Document ID: FMCSA-2020-0197-0001
Agency: fmcsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Commercial Driver's License Standards: Guidance Concerning Third Party Testers Conducting the Knowledge Test
Posted Date: 2022-02-03T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6045-6046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02165]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 383

[Docket No. FMCSA-2020-0197]

Commercial Driver's License Standards: Regulatory Guidance 
Concerning Third Party Testers Conducting the Knowledge Test

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department 
of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Regulatory guidance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FMCSA amends its regulatory guidance to explain that FMCSA's 
current statutory authorities and regulations do not prohibit third 
party testers from administering the commercial driver's license 
knowledge tests for all classes and endorsements. SDLAs may accept the 
results of knowledge tests administered by third party testers in 
accordance with existing knowledge test standards and requirements set 
forth in 49 CFR part 383, subparts G and H.

DATES: This guidance is effective February 3, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nikki McDavid, Chief of the CDL 
Division, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, 
[email protected], 202-366-0831.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On May 9, 2011, FMCSA published the 49 CFR parts 383, 384 and 385, 
Commercial Driver's License Testing and Commercial Learner's Permit 
Standards final rule (76 FR 26854) that amended the commercial driver's 
license (CDL) knowledge and skills testing standards and established 
new minimum Federal standards for States to issue the commercial 
learner's permit. The final rule also set forth the Federal standards 
for States to allow

[[Page 6046]]

third party testers to administer the CDL skills test.
    On April 3, 2020, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (VA 
DMV) requested an exemption from 49 CFR 383.75 to allow non-government 
third party testers to administer knowledge tests for CDL and CLP 
applicants without a State examiner being present. The VA DMV's request 
was prompted by the closure of VA DMV service centers resulting from 
the COVID-19 public health emergency. In response to the VA DMV's 
request, FMCSA indicated that applicable statutes and regulations do 
not currently prohibit States from allowing a third party to administer 
CDL and CLP knowledge tests. The Agency also noted its intention to 
revise the existing guidance, set forth below, to clarify this point.
    Regulatory guidance question 1 for 49 CFR 383.75, ``Third Party 
Testing,'' first issued in 1993 (58 FR 60734, 60739 (Nov. 17, 1993)) 
and most recently reissued in 2019, states:

    Question 1: May the CDL knowledge test be administered by a 
third party?
    Guidance: No. The third party testing provision found in Sec.  
383.75 applies only to the skills portion of the testing procedure. 
However, if an employee of the State who is authorized to supervise 
knowledge testing is present during the testing, then FMCSA regards 
it as being administered by the State and not by a third party. (84 
FR 8464, 8472 (Mar. 8, 2019); 62 FR 16370, 16399 (Apr. 4, 1997)).

    FMCSA has reconsidered this guidance and concludes that nothing in 
the Agency's current authorities in 49 U.S.C. chapters 311 or 313, or 
in 49 CFR parts 383 and 384, prohibits States from permitting third 
party testers to administer CDL knowledge tests. Accordingly, the 
Agency amends regulatory guidance question 1 for 49 CFR 383.75 to 
explain that a State may permit third parties to administer CDL 
knowledge tests. Pursuant to 49 CFR 384.202, States opting to permit 
this practice must adhere to current CDL knowledge test standards and 
requirements set forth in 49 CFR part 383, subparts G and H. FMCSA is 
currently working on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to more fully 
address the States' use of third party knowledge testers.

II. Regulatory Guidance

    FMCSA issues the following guidance:

    Regulatory Guidance to 49 CFR part 383--Commercial Driver's 
License Standards Section 383.75 Third Party Testing, Guidance ID 
No. FMCSA-CDL-383.75-Q1-M
    Question 1: May States allow third party testers to administer 
CDL knowledge tests for all classes and endorsements, without any 
State examiner being present?
    Guidance: Yes. FMCSA's current statutory authorities and 
regulations do not prohibit States from permitting third party 
testers to administer CDL knowledge tests. While FMCSA encourages 
States relying on third party knowledge testers to follow the 
training and record check standards currently applicable to State 
CDL knowledge examiners, as set forth in 49 CFR 384.228, this is not 
a regulatory requirement. If an employee of the State who is 
authorized to supervise knowledge testing is present during the 
testing, then FMCSA regards it as being administered by the State 
and not by a third party.

    FMCSA notes that this guidance is intended only to provide clarity 
to the public regarding existing requirements under the law. The 
guidance does not have the force and effect of law and is not meant to 
bind the public in any way.

Robin Hutcheson,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2022-02165 Filed 2-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P