Military can now obtain CDLs easier

WASHINGTON Congress has passed legislation that will let states issue commercial drivers licenses to military personnel in the state where the soldier or sailor is stationed, instead of in their home state.

The Military Commercial Drivers License Act of 2012 is expected to ease the transition of recent veterans into jobs as commercial drivers in the private sector.

Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., sponsored the House version of the bill, which was identical to a Senate measure, along with Mike Quigley, D-Ill., and John Carney, D-Del.

The bill removes a thorny barrier which many members of the military face: the barring of the issuance of a CDL to an individual who is not a legal resident of the state.

By carving out an exception for individuals who are stationed, temporarily or permanently, in a state due to military service, the bill moves toward the goal of ensuring that no one who has served will be unable to get a CDL because of where they live.

The legislation was supported by a wide array of groups and organizations.

The lead sponsor of the Senate version was Sen. Olympia Snowe, D-Maine. Co-sponsoring the bill were Sens. Mark Begich, D-Ark.; Scott Brown, R-Mass.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; James Inhofe, R-Okla.; Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Jerry Moran, R-Kan.; Patty Murray, D-Wash.; Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla.

Snowe said it was "unacceptable that so many veterans, especially those recently returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, have found themselves unable to successfully enter civilian professions for which they have already received world-class training."

A number of states also are adopting programs or initiatives aimed at helping military personnel train for jobs as commercial vehicle drivers. (See June 1 Bus & Motorcoach News.)

One of the latest is West Virginia where the state National Guard and the state departments of education and transportation are assisting veterans with experience driving large vehicles and other equipment obtain their commercial drivers licenses.

A pilot program in West Virginia will let 20 National Guard members get the necessary physical exams and additional CDL classroom and skills training for free at the Fred W. Eberle Technical Center in Upshur County.

Division of Motor Vehicle examiners also will travel to the center to administer license tests instead of requiring participants to travel to the DMV. It means the veterans will receive licenses in weeks instead of months.

Meanwhile, the nonprofit American Jobs for Americas Heroes campaign is stepping up efforts to find jobs for unemployed National Guard members.

The campaign is being implemented at the request of and in collaboration with National Guard headquarters in Washington, and is supported by a nonprofit group called Center for America, which works to educate and motivate Americans to expand skills and entrepreneurship.

Through the campaign, companies can post open jobs at no charge for the National Guards estimated 60,000 unemployed members.

Steve Nowlan, president of the Roswell, Ga.-based Center for America says the program offers benefits to companies that participate, including:

Job postings are plugged directly into the National Guard Employment Network, the flagship employment initiative of the National Guard.

The program is ongoing, not a limited-time event. Employers can post jobs as openings arise throughout the year, with service teams operational now in every state.

Every employer is assigned a case manager who works with the employer to actively match National Guard candidates with job requirements. Employers receive personalized help in screening candidates, and understanding military training experience.

An Internet-based case management system enables state National Guard and nonprofit employment counselors and case managers in the alliance to work collaboratively to fill open postings with qualified candidates.

It takes 10 minutes to register at www.CenterForAmerica.org/register.html.