Lawmakers introduced a bill intended to make it easer to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) by streamlining certain requirements, including allowing the CDL holders accompanying student drivers to be in the sleeper berth instead of the passenger seat.
On January 24, 2025, U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Licensing Individual Commercial Exam-takers Now Safely and Efficiently (LICENSE) Act. Lawmakers say that the bill builds on waivers the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The major provisions of the bill were laid out in a news release from Lummis’s office:
- Expand CDL Testing: State and third-party examiners would be authorized to administer both the CDL skills and knowledge tests, speeding up the licensing process without compromising safety.
- Provide Flexible Supervision for CLP Holders: Licensed drivers accompanying commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders could move to the sleeper berth of the truck, recognizing that many CLP holders have already passed their road tests and are waiting on their official CDL.
- Streamline Testing Across States: States would be allowed to administer driving skills tests to applicants from other states, making it easier for future truckers to complete testing close to home.
Similar legislation was introduced by Lummins and Kelly in 2022.
Groups endorsing the bill include the Agricultural & Food Transporters Conference (AFTC), the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Automobile Carriers Conference (ACC), the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA), the Government Freight Conference (GFC), the Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference (IMCC), the Moving and Storage Conference (MSC), the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC), and the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA).
“Wyoming relies on America’s truck drivers to deliver goods to folks and small businesses throughout our rural state,” said Lummis. “Streamlining commercial driver’s licensing and cutting this burdensome red tape will ensure the people in the Cowboy State can rely on deliveries so they get the resources they need. I’m proud to work with Senator Kelly to reform the licensing process for America’s truckers.”
“Arizona’s economy relies on the commercial drivers who work hard to keep goods moving across the nation,” said Kelly. “I’m glad to work with my colleague Senator Lummis to cut red tape, support the trucking industry, and ensure the federal government is doing everything it can to strengthen our economy and lower costs for families in Arizona.”
“During the past several years that these waivers have been in effect, they have proven that they strike the appropriate balance between maintaining high safety standards while making it easier for aspiring truck drivers to obtain their CDLs. That’s why DOT reissued them multiple times throughout the pandemic. Now it is time to provide certainty to the trucking industry by making these effective waivers permanent,” said Wyoming Trucking Association President & CEO Kevin Hawley. “The LICENSE Act would make a commonsense change to streamline the arduous process for obtaining a CDL, removing unnecessary burdens on our drivers and supply chain. We commend Senator Lummis for once again standing up for truckers, helping more people to obtain good-paying jobs, and growing Wyoming’s economy.”
You can click here to view the text of the bill.