DAYTON, OH – New bipartisan legislation cutting red tape for service members so they can get the certification needed to work in the freight industry is awaiting signature by the president. Today in Dayton, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)—joined by a Dayton veteran—outlined a new soon-to-be-law that eliminates a critical hurdle for active duty military, military reserves, or National Guard service members seeking a commercial driver’s license (CDL). CNN reported in July 2012 that nearly 200,000 job openings are available in the trucking industry nationwide.

“Our service members acquire skills in the military that can translate easily to the civilian workforce. If they can operate a truck on a military base in Afghanistan, then they should be able to use those skills on the road in Kettering or Springboro,” Brown said. “But many veterans face red tape and roadblocks when they try to apply their military skills and training to the civilian job market.

“Under existing law, service members are unable to apply training received at their military installation or base toward receiving a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in their home state,” Brown added. “Now there’s bipartisan legislation—soon to be signed into law—that eliminates the hurdle for service members looking to get a CDL. Now service members can meet the requirements for good-paying jobs before they become veterans.”

Brown was joined by Don Minton, business agent from the Teamsters Local 957—as well as Latisha Flowers, an Army veteran who recently obtained her CDL—to discuss how this bill will enable more service members, upon their return to civilian life, to obtain CDLs and jobs in the freight industry.

The Military CDL Act, of which Brown was an original cosponsor, is a bipartisan bill that eliminates an existing law that only allows service members to obtain a CDL in their home state of record.  Since many military personnel are stationed away from their home state of record, current law makes it difficult for them to apply for the license, even though they may have the adequate training to qualify for the license. The legislation is supported by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the American Trucking Association (ATA), and the American Legion. 

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