FMCSA Gives Guidance to State Drivers Licensing Agencies
March 20, 2020
Ensuring that commercial driver’s license holders are available to operate commercial motor vehicles during the national emergency declared by the President under 42 U.S.C. § 5191(b) related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is critical to the safety of the transportation and energy supply networks and the economic stability of our Nation. This notice sets forth the Agency’s view of various actions State Drivers Licensing Agencies (SDLA) may exercise during the emergency relating to COVID-19 for which FMCSA would decline to issue a finding or make a determination of substantial non-compliance.
Question 1: Will FMCSA determine a State to be in substantial non-compliance or issue a finding under 49 CFR Part 384 if the State extends a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) or Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) that would otherwise expire during the COVID-19 emergency?
Answer 1: No, provided that the State promptly brings its practices back into compliance with 383 and 384 after the national emergency related to COVID-19 ends or when the SDLA resumes normal operations.
MMTA NOTE: We still haven't heard from Governor Mills about Maine's handling of CDL credentialing. Hopefully this FMCSA notice will prompt guidance for the benefit of the trucking industry providing emergency relief.
