; commercial driver’s license; skills test; Section 5506; FAST Act
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
1762056
Report Number FMCSA-RRR-18-002-b
Resource type Brief
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/79000/79300/79340/FMCSA-RRR-18-002b_CDL_Skills_Testing_Delays_Brief_FINALwithURL.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository