ALBANY – The State Department of Motor Vehicles and the Division of Veterans’ Services have encouraged active military members and veterans to apply for a waiver of the commercial driver license skills road test when they apply for a CDL.
Those who have military experience driving commercial vehicles may be eligible to skip the CDL road test. The waiver has been in place since 2012 and has helped more than 2,000 active-duty military and veterans get a CDL.
“DMV is proud of the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who have served, and it is our duty to help them transition back into the civilian workforce,” said DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder. “This waiver allows them to put their valuable skills and experience to work while also helping to address the critical shortage of commercial drivers.”
State Veterans’ Services Director Viviana DeCohen said they are “grateful for the opportunity to continue this successful collaboration with our partners at DMV to provide this licensing opportunity for as many service members and veterans as possible. We will continue to inform New York’s veterans and service members of their ability to access the waiver for their CDL so they can continue to serve their communities in this important role.”
To be eligible, applicants must have a valid New York State or out-of-state driver license, meet all requirements for a New York CDL and have experience operating a military commercial motor vehicle. The waiver must be applied for at a DMV office. Applicants must also pass all applicable written tests.
To see all the requirements for a military skills test waiver, visit the DMV.
