Drivers with expired CDLs, CLPs, med cards, get another break from FMCSA with COVID waiver extension
This week, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended a COVID-19 waiver providing regulatory relief for drivers with expired commercial drivers licenses (CDL), commercial learner’s permits (CLP), and medical cards.
On May 26, the FMCSA issued a waiver extension that will allow states to extend the validity of CDLs and CLPs that expired on or after March 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021, and to waive the 14-day waiting period to take the CDL skills test after the issuance of a CLP.
The move from FMCSA gives states the option to extend the validity of expired licenses, but does not require that they do so.
The move also extends medical certification waivers for any medical cards that expired on or after March 21, 2021.
The initial CDL, CLP, and medical certification waiver was issued on March 24, 2020, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. It has been extended several times over the past year.
The FMCSA says that they decided to issue the waiver in response to the fact that during the pandemic, many state driver licensing agencies shut down entirely or reduced staffing, making it increasingly difficult for truckers to to renew their CDLs and CLPs or provide medical certificates to licensing agencies. Additionally, the pandemic made it more difficult for drivers to obtain the necessary exams to acquire medical certification.
Please click here to view the full waiver.