FMCSA publishes notice exempting ‘under-the-hood' testing for CDL skills test requirement

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published its decision July 16 in the Federal Register to give State Driver Licensing Agencies the ability to waive “under-the-hood" portion of the skills test requirement for people pursuing a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).  

The application requesting the exemption was filed by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) on behalf of transit agencies and their contractors. In its letter requesting the exemption, APTA noted the CDL under-the-hood testing portion was “a significant impediment to hiring bus operators,” further exacerbating the national driver shortage.  

“This commonsense exemption directly addresses one of the biggest barriers to hiring new operators during a nationwide workforce shortage,” said APTA President and CEO Paul Skoutelas. “APTA’s research shows that 84 percent of transit agencies cite CDL complexity as a hiring obstacle, with the under-the-hood requirement rated as the most challenging aspect of obtaining a license.” 

Prior to the exemption, CDL applicants needed to identify safety-related parts on a test vehicle while explaining what needs to be checked during a pre-trip vehicle inspection, including the engine compartment.  

According to the Federal Register, FMCSA approved the exemption request for a two-year period instead of APTA’s requested five-year period, and the exemption request only applies to “CDL applicants seeking to operate transit buses in intrastate commerce.” FMCSA did not approve APTA's request to extend the exemption to interstate commerce. 

In APTA’s request, the association described the similarities between public transit operators and school bus drivers, noting the school bus industry already benefitted from relaxed CDL testing requirements. In its decision, FMCSA agreed, stating that “like school buses, transit buses travel for relatively short distances and are operated in higher population density areas where mechanics or other qualified personnel are readily available to provide roadside assistance in the event of a vehicle malfunction.” 

“This exemption provides a runway for state authorities to update their training and credentialing programs, giving public transit agencies the flexibility to meet pressing workforce demands,” Skoutelas said.  

Prior to making its decision, FMCSA reviewed 29 comments, with 25 of them being in support of the exemption request. Comments came from transit agencies, industry associations and nonprofit organizations, such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Community Transportation Association of America and LIT.  

“We were proud to submit public comment advocating for this change, as we believed this requirement created unnecessary barriers to entry for a workforce already struggling to meet demand,” said LIT Executive Director Christina Villarreal. “This critical shift will open doors for more qualified drivers, especially those seeking to serve in transit operations where mechanical inspections are not part of their day-to-day responsibilities.”