New APTA Resources for FMCSA’s CDL Under-the-Hood Testing Waiver
2/17/2026
To help address bus driver shortages, APTA has worked to simplify the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) test. Specifically, over the past two years, APTA requested and secured an FMCSA CDL “under-the-hood” testing exemption for drivers.
FMCSA’s 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. Under the exemption, states have the option to waive CDL under-the-hood testing for applicants for two years—until July 2027—to help ease driver hiring.
APTA would like to see states adopt the waiver before it is scheduled to expire in July 2027—several states have already undertaken efforts to adopt the waiver. State adoption of the waiver will demonstrate to FMCSA that there is an ongoing demand for the waiver, making the case for the agency to extend it. APTA also continues to seek a legislative solution providing a permanent exemption of the FMCSA requirement.
In a letter to members, APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas encouraged public transit agencies to take up this issue in their states. To that end, APTA has developed several documents to provide agencies with information to advocate for state adoption of the FMCSA exemption. APTA’s FMCSA CDL Under-the-Hood Waiver webpage includes:
- An Advocacy Fact Sheet on the CDL Waiver for Transit Bus Operators for use in meetings or discussions with state officials in charge of revising CDL requirements
- A Transit Agency Briefing Document on the CDL Waiver for Transit Bus Operators that provides additional background on the FMCSA exemption and process for state adoption of the waiver
- State profiles for individual state agencies responsible for CDL implementation (see the New York state profile as an example)
If you have questions regarding the FMCSA CDL under-the-hood testing exemption or would like APTA to create a profile for your state, contact APTA staff, Stacie Tiongson (stiongson@apta.com) or Matthew Dickens (mdickens@apta.com).